Unexplained windshield cracking starting from the passenger side at the edge of the window by the defroster.

- Howell, NJ, USA

The windshield developed a horizontal crack on the driver side only a year and half into ownership. Nothing was observed to have struck the vehicle. The crack was not there in the evening when the vehicle was parked in our carport. It was observed when we went to drive the vehicle in the morning (July 10, 2018). San diego was experiencing average summer temperatures. The windshield was replaced at our own cost, as the dealership would not take responsibility. A second crack in the exact same place has appeared approximately 18 months later. Again, there was no crack when the vehicle was parked in our driveway in the evening. Nothing struck the vehicle's windshield in the days prior. In the morning, we came out to an identical horizontal crack on the driver's side of the windshield (January 21, 2020). The temperature was consistent with the winter average (low of 45F). As we have moved cities (san diego to portland), we took the vehicle in to have it looked at, as we also had a safety recall that needed to be fixed. Again, the dealership claimed that it wasn't their responsibility and that something must have hit the windshield at exactly the same place. The mechanic did not think that anything struck the vehicle. The assistant manager motioned for him to be quiet and then tried to convince my wife that it was a rock.

- Portland, OR, USA

The windshield in our 2017subaru Outback has failed for the third time in three years. A crack initiated in the passenger side lower corner wiper defrost zone, and grew upward and into the central part of the windshield. See photo. This happened under routine low speed in-town driving conditions and for no apparent reason except the windshield defroster was on. A cracked windshield is a safety risk. Subaru is well aware of the deficiencies in the windshield design and materials in Outbacks and other Subaru models of this vintage, and the attendant safety concerns the defective windshields represent. Evidence of a pervasive defective windshield problem and related safety concerns includes Subaru service bulletin #12-19215R and numerous associated class action suits including luong V. Subaru of America and powell V. Subaru of America. Subaru's solution has been to replace broken defective windshields with new defective windshields of the same type that are prone to break again, or to deny responsibility. Subaru should offer free windshield replacements for the life of affected vehicles, or improve the windshield design and materials to actually fix the cracking and damage susceptibility issues.

- Morgan Hill, CA, USA

While driving on hwy 101 in paso robles, heard a large pop. After stopping noticed a crack approx 8 inches long on passenger side about halfway up apparently emanating from the edge of the windshield. Did not see an obvious rock hit.

- Paso Robles, CA, USA

While driving 60 mph on the freeway, my windshield spontaneously popped or cracked in my 2017 Subaru Outback 3.6 limited. It caused a distraction for me while driving as I threw up my hands to shield my face. The crack was about 5 inches near the lower portion of the middle/passenger side of the windshield on the vehicle. The next day I started the car and had the defrost on in cold weather, which I suspect may have spurred the first cracking, and the crack spread horizontally across the windshield. I suspect the glass is defected. It could maybe also have something to do with the positioning of the defrost vents inside of the vehicle blowing onto the windshield. I was quoted over $1,000 for the repair as they will have to recalibrate my Subaru eyesight camera system as well when replacing the windshield with new glass. I have read that many people experience multiple spontaneous cracks in their windshield per year, which will not be covered under my vehicles warranty. I specifically bought this car for the warranty as well. I would lose money on my car if I traded it in at this point. It should not be my responsibility to pay for Subaru's mistakes and dishonesty in producing defected glass. I can provide a receipt for repair once completed.

- Marysville, WA, USA

Within the first 100 miles of owning our brand new 2017 Subaru Outback a small rock hit the windshield going under 10mph and a crack propagated across the entire windshield. When we took the car into Subaru they rejected fixing the issue because they said a rock hit the windshield. Recently we turned on our front window defroster and the windshield cracked again and propagated across the entire windshield again. We requested Subaru fix the issue again because it was a non impact failure of the windshield and they rejected to fix the windshield because they said other sections had rock chips (the section where the crack occurred did not have a rock chip). This is a significant safety issue that the windshield will break with little to no external force being applied to it which will cause the windshield to fail and Subaru will not resolve the issue.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

Windshield had a crack for no reason. Car was stationary and in the covered garage. We noticed the crack originate from the bottom center of the glass and was spreading upwards towards the middle. We had to get the entire thing replaced.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

When leaving my garage on 1/2/2020, a 9" vertical crack was first noticed in the top middle portion of the windshield, just below the right eyesight camera of my 2017 Outback. Two days later, when entering my parked vehicle, I noticed a 10" horizontal crack to the left (towards the driver's side) and an 4" horizontal crack had developed to the right from the bottom end of the vertical crack. The windshield does not appear to have any deep chips that would have initiated the cracks. The cracks are propagating into the driver's view which is a safety issue.

- Fremont, CA, USA

While driving on the highway my husband turned the defrost on and we heard a 'pop' sound. Then my husband said your windshield is cracking and nothing hit the windshield. The crack started in the bottom center of the windshield in the black part of the windshield and the crack curves up and towards the passenger side of the windshield.

- Fairlawn, OH, USA

2017 Outback second time windshield has cracked. First time (11/2018)something very tiny hit the bottom of the windshield and it cracked. The car was on an interstate. The emphasis is on tiny, no way it should have cracked. This time, 12/25/2019, I was in the passenger seat, on an interstate, looking straight ahead and all of a sudden a crack appeared on the top of the windshield. I exclaimed to my husband "the windshield just cracked!". nothing hit it, it just cracked and it continues to grow. This was and continues to be a known problem based on reading I have done. I hoped the first time around Subaru had corrected the problem with the windshield, I had a corrected windshield and no longer had to worry. Why isn't this obvious problem being addressed? my insurance rate went up as a result of the first "incident". and, with the first one it took around 30 days to get it resolved primarily because of a difficulty locating a Subaru replacement windshield.

- Mystic, CT, USA

Spontaneous cracks in windshield without any visible evidence of a chip or experiencing any "hits" to the windshield while driving - go out to my garage parked Subaru Outback (touring) and notice a linear crack across windshield on three (3) separate incidences within 369 days - Feb 2018, May 2018 & Feb 2019

- S San Fran, CA, USA

Spontaneous cracks in windshield without any visible evidence of a chip or experiencing any "hits" to the windshield while driving - go out to start my garage parked Subaru Outback (touring) and notice a linear crack across windshield on three (3) separate incidences within 369 days Feb 2018, May 2018, & Feb 2019.

- S San Fran, CA, USA

We noticed a chip in the windshield when we doing a car cleaning and reported it to our car insurance company; otherwise, we weren't aware of it happening, it still exists and I need to get the car inspected in January, and I don't know if it will pass.

- Wheeling, WV, USA

Spontaneous cracks in windshield without any visible evidence of a chip or experiencing any "hits" to the windshield while driving - go out to start my garage parked Subaru Outback (touring) and notice a linear crack across windshield on three (3) separate incidences within 369 days Feb 2018, May 2018, & Feb 2019.

- S San Fran, CA, USA

My windshield has cracked multiple times. I had to replace it out of pocket when I believe the windshield was defective.

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

Windshield cracks and requires replacement following the smallest of pebbles impacting windscreen. This is my second replacement following a small hit resulting in the entire screen cracking from molding to molding, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

The windshield just cracked while I was driving entering the freeway. There was no vehicle in front of mine within 150 feet. There is no mark indicating an impact to the windshield where the crack starts.

- Porter Ranch, CA, USA

Windshield cracks and instantly spread with minimal impact disabling car speed control and safety systems such as pre-collision braking and lane keep assist.

- Richwood, TX, USA

My Subaru Outback 2017 windshield was hit by a tiny stone at ~50mph speed, barely leaving any mark. However, later on (hours later) a crack started to grow from that area. Every several days it would increase by a few inches, eventually splitting into couple directions across a few weeks period. It ended up closing a full loop, at which point I feel it is unsafe to drive and am about to replace it. Similar type of minor stones hits never seemed to cause any such issues on other cars I've owned.

- Palo Alto, CA, USA

Windshield appeared to spontaneously crack from center middle upward - no impact or other cause noted. Date of incident is approximate.

- Okemos, MI, USA