NHTSA Complaint #10381168 — 2010 SUBARU FORESTER

I AM WRITING TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2010 SUBARU FORESTER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL, 2010. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE MYSELF FOR ONLY 5,371 MILES AND ONLY IN THE CITY. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I NOTED A SMALL, SMOOTH-SURFACED CRACK ABOUT 2 INCHES LONG THAT ORIGINATED AT THE TOP EDGE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE APPEARANCE OF THE CRACK WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY IMPACT. IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS, THE SMALL CRACK ELONGATED TO MORE THAN 8 INCHES. I BROUGH THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON FEBRUARY 8 FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT A "STRESS FRACTURE" BUT DUE TO AN IMPACT. HE STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT COVERED BY EITHER MY SUBARU WARRANTY NOR MY EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A "STRESS FRACTURE". HOWEVER, IN MY JUDGEMENT, THIS CRACK ORIGINATED AS A SMOOTH-SURFACED CRACK AKIN TO A DESCRIPTION OF A "STRESS FRACTURE". I ALSO NOTE THAT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPORTED BY CONSUMERS ABOUT THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACKS IN SUBARU VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE FORESTER. REPLACEMENT OF MY WINDSHIELD ON MY RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE WILL COST ABOUT $820 FOR PARTS AND INSTALLATION. I BOUGHT A SUBARU FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A QUALITY PRODUCT WITH EXCELLENT DURABILITY. THIS EXPERIENCE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE. *TR