NHTSA Complaint #10661320 — 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK

WHILE TRAVELING ON A 2 LANE ROAD AT NIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAINFALL, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DISCONNECTED AND JAMMED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, JAMMING THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AS WELL. VISIBILITY IN THE RAIN WAS REDUCED TO ALMOST NOTHING. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TRAVELED FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD A GREATLY REDUCED SPEED, UNABLE TO MAKE OUT ANY PLACE TO TURN OFF. BY SLOWING DOWN I WAS INCREASING MY CHANCES OF AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT, BUT INCREASING THE RISK FOR THE CARS IN FRONT, APPROACHING AND BEHIND ME. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT A SMALL PLASTIC PIN IN THE WIPER BLADE HAD FALLEN OUT, A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. THIS TINY PART COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I URGE YOU TO REQUIRE HIGHER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR THE WIPE BLADES. I CAN'T FIND A MANUFACTURER IDENTIFICATION ON THE WIPER BLADE, BUT I STILL HAVE IT. *TR