NHTSA Complaint #10763381 — 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE, MERELY AS A RESULT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RETRACTING ONTO IT WHILE BEING WASHED. (I HAVE NEVER IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING CARS HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE IMPACT OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER RETRACTING ONTO IT!!!) THE CRACK HAS SINCE SPREAD ALMOST TO THE DRIVER SIDE. BASED ON MY OWN RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION, I BELIEVE THE BUILT IN WINDSHIELD DE-ICER UNIT COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. IN THE EVENT AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, THE WINDSHIELD COULD VERY WELL SHATTER AND CAUSE BODILY INJURY. A SUBARU OF AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMED VIA EMAIL THAT "IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE SEEN A HIGHER DEMAND FOR WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT THAN WE USUALLY SEE. OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING HARD WITH RETAILERS AND SUPPLIERS AVAILABILITY....WE HAVE ALSO UPDATED OUR PRODUCTION PROCESS TO IMPROVE THE DURABILITY OF OUR WINDSHIELDS." CLEARLY, THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2015 WINDSHIELDS HAVE A DEFECT, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED NEXT WEEK. ONLY TIME WILL WILL TELL HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE AND HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST. IN FAIRNESS, THE SUBARU OF AMERICA REP HAS ASKED ME TO SEND A COPY OF THE REPLACEMENT RECEIPT TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP WITH THE COST. CONSIDERING SUBARU'S REPUTATION, MY HOPE IS THEY WILL ULTIMATELY REIMBURSE ME IN FULL.