NHTSA Complaint #10872719 — 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK

WINDSHIELD CRACK ON A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WITH EYESIGHT, PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2016 AND CURRENTLY HAS 2,200 MILES ON IT. WENT TO RUN A QUICK ERRAND, DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. ON THE WAY HOME WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM, I NOTICED A 6" CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK RUNS FROM THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 UP FROM THE BOTTOM AND ABOUT 4' IN TOWARD THE CENTER. THE CRACK HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 18 INCHES OVERNIGHT. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF A SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS, BUT NOTHING I WOULD EXPECT TO CAUSE A CRACK AND I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING IMPACTING THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK ONLY AFFECTS THE OUTER GLASS AND DOES NOT PROPAGATE THROUGH THE LAMINATION INTO THE INNER GLASS. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF DELAMINATION OF THE GLASS IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE CRACK. THIS IS A WIDE CRACK. I MEASURED 0.009" IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE CHIP DAMAGE ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE GLASS WITH A STARRETT MODEL 66 THICKNESS GAGE. IT SEEMS THE OUTER GLASS MAY BE SUBJECT TO TENSION IN THE "AS INSTALLED" CONDITION AS EVIDENCED BY THE OPENING OF THIS CRACK. THIS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE APPARENT DAMAGE INTOLERANCE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND MEASUREMENT ARE ATTACHED.