NHTSA Complaint #10928689 — 2016 SUBARU FORESTER

WE NOTICED A TINY CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD ONE DAY. WE DID NOT SEE OR HEAR IT HAPPEN AND IT WAS TOO SMALL TO REPAIR (NO BUBBLE TO FILL), SO WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND HOPE IT DIDN'T SPREAD. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE WEATHER CHANGED AND IT BECAME A 2FT LONG CRACK ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER IT ONLY IF THE CRACK ORIGINATED FROM THE BOTTOM, NOT FROM A ROCK IN THE MIDDLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM OF WEAK GLASS THAT EASILY CHIPS AND THEN CRACKS IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE GLASS HEATER, WHICH HEATS THE BOTTOM BUT NOT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE COMBINATION OF WEAK GLASS UNDER TENSION AND DIFFERENTIAL HEATING IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.