NHTSA Complaint #11084205 — 2015 FOREST RIVER FORESTER

I WAS DRIVING AT TEXAS HIGHWAY SPEEDS (85MPH) WHEN I HEARD A SNAP. MY PASSENGER TOLD ME THAT THE WINDSHIELD ON HER SIDE HAD JUST CRACKED. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID NOT NOTICE ANY IMPACTS PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO TAKE THE ATTACHED PICTURES. LATER, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT UNDER THE PASSENGERS WINDSHIELD WIPER WHERE THE BLADE INTERSECTS THE WINDSHIELD HEATER. THERE IS NO WAY A ROCK COULD HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD IN THAT SPOT AS IT WAS COVERED BY THE WIPER BLADE AND THE CRACK IS EXACTLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE BLADE AND HEATER ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THE CRACK TO BE DUE TO THERMAL STRESS INDUCED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER HEATERS AND WIND PRESSURE FROM DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SUBARU INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL CHIP.