NHTSA Complaint #11187304 — 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS, THE MILEAGE IS 24K MILES. A SUNNY DAY, 42F, I INSTALLED NEW WIPER BLADES ON BOTH FRONT ARMS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DROPPED THE PASSENGER ARM FROM ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE GLASS AND HEARD A ZIP SOUND. A CRACK APPEARED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD EXTENDING ABOUT 6 TO 7 INCHES VERTICALLY. I DROVE THE CAR A FEW MILES FOR AN ERRAND THAT PRODUCED A CURVED EXTENSION TO THE CRACK MAKING IT ABOUT 18 INCHES TOTAL LENGTH. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS NOT IMPACT-RELATED DAMAGE BUT INFERIOR GLASS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF SUBARU OWNERS WHO HAVE POSTED SIMILAR OCCURRENCES ONLINE. IN 2018, SUBARU LOST A CLASS-ACTION SUIT LAST YEAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE INVOLVING 2015-2016 OUTBACKS AND LEGACYS BUT OTHER YEARS AND MORE MODELS ARE AT RISK. MY IMPREZA DOES NOT HAVE WIPER HEATERS AS DO THE VEHICLES LISTED IN THE 2018 SUIT. THIS IS NOT ONLY COSTLY TO CONSUMERS AND DEALERSHIPS BUT DANGEROUS. MANY TIMES VEHICLE OWNERS ARE DENIED SERVICE OR COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS WHICH CAN CAUSE THESE REPAIRS TO BE DELAYED OR NOT DONE AT ALL. THE WINDSHIELD ACCOUNTS FOR A GOOD PART OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE, SUPPORTING THE CABIN AND THE ROOF ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF COLLISION OR A CRASH. IT'S TIME FOR INVESTIGATION BEFORE THE PROBLEM ELEVATES AND ENDS IN TRAGEDY. WE NEED DEPENDABLE WINDSHIELDS FOR SAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS; SUBARU NEEDS TO EXPAND ITS RECALLS, TESTING AND WARRANTIES TO SUPPORT ITS CUSTOMERS AND RETAIN ITS LONGTIME QUALITY REPUTATION.