NHTSA Complaint #11271425 — 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK

I WAS DRIVING AND HIT A POTHOLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I HEARD A LOUD POP OR CRACK AND THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO THE TIRE OR WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY LOUD. BUT AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE SLOWLY FOR ANOTHER BLOCK, IT WAS APPARENT THE TIRE WASN'T DAMAGED NOR DID THE CAR SYSTEMS INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN I HIT THE POTHOLE. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND COMPLETED MY ERRANDS. I DID LOOK AT THE TIRE WHEN I PARKED FOR MY ERRAND BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, WHEEL OR BODY. I THEN DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN OUR GARAGE AS USUAL. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER ISSUES, PROBLEMS OR HEAR ANY NOISES. THE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD WAS READILY VISIBLE THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I CAME OUT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD HAD STARTED UNDER THE SEAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HAD TRAVELED UP APPROXIMATELY 8-12 INCHES. IT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND IS NOW ALMOST BOTTOM TO TOP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AT THE TIME OUR CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, I DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH THE DEALER WHERE WE LEASED THE CAR WHEN DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AS I TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD POTENTIALLY BEING DEFECTIVE SINCE IT WAS JUST THE ACTION OF DRIVING THROUGH THE POTHOLE THAT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THEY AGREED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE BUT ULTIMATELY DENIED THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. THE TIME BETWEEN THE EVENT AND NOW WAS DUE TO ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER. THE WINDSHIELD IS STILL NOT FIXED BUT I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AFTER THIS LAST ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER.