NHTSA Complaint #11300543 — 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

THE WINDSHIELD IN OUR 2017SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS. A CRACK INITIATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CORNER WIPER DEFROST ZONE, AND GREW UPWARD AND INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. SEE PHOTO. THIS HAPPENED UNDER ROUTINE LOW SPEED IN-TOWN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON EXCEPT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS ON. A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IS A SAFETY RISK. SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN AND MATERIALS IN OUTBACKS AND OTHER SUBARU MODELS OF THIS VINTAGE, AND THE ATTENDANT SAFETY CONCERNS THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS REPRESENT. EVIDENCE OF A PERVASIVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD PROBLEM AND RELATED SAFETY CONCERNS INCLUDES SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN #12-19215R AND NUMEROUS ASSOCIATED CLASS ACTION SUITS INCLUDING LUONG V. SUBARU OF AMERICA AND POWELL V. SUBARU OF AMERICA. SUBARU'S SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO REPLACE BROKEN DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS WITH NEW DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS OF THE SAME TYPE THAT ARE PRONE TO BREAK AGAIN, OR TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY. SUBARU SHOULD OFFER FREE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS FOR THE LIFE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, OR IMPROVE THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN AND MATERIALS TO ACTUALLY FIX THE CRACKING AND DAMAGE SUSCEPTIBILITY ISSUES.