NHTSA Complaint #11301747 — 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A HORIZONTAL CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE ONLY A YEAR AND HALF INTO OWNERSHIP. NOTHING WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE STRUCK THE VEHICLE. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE IN THE EVENING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR CARPORT. IT WAS OBSERVED WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING (JULY 10, 2018). SAN DIEGO WAS EXPERIENCING AVERAGE SUMMER TEMPERATURES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT OUR OWN COST, AS THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. A SECOND CRACK IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE HAS APPEARED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS LATER. AGAIN, THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY IN THE EVENING. NOTHING STRUCK THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD IN THE DAYS PRIOR. IN THE MORNING, WE CAME OUT TO AN IDENTICAL HORIZONTAL CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD (JANUARY 21, 2020). THE TEMPERATURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE WINTER AVERAGE (LOW OF 45F). AS WE HAVE MOVED CITIES (SAN DIEGO TO PORTLAND), WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AS WE ALSO HAD A SAFETY RECALL THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT IT WASN'T THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AT EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT THINK THAT ANYTHING STRUCK THE VEHICLE. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER MOTIONED FOR HIM TO BE QUIET AND THEN TRIED TO CONVINCE MY WIFE THAT IT WAS A ROCK.