2015 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 509 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 19 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Steering, columnDo not drive until repairedMay 11, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Campaign 16V292000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control (ESC)Apr 27, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured on July 20, 2015. The brake fluid used in these vehicles may contain excess moisture which may adversely affect the performance of the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Poor performance of the electronic stability control system when it is activated may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will perform an ABS activation, then flush and replace the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTC-64.
Campaign 16V251000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftAug 10, 2015
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015 and 2016 model year Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Outback vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to July 27, 2015. Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.
If the transmission oil leaks onto the exhaust pipe, there is a possible risk of fire.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the propeller shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2015. Owners may contact 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQU-56.
Campaign 15V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Forward collision avoidance, crash imminent brakingJun 12, 2015
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufactured October 16, 2014, to April 15, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles manufactured March 23, 2015, and equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
Campaign 15V366000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesSep 19, 2014
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Outback vehicles manufactured January 22, 2014, to August 18, 2014, and equipped with a Subaru accessory trailer hitch assembly. During installation, the trailer hitch mounting nuts may have been overtightened, potentially resulting in failure of the trailer hitch mounting studs.
The mounting nut(s) may not provide sufficient force to remain attached to the studs or the studs themselves might break. If this were to happen while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight mounting nuts for the trailer hitch assembly, and will inspect all eight mounting studs for damage, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2014. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQN-50.
Campaign 14V577000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
130 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Aug 24, 2015
HAD A SMALL STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SAW NOTHING AT THE TIME. ABOUT HALF HOUR LATER, WE SAW A CRACK IN THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH SPREAD QUICKLY ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WAS TOLD BY THE GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANY THAT THESE WINDSHIELDS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND HAD TO WAIT WEEKS FOR REPAIR. THEN ON AUGUST 22, 2015 WE HAD ANOTHER SMALL STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT WAS SMALL AND NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS FIXED. BUT WE SAW IT START TO SPREAD AND THEN HEARD A LOUD POP AND SAW THE THING STAR OUT INTO SIX DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS QUICKLY. THESE STONES WERE NOT VERY LARGE AND I'VE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD REACT LIKE THE SUBARU. I'VE HAD LARGER STONES HIT OUR TOYOTA AND WAS ABLE TO GET A REPAIR PRIOR TO A WINDSHIELD BEING REPLACED. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE WINDSHIELDS. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING AND I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF THESE WINDSHIELDS.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 23, 2015
A SMALL OBJECT HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. AT FIRST THERE WAS A SMALL STAR SHAPE MARK THAT I THOUGHT COULD BE FIXED. HOWEVER IT SPREAD QUICKLY. I WENT TO AMERICAN AUTO GLASS AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD MANY OF THESE WINDSHIELD ON BACK ORDER AND THAT THEY WERE ONLY MADE BY SUBARU. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND STILL NO WINDSHIELD . I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT SUBARU AND FINALLY I RECEIVED A WINDSHIELD ABOUT 7 WEEKS AFTER IT CRACKED. THE MANAGER AT AMERICAN AUTO GLASS TOLD ME THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN SO MANY CRACKED WINDSHIELDS IN A NEW MODEL CAR AND FELT THAT SUBARU HAD AN ISSUE. LAST WEEK ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I HAD THE GLASS REPLACED I HAD ANOTHER CRACK AT ALMOST THE SAME PLACE AS THE FIRST CRACK. I CALLED SUBARU AND HAD IT INSPECTED BY SUBARU AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW WINDSHIELD AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THAN BROUGHT IT TO SAFELIGHT AUTO GLASS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR IT. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN THE 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK AND THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A FIX. I WILL ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT SUBARU
Visibility/wiper, Aug 20, 2015
CAR WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. SOMETHING HIT BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND STARRED IT AT SPOT HIT. THE STAR SPREAD QUICKLY AS A CRACK RUNNING UP THE WINDSHIELD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS OTHER 2015 OUTBACK OWNERS ARE REPORTING MULTIPLE CRACKS IN WINDSHIELDS AS WELL.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 18, 2015
2015 OUTBACK, OWNED LESS THAN A YEAR. A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON I-25 SOUTH OF PUEBLO, CO. THIS CREATED A DIME SIZE STARBURST PATTERN AT THE IMPACT SIGHT. MINUTES LATER A 12 INCH+ CRACK DEVELOPED. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO EXPAND TO ALMOST THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE THE DRIVE TO TX. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 65 DEGREES SO THE WINDSHIELD WASN'T IN FREEZING CONDITIONS. THE PEBBLE IMPACT WAS NOTHING OF NOTE AND HARDLY GOT OUR ATTENTION. IN 4 DECADES OF DRIVING AND HAVEN TAKEN MANY ROCKS TO THE WINDSHIELD OF DIFFERENT MAKES OF VEHICLES I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS RESULT.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 15, 2015
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A MYSTERIOUS CRACK FROM THE LOWER CORNER DRIVER SIDE, AND IT PROPAGATED ACROSS IN A WEEK A TWO. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A REASONABLY PRICED AFTER MARKET WINDSHIELD AND THE QUOTED COST FROM THE DEALER IS WAY TOO HIGH. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEALER HAS DIFFICULTY GETTING THE NEW GLASS IN A TIMELY MANNER. I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IT APPEARS THAT ANOTHER CRACK MAY OCCUR ON THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2015
MY WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK THAT RUNS FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW AND THEN HORIZONTALLY ACROSS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS FIRST STARTED AS A SMALL CRACK AND GREW QUICKLY. THERE IS A TINY CHIP, LESS THAN A PIN HEAD IN SIZE NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE CRACK. NO STAR, AND NOT THE SIZE I WOULD TAKE TO GET FIXED. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT OTHER THAN "BUMMER, A BIG CRACK IN MY BRAND NEW CAR'S WINDSHIELD" UNTIL I SAW ANOTHER OUTBACK, SAME BODY STYLE, WITH THE SAME CRACK. I CALLED THE DEALER TO GET IT REPLACED AND IT IS ON A 3 MONTH BACKORDER. THEN I CHECKED THIS WEBSITE AND SAW SEVERAL SIMILAR STORIES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. IS THERE SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, INSTALLATION, OR FIT? THANKS
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2015
MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A NEW 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK IN POCATELLO, IDAHO. ON OUR MAIDEN VOYAGE HOME, 10 MILES FROM OUR HOME IN WYOMING THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRACK IMMEDIATELY SPREAD TO OVER 18 INCHES. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WHILE WASHING THE CAR, THE CRACK RAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ANOTHER 18 INCHES. I CONTACTED OUR GLASS SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AFTERMARKET DOESN'T HAVE WINDSHIELDS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2015 OUTBACK AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED SAFELITE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL DAYS. THE NIGHT BEFORE MY WIFE WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, SAFELITE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE WINDSHIELD WAS BACKORDERED FOR 3 MORE WEEKS AND THE COST WOULD BE 100.00 MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL QUOTE. I CANCELED THE ORDER AND CONTACTED A SUBARU DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE WINDSHIELD WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD EXPEDITE A NEW WINDSHIELD FOR US AND THAT IT SHOULD BE IN ON AUGUST 1ST. TODAY IS AUGUST 12TH, STILL NO WINDSHIELD. THE ORIGINAL CRACK HAPPENED WITHOUT EVER HEARING A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEVERAL DAYS AGO A SMALL ROCK HIT THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE STAR CRACK THAT SPREAD TO A 24 INCH CRACK WITHIN MINUTES. THE CARS WINDSHIELD IS NOW OBSTRUCTED AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM REPORTING HERE AFTER READING ABOUT COUNTLESS WINDSHIELD FAILURES ON 2015 SUBARU OUTBACKS THAT SUGGEST SUBPAR GLASS OR A DEFECT IN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CHASSIS THAT IS CAUSING THE GLASS TO STRESS CRACK.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2015
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN PARKING LOT. VERY LONG BREAK STARTING AT BASE AND CONTINUED HALFWAY UP THROUGH THE CENTER.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 7, 2015
WENT TO PICK UP MY BRAND NEW 2015 OUTBACK FROM THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THEY WILL BE REPLACING IT, BUT THIS CRACK IS IDENTICAL TO OTHERS DESCRIBED IN MANY COMPLAINTS. CRACK STARTED IN THE HEATED WIPER ELEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IS NOW ABOUT 12 INCHES IN LENGTH. SUBARU DEALER SAID THEY BELIEVE IT OCCURRED IN THEIR CAR WASH. LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT IS NOW OBVIOUS SUBARU 2015 OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 5, 2015
SPONTANEOUS CRACK STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT BEHIND THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS GROWING AND WE ARE TOLD THAT WARRANTY DOES NOT HANDLE WINDSHIELD CRACKS. WE HAVE TO PAY $250 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE AND THERE IS A 4-6 MONTH DELAY ON GETTING THE NEW GLASS BECAUSE OF BACKLOG...! THIS IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT INHIBITS OUR VISIBILITY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THERE IS A CRASH OF ANY KIND!
Visibility/wiper, Jul 30, 2015
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR OUTBACK AROUND TOWN WHEN SHE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE CENTER WINDSHIELD, JUST BELOW THE MIRROR ATTACHMENT POINT. SHE DID NOT RECALL ANY MAJOR STONE OR GRAVEL HITS (OTHER THAN THE USUAL DUST/DEBRIS ON NEW ENGLAND ROADS). LATER THAT DAY THE CRACK HAD SPREAD TO APPROXIMATELY 6" AND THEN THREE DAYS LATER (IN THE INTERIM, SHE WENT INTO LABOR AND HAD A BABY), THE CRACK HAD EXPANDED TO NEARLY THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED BOTH THE DEALER AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. AS IS STATED ELSEWHERE ON THE NTSB COMPLAINT SITE, THE ONLY WINDSHIELDS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2015 OUTBACK ARE FACTORY, OEM UNITS - WHICH ARE ON BACK ORDER FROM MOST DEALERS AND GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANIES. GIVEN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT WINDSHIELD CRACKING (BOTH HERE AND AVAILABLE THROUGH VARIOUS OTHER AUTOMOTIVE SITES), I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD WORK TO FIX AN OBVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 30, 2015
WINDSHIELD CRACK ON 2015 OUTBACK WAGON. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT AT 6:00 PM. THE NEXT MORNING, THERE WAS A ~12 INCH CRACK, LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO OVERHANGING TREES AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 26, 2015
WINDSHIELD CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 8". CRACK IS INSIDE GLASS (GLASS IS SMOOTH ON EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF CAR). NO TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS AND NO IMPACTS TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE WHEN CRACK OCCURRED - GLASS WAS NOT CRACKED WHEN PARKED IN SECURE GARAGE FRIDAY EVENING. WAS CRACKED WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 25, 2015
FOR THE SECOND TIME, AFTER BEING PINGED BY A SMALL STONE, THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK CIRCA 3000 MILES SIMILAR EXPERIENCE W/ 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK ALSO W/ LOW MILEAGE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD IN SOME 56 YEARS OF DRIVING THREE TIMES IN 7 MONTHS SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SORT OF SYSTEMIC OR WINDSHIELD CONFIGURATION PROBLEM?
Visibility/wiper, Jul 24, 2015
THIS IS MY SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED. WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME I CAME OUT AND FOUND A 6" CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING BELOW THE WIPERS. IT HAS SINCE SPREAD AN ADDITION 12"+ INCHES UPWARDS AND 4" DOWNWARD. I BELIEVE BELOW THE WIPERS IS WHERE THE HEATING ELEMENT IS LOCATED AND IN A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, INCLUDING THIS SITE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF CRACKS APPEARING ON PARKED CARS ALL STARTING BELOW WIPERS. NOW FOR THE REAL PROBLEM, THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS AVAILABLE. THIS HAPPENED ON 6/24/15 AND I CONTACTED SAFELITE THAT DAY AND DUE THE HEATING ELEMENT THE PART HAS TO COME FROM SUBARU. IT IS NOW EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER AND THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT IN SIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 23, 2015
A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON 7/17/15 SHOWING A TINY CHIP AND 2-3 MM CRACK. WE HAD THE CHIP REPAIRED BY SAFELIGHT EARLY MORNING OF 7/18/15 AND IT LOOKED GOOD. THE NEXT DAY, 7/19/15, THERE WERE 2 CRACKS OVER 6 INCHES LONG AND THE WINDOW WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WOULD HAVE CHALKED IT UP TO JUST BAD LUCK TO HAVE THE REPAIR FAIL UNTIL I CAME ACROSS REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON THE INTERNET AND THEN CAME ACROSS THIS SITE.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2015
NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN HAS SERIOUS GLARE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. ALMOST DROVE OFF ROAD INTO A DITCH YESTERDAY, WHILE TRYING TO SEE SCREEN. NO ONE ELSE ON ROAD. SYSTEM VIRTUALLY USELESS. ALSO SEVERE GLARE ON DRIVER-SIDE MIRROR FROM CAR INTERIOR, MAKES IT HARD TO SEE VEHICLES ON LEFT. SUBARU COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH DESIGNING A PRE-CUT ANTI-GLARE SCREEN COVER OR SIMPLY REPLACING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN WITH A NEW ANTI-GLARE PLASTIC ONE. SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY GET HURT OR KILLED.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2015
FOUND A 2 FOOT CRACK ON MY BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. AFTER WASHING MY CAR YESTERDAY, I STOOD BACK TO ADMIRE HOW GREAT THE CAR LOOKED AND THEN WENT INSIDE. WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE 2 HOURS LATER, I NOTICED A 2 FOOT CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE STARTING POINT IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A ROCK COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY HIT THE CAR UNDER THE BLADE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND I'VE TAKEN EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WITH IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 17, 2015
WINDSHIELD FOUND CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN COMING OUT FROM A STORE. 6" CRACK GREW QUICKLY OVER 2 WEEKS, SPREADING ALL OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE IN A BRANCHED FORMATION ABOUT 2X1'. YESTERDAY, ANOTHER CRACK DEVELOPED IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND IS COMPROMISING VISIBILITY WITH A GLARE FROM THE CRACK AND GROWING QUICKLY AGAIN. REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS BACK-ORDERED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. HAVE BEEN WAITING ABOUT 1 MONTH NOW, DRIVING WITH AN UNSAFE/UNSIGHTLY BRAND NEW CAR, AND I'M OUT A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. GOING TO CONTACT SUBARU AS WELL, BUT THEY NEED MORE PRESSURE TO REPLACE AND REIMBURSE THIS SEEMINGLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAND NEW CAR. UPDATED 10/9/15 *LN.......UPDATED 10/19/15 *BF UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN
Visibility/wiper, Jul 14, 2015
ON JULY 9, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I TAKE TO WORK AND HEARD A SMALL POP, LIKE A PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY CRACKED IN AN L SHAPE DOWN AROUND THE REARVIEW MIRROR. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME FROM WORK THAT NIGHT, THAT CRACK HAD EXTENDED TO ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS A LONG TIME, AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PEBBLE STRIKES WITHOUT ANY OF MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, AS IS EVIDENCED BY MANY OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I LOVE THE CAR OTHERWISE, BUT AM WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE POSTED COMPLAINTS WERE ON THEIR THIRD WINDSHIELD THIS YEAR ON THEIR 2015 OUTBACKS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I EMAILED SUBARU AND DID GET A REPLY SUGGESTING I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LET THEM INSPECT IT, AND THAT THEY WERE "NOT AWARE" OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELDS FOR THE 2015 OUTBACKS. INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE AND SEVERAL OTHERS SUGGESTS OTHERWISE. WE NEED TO SPEAK UP SO SUBARU KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON AND IS FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 14, 2015
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SHE CHECKED IT WHEN SHE GOT TO WORK AND SAID THERE WAS A SMALL CHIP. BY THE TIME SHE GOT HOME THE CHIP HAD BECOME A CRACK AND WAS ALMOST A FOOT LONG. WE HAVE LIMITED OUR USE OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE CRACK CONTINUES TO GROW AND IS NOW OVER TWO FEET LONG. SAFELITE HAS SAID THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I HAVE HAD STONE CHIPS BEFORE AND THEY WERE EASY TO REPAIR AND DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT I NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER WINDSHIELD IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 3, 2015
DROVE THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON A MILITARY BASE (30 MPH) AND PARKED AT THE BANK. NO NOISE INDICATION OF A ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. CAME OUT OF THE BANK AND THERE WAS A 6-8 INCH CRACK STARTING UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPERS, THAT EXTENDED FROM THE EDGE UP INTO THE PASSENGERS VIEW. DROVE THE CAR ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO GET HOME, CRACK BECAME 12-16 INCHES. PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND MARKED IT WITH A WINDOW MARKER. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK WAS 3 INCHES LONGER....FROM SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY?? EITHER WAY, HERE IT IS JULY AND STILL WAITING ON A NEW WINDSHIELD. CRACK EXTENDS HALFWAY UP AND INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD...AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN. IT HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE THE 19TH OF JUNE BUT THE CRACK IS STILL GETTING BIGGER.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 2, 2015
WE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH OUR WINDSHIELD THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD -- SEE, EG, COMPLAINT # 10730819. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING A NEW 2015 OUTBACK, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF OUR SOMEWHAT STEEPLY-ANGLED GARAGE, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I SAW NO EVIDENCE OF A STONE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND THOUGHT THERE WAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR DEALER WHO DID A "PEN TEST" ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE PEN TIP, INDEED, CAUGHT IN THE CRACK AND THE REPAIR PERSON SAID THAT INDICATED A ROCK HIT AND WE JUST HAD UNFORTUNATE LUCK. THE CRACK GREW QUICKLY, SNAKING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD, WHILE WE WAITED A FEW WEEKS FOR THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD TO BECOME AVAILABLE VIA SAFELITE. BASED ON THIS AND OTHER COMMENT SITES, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A REPEAT CRACK. ALSO, OF COURSE, WONDERING IF IT WAS REALLY JUST "BAD LUCK." OUR SUBARU DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN NON-COMMUNICATIVE. I CONTACTED SUBARU CORPORATE WITH A COMPLAINT AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED - AND WE'VE BEEN A "SUBARU FAMILY" FOR A LONG TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 24, 2015
CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AWAY FROM TREES OR ANY OTHER VEGETATION. WAS GONE FROM CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. UPON RETURN, THERE WAS A 12 INCH CRACK DESCENDING FROM UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF WINDSHIELD. BY MORNING, AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED INSIDE A LOCKED GARAGE, AND WITH LESS THAN 2 MORE MILES DRIVEN, CRACK HAD GROWN ANOTHER 12 INCHES (APPROXIMATELY.)
Visibility/wiper, Jun 18, 2015
OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WAS IMPACTED BY A SMALL PEBBLE THAT CRACKED OUR WINDSHIELD. I PUT IN A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY AND SETUP A REPLACEMENT WITH SAFELITE. GOT A CALL LATER INDICATING THAT THE PART IS NOT IN STOCK AND NEEDS TO BE ORDERED. THAT WAS 4 WEEKS AGO AT THIS POINT AND STILL NO INDICATION OF WHEN THIS WILL BE RESOLVED. THE CRACKS CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND NOW IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE CRACKS ARE IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. I (AND I ASSUME MANY OTHER PEOPLE) HAVE TRIED CONTACTING SUBARU AND I FOR ONE AM NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE FROM THEM ON THIS ISSUE THUS WE NEED TO CONTINUE DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR DUE TO THE FACT WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE A RENTAL AND AGAIN BECAUSE NO ONE CAN PROVIDE AN ETA WE WOULDN'T KNOW HOW LONG WE'D NEED ONE ASSUMING WE COULD GET ONE. BASED ON WHAT I READ HERE THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN A SHORT TIME ONCE WE DO GET THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE CONDUCTED AND A RECALL ISSUED. I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT WITH THE WINDSHIELDS OF THIS CAR AND WHEN SAFETY IS THREATENED, STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT US. I APOLOGIZE IF THIS DOESN'T FIT THE CRITERIA OF WHAT SHOULD BE POSTED HERE BUT NOT HAVING A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IN A TIMELY FASHION IN ITSELF IS A SAFETY HAZARD.