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
509 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 28, 2016
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM DRIVERS SIDE BOTTOM CORNER ACROSS THE MID LINE ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT FROM AN ROCK OR OBJECT. CRACK BEGUN WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND WITHIN 45 SECONDS EXTENDED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO THE MID POINT OF THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK IS IN DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT, AND A SAFETY HAZARD. TOOK IT TO DEALER, WHO RESPONDED, THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL. PULLED OVER AND FOUND NO IMPACT OR ROCK CHIP ANYWHERE ALONG CRACK. WINDSHIELD DEFECTIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 22, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, A CRACK APPEARED IN MY WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT FORMED AN REVERSE L ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK APPEARED BEFORE MY EYES AS I WAS DRIVING UP THE ROAD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 14, 2016
SUBARU 2015 WINDSHIELD CRACK: DRIVING INTO ALBUQUERQUE NM FROM SANTA FE ON HWY25, I SAW A CRACK APPEAR IN MY WINDSHIELD, FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE NEXT DAY IT HAD GROWN INTO AN L SHAPE.IN 2 MORE DAYS IT HAD GROWN TO AN S SHAPE. I DID NOT SEE ANY CARS CLOSE BY OR ANY ROCK AT THE TIME THE CRACK APPEARED. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD TO COME IN ON 4-27-16 FOR MY ANNUAL MAINTENANCE, BUT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CRACK KEPT GROWING. I WENT TO THE ALBUQUERQUE GARCIA DEALER TODAY 4-14-16, I WAS TOLD A TINY PINPOINT SPOT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD INDICATED A ROCK HAD CAUSED THE CRACK TO START. BUT I HAVE DRIVEN CARS FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER SEEN ANYTHING THIS DRAMATIC. I NOW HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE AND MOST VICTIMS BELIEVE THE FLEXING OF THE CAR BODY MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS CRACK. THE FRAGILITY OF THIS WINDSHIELD MAKES THIS CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I BELIEVE THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY RECALL.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 12, 2016
6-8 INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD, NO ROCK IMPACT OR PREVIOUS DAMAGE. WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REPLACED AND EYESIGHT SYSTEM RE-CALIBRATED. CRACK OCCURRED DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, NO TRUCKS IN THE AREA, NOT CLOSE TO OTHER CARS.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 6, 2016
ON 2/11/2016, I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 OUTBACK ON HIGHWAY 50 NEAR FOLSOM, CA. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WITH IN 300 FEET. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I NOTICED THERE WAS A 5 TO 6 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD LOCATED THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CORNER. ALTHOUGH LATER ON WE FOUND THERE WAS A CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD, NO BODY ON THE CAR HEARD ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, NOR SAW ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THAT CRACK BECAME A TWO FEET LONG CRACK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CORNER ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. AND IT KEEP REFLECTING STRONG LIGHTS FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHICH MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE THINGS IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD I HAVE WITHIN ONE YEAR'S OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS CRACKED WHEN I PARKED MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF A COSTCO WAREHOUSE. LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINS FILED AGAINST THE 2015 AND 2016 OUTBACK ON NHTSA, ALMOST 50% COMPLAINS ARE ABOUT WINDSHIELD CRACKING ISSUE. THIS RATIO IS THE WAY HIGHER THAN SIMILAR VEHICLES AND PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS. ALTHOUGH SUBARU EXTENDED WIND SHIELD WARRANTY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED. THAT'S WHY 2016 OUTBACK OWNERS ARE RUNNING INTO SAME SITUATION. PLEASE STEP IN AND URGE SUBARU TO DELIVER A REAL SOLUTION.
Wheels, Apr 6, 2016
AT 36,573 MILES 5/26/15 HAD TO REPLACE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING, AT 79,176 MILES 12/16/15 HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING, AT 94,957 MILES 4/1/16 HAD TO REPLACE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. CAR BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN WHEEL BEARING IS FAILING.
Steering, Apr 5, 2016
IN MOTION.ON COUNTRY ROAD. THERE IS A GAP IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHERE I GOT MY FINGER CAUGHT WHILE TURNING RIGHT. VERY SHARP PAIN WHILE RETURNING THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHT. HAD TO MORE THE WHEEL RIGHT AGAIN TO REMOVE MY FINGER. COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS PROBLEM. I WAS NOW ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD AND ENDED UP ON RIGHT SHOULDER AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO EXTRICATE MY FINGER. I SUPPOSE ONE COULD LOSE PART OF FINGER OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD AS IT BEGAN TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,750.
Suspension, Mar 7, 2016
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT LESS THAN 8000 MILES. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. NO HISTORY OF DRIVING THROUGH WATER OR ACCIDENT. LARGE PORTION OF DRIVING DOES OCCUR ON MILD MOUNTAIN ROAD.
Other or unspecified, Mar 7, 2016
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED FOR NO KNOWN REASON. SHATTERED GLASS RAINED DOWN INTO DRIVER COMPARTMENT. SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. HAD SIMILAR ISSUE WITH FRONT WINDSCREEN CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2016
FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A 20 INCH CRACK, RUNNING FROM PILLAR ON PASSENGER SIDE, TOWARD CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. NO APPEARANCE OF ROCK STRIKE. NO SOUND OF ROCK STRIKE WHEN CRACK FIRST DEVELOPED. CRACK STARTED AT AROUND 14 INCHES, AND CONTINUES TO GROW LONGER. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN CRACK FIRST APPEARED, AT AROUND 75 MPH.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 18, 2016
WE TEST DRIVE A 2015 OUTBACK SUBARU AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAD A CRACK IN IT AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH OF IT 20K MILES. WE ENDED UP PURCHASING THIS ONE PRIVATELY AND IT HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AS WELL. IT ONLY HAS 11K MILES. THE CRACK ON THE OUTBACK THAT WE PURCHASED STARTS AT THE TOP MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BEHIND THE REARVIEW MIRROW AND CUTS DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 8 INCHES. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S A HUGE DEFECT WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND DEFROSTER THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE!
Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2016
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE, A PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CHIP IN DRIVERS SIDE. CHIP WAS REPAIRED BY OUR DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS IN LINE OF VISION. WAS EXCEPTING THIS REPAIR, BUT THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD MATERIAL WAS TOO SOFT OR BRITTLE FOR THIS SMALL REPAIR, NOW HAVE A BROKEN WINDSHIELD FROM CHIP ON LEFT SIDE, NEEDS REPLACING.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 9, 2016
CRUISE CONTROL (CC) CAUSED WHAT I THOUGHT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. OPERATION OF CC IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY CC I USED IN THE PAST. THE CC WAS ALREADY ENGAGED AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I DECIDED TO INCREASE MY SPEED, SO I PRESSED THE 'SET +' BUTTON. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN I REACHED 43 MPH, I RELEASED THE BUTTON. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 70 MPH. LUCKILY THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY AND I WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CC 'SET +' (AND 'SET -') HAS 2 POSITIONS - PUSHING IT HALF WAY INCREASES YOUR SPEED LIKE A TRADITIONAL CC, AND PUSHING IT ALL THE WAY ACTUALLY INCREASES THE SET SPEED OF YOUR CC BY 5 MPH INCREMENTS. HENCE WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS JUST ACCELERATING TO 43 MPH, I WAS ACTUALLY SETTING THE CC SPEED TO 70 MPH. ONE OF THE OPTION PACKAGES WITH THE CAR ADDS THIS 5 MPH INCREMENT 'FEATURE'. THE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE AND THE REGULAR MANUAL DO NOT MENTION THIS 'FEATURE' - IT IS ONLY MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE AUXILIARY MANUALS FOR THE OPTION PACKAGE. I THINK UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT MUCH WORSE THAN IT DID. THE CC DOES NOT WORK LIKE TRADITIONAL CC, AND THE CONTROLS LOOK LIKE A TRADITIONAL CC.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 6, 2016
TWICE IN SNOWING CONDITION , THE WINDSHIELD ICED AT THE BOTTOM AND DID NOT CLEAR EVEN THOUGH THE DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE OUR JOURNEY. EVEN THOUGH WE STOPPED EVERY TEN MINUTES OR LESS TO SCRAPE THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. I'VE HAD MANY CARS IN MANY CONDITIONS AND NEVER SAW THIS LACK OF VISIBILITY. IT TOOK 4 HOURS ON ROUTE 270 FROM FREDRICK TO GO 20 MILES OUT AND RETURN. VERY SCARY.
Power train, Engine, Jan 29, 2016
I HAVE A SURGING ISSUE WITH MY 3.6R AFTER COLD STARTS. UPON START-UP, THE IDLE WILL BE ~1800 AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT WILL DROP TO 800-1000RPM. THEN, AS I SLOWLY PULL INTO THE GARAGE, OR PULL INTO A STOPPED LINE OF TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE WILL SURGE BACK TO THE HIGHER RPM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THIS RETURN TO HIGH IDLE OCCUR AFTER I HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE APPLIED BRAKES AND REQUIRING ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD IT OCCUR WHEN SLOWLY ROLLING FORWARD. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN DAMAGED PROPERTY AND/OR INJURY. I SEE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL NHTSA COMPLAINT FOR THIS ISSUE, WHICH SUBARU DEEMED "NORMAL" OPERATION. I DID CONTACT MY DEALER REQUESTING A FIRMWARE UPDATE, IF ONE WAS AVAILABLE, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ONE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 3/23/2015 AND THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE NEW, BUT IT MORE COMMON IN COLDER WEATHER. I HAVE 18K MILES ON THE VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2016
WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A POP, DID SEE OR NOTICE ANYTHING. NEXT DAY I HAD A CRACK IN MY DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD, ABOUT 8-10 INCHES CRACK. THOUGHT I HAD GLASS COVERAGE BUT ITS $1000 DEDUCTIBLE. SAFELITE COST IS $461.55. I HAVE THE 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH EYESIGHT, THAT MEANS AFTER SAFELIGHT REPAIRS THE WINDSHIELD I THEN NEED TO BRING THE CAR TO MY SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THE EYESIGHT RECALIBRATE FOR ABOUT $200. MY CAR ONLY HAS 8700 MILES. LOOKING AT OTHER COMMENTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH 2015 SUBARU OUTBACKS. IF I HAD FULL GLASS COVERAGE I WOULD HAVE CARED OR WROTE ABOUT THIS. HOPE SUBARU FIXES THIS PROBLEM. THANKS AND HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE. AFTER SEEING THE NOTE BELOW I WAS IN MOTION ON A 2 LANE STREET. I DO DRIVE FROM NY TO FLORIDA TWICE A YEAR AND DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF THIS HAPPENED ON A LONG TRIP. DOESN'T SEEM SAFE IF SUBARU HAS DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS
Steering, Jan 6, 2016
THE BACKING ON THE STEERING WHEEL CORE IS MISSING AND WHEN TURNING IT IS VERY EASY TO PLACE PART OF A FINGER INTO THE RECESS THAT WOULD RESULT IN EITHER LOSING PART OF THE FINGER OR HAVING A FATAL ACCIDENT WHEN STRAIGHTENING OUT THE STEERING WHEEL.
Other or unspecified, Dec 27, 2015
WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A18 INCH HORIZONTAL CRACK AT EYE LEVEL STARTED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CRACK IS TRAVELING. AIR TEMP WAS IN THE 70'S, NO RAIN OR HAIL, HAPPENED SOMETIME BETWEEN DEC 24-26, 2015. ODOMETER WAS 9200. I SAW ON A CAR COMPLAINTS WEBSITE MANY OTHER 2015 OUTBACKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 16, 2015
DURING A RECENT TRIP TO COLORADO, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A DOZEN SMALL PITS IN THE EXTERIOR GLASS SURFACE FROM CONTACT WITH VERY TINY PEBBLES. TWO OF THE PITS HAVE DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS THAT HAVE GROWN TO LENGTHS EXCEEDING 15 INCHES. THE TINY PEBBLE STRIKES SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED SUCH PITS BASED ON MY EXTENSIVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE THERE TO BE A DEFECT IN THE GLASS ITSELF, MAKING IT UNUSUALLY BRITTLE. THE PEBBLE STRIKES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (I.E. 55-65 MPH) ON PAVED ROADWAYS. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE DURING THE PEBBLE STRIKES, WHICH TOOK PLACE OVER SEVERAL DAYS OF DRIVING, RANGED FROM 20 TO 45 DEGREES F. THE CRACKS APPEAR TO STILL BE GROWING.
Service brakes, Dec 11, 2015
WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS SOMETIMES MY FOOT HITS THE GAS PEDAL. 2ND. OUTBACK I PURCHASED .NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. HAD CAR SINCE 21 MAY 2015 HAPPENED APPROX. 4 TIMES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 23, 2015
PURCHASED THE 2015 OUTBACK IN SEPT. 2014. TOOK TO BACK TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. OCTOBER. 24, 2014 BECAUSE OF LOUD POPPING NOISE AROUND WINDSHIELD ESPECIALLY WHEN BLUETOOTH PHONE CONNECTED. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. POPPING NOISE AROUND WINDSHIELD CONTINUED FROM TIME TO TIME. TOOK BACK TO DEALER JULY 29, 2015 FOR POPPING NOISE AROUND WINDSHIELD AND POOR RADIO AM RECEPTION. THEY REPLACED THE RADIO BUT AM RADIO RECEPTION STILL NOT GREAT. GOT IN THE OUTBACK ON NOV 17, 2015 AND THERE WAS A 5" CRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF THE CENTER. A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THIS I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE. IT MADE ME JUMP AS I THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD WAS GOING TO SHATTER BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU ABOUT WINDSHIELD CRACKING PROBLEMS SO I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK IT IN SO THEY COULD TAKE A PICTURE. AT THAT TIME I ALSO REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE DEFROSTER NOT KEEPING THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR ESPECIALLY ON RAINY DAYS AND NIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEFROSTER HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WAS I THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. I THOUGHT THE SUBARU HAD ELECTRICAL L ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE POPPING, POOR AM RADIO RECEPTION AND THE DEFROSTER. NOW THE WINDSHIELD! THIS IS MY FIRST SUBARU AND POSSIBLY LAST IF THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. ALL OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING BUT WHEN I DISCOVERED THE CRACK IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CRACK US NOW ABOUT 9".
Other or unspecified, Nov 17, 2015
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND HAVE HAD 3 WINDSHIELDS CRACK. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD THIS MANY INCIDENTS WITH CRACKED WINDSHIELDS
Visibility/wiper, Nov 14, 2015
SMALL PEBBLE STRUCK WINDSHIELD PASSENGER SIDE AT EDGE ADJACENT TO HEATING ELEMENT AT LEVEL OF MID WINDSHIELD. THIS LEFT A SMALL SHALLOW PIT IN OUTER GLASS. 12 HOURS LATER A CRACK DEVELOPED AT THE WINDSHIELD EDGE AND EXTENDED 12 INCHES TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS SLOWLY EXTENDING
Visibility/wiper, Nov 10, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A SMALL ROCK HIT OUR WINDSHIELD IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DEICER AREA. WE HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT SUBARU KNOWS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH WINDSHIELDS CRACKING AT THE DEICER AREA, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER STATES THAT OUR CRACK INITIATED ABOVE THE AREA FOR WHICH THEY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE DEICER AREA ON OUR WINDSHIELD EXTENDS ABOVE THE SPOT WHERE THE ROCK HIT, BUT SUBARU IS TRYING TO LIMIT RESPONSIBILITY TO A LOWER AREA. VISIBILITY IS A HIGHLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF SAFE DRIVING. THE DEICER AREA WAS NOT APPLIED BY TWO DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING PROCESSES WHEN IT IS A FEW INCHES APART. SUBARU IS TRYING TO LIMIT LIABILITY FOR A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW. WE BELIEVE THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.