Wiper problems of the 2015 Subaru Outback - part 2

2 years, 35000 miles into owning new 2015 Outback, my windshield developed an 8 inch long crack originating from the bottom driver's side. This appeared while parked outside my workplace, with no known windshield impacts driving. Consequently, I replaced the windshield using safelite, matching the windshield type via VIN. Only 2 months after replacement, another crack developed originating from the bottom passenger side edge, and quickly spread 3/4 of the way across the bottom. Again, no impacts were witnessed to the windshield while driving. I have no confidence in replacing the windshield again, as it likely will crack in the same manner sooner or later.

There is a crack in the windshield that showed up about 5 months and has increased in size. Before brining it to the dealer (napoleon Subaru in schaumburg, IL), I had the vehicle checked by a local mechanic and was told the crack was due to the faulty windshield and not because of any impact. There has been no impact to the windshield to my knowledge and yet the crack appeared and has spread. Subaru dealer said that the crack may have been caused by an impact but again I don't recollect any impact that could cause this. The Subaru dealer said he did his pen point check and the crack was not caused by Subaru's fault. What the Subaru dealer told me about the pen point check makes no sense to me especially as there has been no impact to my windshield. I am very disappointed that Subaru and the dealer are lying about the faulty windshield and are refusing to replace it (which I am assuming is also a faulty oem part). I have owned several cars before and I've never had this issue before. I repeat, never before on any car, especially a new car. I checked with a local mechanic and again, was told this was likely caused by faulty windshield. Either to avoid admitting fault or to avoid paying for a recall for this item or for avoiding liability in a lawsuit, I don't know but I feel like Subaru is deliberately lying or misrepresenting the facts about it. I don't know what I should expect from writing this complaint but I am writing because I am extremely disappointed with this. We were considering a Subaru forrester for next year but I am not going to do that now given how badly Subaru is treating me on this fault of theirs. I suspect Subaru will not do the right thing despite it being Subaru's fault at putting in a bad windshield and instead push the cost to the car buyers. I can be reached on the cell at 201 600 5259. Thanks. N bobba.

Large crack in windshield without any impact. Starts at the bottom middle of the car and branches out in both directions.

Defective/delicate windshield. Driving at 65mph on smooth highway in rain. Put defrosters on. Windshield crack on drivers side about 12" from bottom. Runs to about 2' before stopping. Closeup inspection reveals no missing material or chip indicative of impact.

I was driving down a city street going 40 mph when I heard a pop coming from the windshield. When I looked over, there was a crack about midway up the windshield. It ran from the far right toward the middle about 10 inches and then downward. It was curving downward. There was one car in front about 25 yards away going about the same speed as I was. I could not believe that the car in front of me could have thrown a rock that far and hard enough to break my windshield. I have been hit many times before on the highway and my window had never broken. Only small nicks that I can see. I got to the theater and got out to look at the window. The crack started from the edge of the window. I could not see where anything had hit the window. It was a clean break. I had to take my Outback to the dealer because I'm having problems with the window express switch, and they looked at my windshield. They are going to replace it because I had purchased extended coverage and it was covered.

I was driving my 2015 Subaru Outback on the highway, northbound interstate 280, in woodside, California, on may 27, 2016. Suddenly I saw a small crack on my windshield that grew to about 6 inches in a few seconds, starting from the wipers, at the bottom and a bit towards the driver side and going up then curving towards the right, in an l shape. By the next morning the horizontal part of the crack had expanded at least 12 inches more. I did not hear the noise of impact of a stone or any other object.

This is my original 2015 Outback. I own 2 2015s. My other one one had a windshield issue when I was driving around 35 on a cold night. There was a large pop and suddenly a crack appeared on the passenger side. Over the next days it grew into a backwards "j". Dealer said it was not covered, however it was difficult to even see a mark that would indicate it was hit from a rock, and not defective. We went ahead and fixed it, even though we thought it was odd. The other morning, we went down to the garage and found that our original 2015 had a similar crack on the driver's side, in a similar shape and length. The day before, we drove the car to the beach. Nothing hit it, and the crack is smooth, with nothing found where it originates. Something is defective with these windshields. There is no way 2 windshields on 2 new cars should both have to be replaced. We own ours cars a long time, and have never had a windshield experience like this, and if a rock ever hits one, it's a tiny mark that can be handled by insurance. Something is wrong but Subaru has written it so any upper windshield issues are not included, and this is not right. We are going buying our second one in four months, with eyesight. There is a defect.

Windshield cracked from passenger side wiper area up and across windshield while car was parked. Had received a letter from Subaru indicating there was a potential weakness in windshield - dealer refused to replace windshield . Claimed damage was from a rock.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!.

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.

Driving on a road traveling approx. 35 miles an hour on a cold night. Heard a loud pop around the passenger side upper windshield. A small crack appeared. There was no bump or rock hit as the rest of the area appeared smooth. Crack spread into backwards "j" shape over next few days at least 12 inches long. Dealership told me it wasn't covered and there was a rock hit. But the area was smooth and I've been driving for 30 years and have never had this happen. We ate the cost because it needed to be repaired, even though considered it odd that this would happen. However, we happen to own another 2015 Outback. Yesterday, we went into the garage to start the car and there is a 12 inch crack - the same shape- on the driver's side in the same locations. No signs of a rock hit. Weather has been very warm, but this time, the car was parked. Something is wrong. 2 - 2015 Outbacks? 2 "j" shaped cracks? it's no coincidence and too many complaints on line from people with similar situations. Windshield is faulty and Subaru won't step up and include the upper part in its recalls. It needs to. Very dissatisfied customer.

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.

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.

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".

My windshield cracked while on the highway. I did not see or hear a stone hit. 3 other people were in the car when a 10 inch crack appeared from the driver side corner post toward the middle. No one saw or heard a stone hit. I came home and researched it and there are many complaints on the Outback forum about how easily their windshields broke. I think it is a safety issue if so many of Subaru's new windshields are cracking so easily.

On Sunday oct 11th while sitting in the driveway and washing the car a spider crack appeared under the tip of the passenger side windshield wiper that has spread across to just about the rear view mirror. Went to the dealer who then took some photos to send to Subaru. After many calls back and forth we are still waiting on a determination. First was to be be today 10/23 now being told 10/28. There is no evidence of an external impact and as the car is sitting in the driveway it seems it is being pushed out from the inside.

Tl-the contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, a pebble struck her windshield that cause a twelve inch crack. The contact stated that upon arriving home, the crack expanded to about sixteen inches in the shape of the letter "u". The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000. Ed.

Our 2015 suburu Outback was purchased in April 2015. In July, the windshield cracked (right up the middle and then, branched out to both sides) right before our eyes in the parking lot of the zoo. No impact of any debris was heard or evident. We had the windshield replaced after suburu determined a point of impact from debris. We did not agree, but we needed a new windshield, so we paid for it. On October 8, after getting into car at work parking lot, another crack was discovered and matched the July's crack exactly. Again, no impact of debris and the start of the crack starts at the very bottom of the windshield. I visited suburu this morning for routing maint and they informed me of no recall and didn't do anything about it. I am replacing the windshield, again, in a couple of days. I suspect there is something wrong with the manufacturing or design of the Outback.

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.

In less than six months, two windshields have cracked with normal usage. Vehicles has less than 4600 miles. This is either a glass failure issues or a design flaw. Either way, unsafe.

Windshield cracked while driving through lake tahoe area without any debris hitting windshield. The crack started at lower passenger corner and has grown past mid section of the windshield. This is the 2nd windshield damaged beyond repair on this vehicle.

For unknown reasons, my windshield cracked on the driver's side while it was parked in the driveway. There is no evidence of any impact damage.

Interior rear view mirror broke off the mounting with glass attached to the mounting. Their was no forceful movement or adjustment being applied to the mirror at the time, it just came down. Distracting my driving.

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.

Three days ago, our new Subaru Outback (purchased in late February 2015) developed a crack in the windshield overnight that is now over two feet in length. The crack runs from the top edge, mid-windshield on the driver's side, and circles around the rear view mirror before tailing off a foot or so above the bottom edge, in front of the passenger's side. No object struck the windshield, it simply cracked. We contacted the dealership, who told us that this would not be covered under the warranty, that no aftermarket windshields are available for this model, and quoted a price of $625 (before taxes) for replacement with Subaru glass. The dealership also indicated that there are only a few Subaru windshields available in the us. After hearing this, we went online and discovered that many others have had similar experiences with this model. No wonder there are so few windshields available! since we bought the car, we have noticed significant road noise inside the cabin, even with all windows tightly closed. This, coupled with the number of similar complaints we've seen about cracked windshields on 2015 Subaru Outbacks, leads us to believe that Subaru should recall the model, in order to address the design flaw before someone is killed or injured.

Noticed a crack in the windshield on 8/27/15. It extended from under the right windshield wiper towards the center of the windshield about 18 inches long. I could not think of an object having hit the windshield, then recalled driving down the street earlier at about 30 mph. I had heard a loud pop sound, but thought it was coming from under the chasis, like the sound of a rock flying up from a tire and hitting underneath. In retrospect this was probably when the windshield cracked. Online research I did earlier showed hundreds of complaints about the windshields on the 2015 Outbacks cracking easily, many of which did not involve objects hitting the car. I found several sites of similar complaints, with the links of 1 below. I brought the car into the dealer the next day and explained that the windshield had spontaneously cracked. They initially told me that my crack appeared to have been caused by an object and not covered under warranty. I asked them to explain how an object could possibly have hit the glass and not damaged the wiper, which was fully intact. They said: "the wiper blade must have been moving when a rock struck windshield". I said no, the wiper blades have not been used in several days since it had not been raining. Also, an insurance appraiser looked at the damaged glass and said this was not caused by an object hitting it from the outside, since the crack he said was an "inside-out" crack based on the feel of the crack. A warranty claim was submitted by the dealer to Subaru of America. Within 2-3 days the decision was made by soa to cover the glass under warranty. Fortunately the dealer had a new windshield in stock, however, there are many reports of the windshield having been back ordered for weeks at a time, which is a safety issue. . Read more...

We have 7,100 miles on our new & very first Subaru Outback. This past week we developed a crack that began on the lower 4 inches / center portion on the passenger side of windshield. Yes, there is a "very small nick" from where it began. Believe me, it's smaller than the top of a straight pin. The crack started out in 2 directions and over the past few days has grown to 20 inches and 11 inches respectfully, as of today. If you look at the data on the NHTSA web site for complaints about the 2015 Subaru Outback (104 total 8/20/15 ) 65 of them are about windshields cracking at a very high frequency rate. Plus, the Subaruoutback. Org web site has a litany of the same complaints . It's to the point, that there is a serious backorder of windshields for the Outback. There have even been cases, were after replacement, the problem happens again, shortly thereafter. I have tried to find this type of problem with other vehicles / brands for 2015. There are none to be found! except the 2015 Subaru legacy, 10 currently , same type of windshield. That would make it around 75 windshield cracking complaints total. Something other than "bad luck" is causing this issue. Subaru needs to seriously take this issue to their engineering people and find it's root cause and cover a proper replacement . I wouldn't recommend anyone running out and getting a replacement until this whole problem is addressed. Again, the replacement windshields are cracking also. Subaru "please step up" and do the right thing for the sake of your reputation and the satisfaction of your many customers, both old and new.

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.

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.

Within 9 days of receiving a replacement windshield for my Subaru Outback, my windshield was damaged again. The dealer noted it on 8/8/15 and the windshield was replaced on 7/31/15. I do not recall any rock hitting the windshield. The top corner of the passenger side windshield had a crack. I did contact Subaru of America who agreed to replace the windshield free of charge.