2020 Subaru Outback VISIBILITY/WIPER

The front windshield cracked spontaneously overnight while parked in my garage. There had been no previous chips or cracks. The crack started on both sides near the wiper area and radiated upward toward the eyesight camera.

Today, 7/11/2021 my 3rd OEM Subaru windshield cracked spontaneously, while driving. All windshields were replaced at Beardmore Subaru, in Belleville, NE using Subaru replacement windshields. In all instances the windshield has cracked spontaneously without impact on either the passenger side or at the bottom of the windshield, near the middle. The cracks continue to propagate quickly while driving or when parked overnight, until the crack terminates on the side opposite the crack. This spontaneous cracking, is a safety hazard in that it not only compromises the integrity of the glass, but also can affect the Subaru EyeSight safety vision system, by impairing camera view thru the windshield if a crack propagates through the cameras field of view. This new instance means that in less than 10,000 miles I have had 4 windshields in this car. I have never had this occur on any vehicle I have owned previously, nor to our 2017 Outback. This appears to be a defect in Subaru OEM glass or the specifications Subaru has engineered for the 2020 and up Outback global platform.

WINDSHIELD FORMED A LARGE CRACK AT 2495 MILES (APPROX. 2/15/20) FROM LEFT BOTTOM CORNER TO CENTER ABOVE DRIVER POSITION. ONLY INDICATED CAUSE A 1/8 INCH SHALLOW SCRATCH. WINDSHIELD AGAIN CRACKED, ALMOST IDENTICAL SIZE AND POSITION AT 8934 MILES (APPROX.4/20/21), ONLY INDICATED DAMAGE A SMALL PIT AT LEFT BOTTOM. CRACKS ONLY APPEARED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE---NOTHING NOTICED PRIOR. EMAIL WITH GM AT DEALER PRODUCED NO RESPONSE. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENTS $979.10. NO DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELDS OF 2 OTHER VEHICLES DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROUTES. IN MY OPINION, BOTH WINDSHIELD MARKS WERE EXTREMELY MINOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED WINDSHIELD FAILURE.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE LOWER CENTER WHILE PARKING IN THE GARAGE. NO KNOWN IMPACT HAPPENED.

A 12-INCH LING CRACK DEVELOPED SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. ONLY ~3,470 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM-MIDDLE AND WENT UPWARD AND TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE IN A J SHAPE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF AN IMPACT TO ME, BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY WAS SIGNS OF IMPACT SO IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.

Was driving SB on route 41 south of Oskosh, Wi at a certain point I noticed a crack forming on the windshield spreading from the lower right side over to the lower left side and continue upward. No rock hit or impact was heard.

Second spontaneous windshield crack

Random crack started on windshield from bottom middle lower area and quickly spread to drivers side. No rock chip or cause

The car has had 3 windshields already replaced and the current windshield is broken and will need to be replaced. The car only had 9,800 miles on it. Afraid the visibility is greatly impacted. Several dealers have indicated that there are problems with the strength of the windshield on this auto/model. And the manufacturer has also implied that there may be issues. I am getting the dealership to inspect the windshield tomorrow (9/11/2021). I have not received any prior notification of windshield issues prior to current breakage. I first discovered the defective nature of the windshield on 9/9/2021. I have contacted independent repair shops to verify that this is not a sole incident and has occurred many times same makes and model.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE CRACKING. CRACK BEGAIN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PORTION WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS PAINTED. ONGOING ISSUE WITH 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS.

windshield developed enlarging cracks; was worried the windshield would implode; independent service center examined and replaced; drove down ~1/4 mile winding dirt road to church meeting site in wooded area; after arrival I lowered driver front side window slightly to allow fresh air in car on warm day; did not notice any crack/breakage in windshield; upon starting the car when ready to return (~5 hours later) immediately noticed 2 cracks in windshield on driver side both about 6-8 inches above bottom; another smaller crack on far left side looked like impact; got out and could find nothing on car or ground around that would account for the breakage; both non-impact cracks grew an inch or two wider as I drove home

Drove vehicle over a small bump in the road while driving less than 5 mph and a crack appeared on right center edge of windshield of approximately 3 inches ... Within 15 minutes the crack extended to across almost half the windshield. Vehicle has 11500 miles. When we notified Subaru, they stated it would not be covered under warranty.

We purchased a 2020 Subaru Outback on August 20, 2021. On September 20, 2021, the car was driven to work, there was no crack in the windshield, the car sat in a parking lot for approximately 8 hours; upon getting in the car after work a crack was noted on the lower portion of the windshield and was going across the middle of the windshield (approximately 3 inches up from the bottom and approximately 14 inches horizontal). There was no apparent reason for this crack.

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Crack initiated at the top of the windshield and formed a curve to turn horizontal. Total length of crack approx. 18 inches.

Got into the car on Thursday, September 16th and there was a spiderwebbing crack in the lower center of the windshield. The car was parked the previous night with no crack and no incident of anything striking the windshield the previous day

Windshield crack

Rearview mirror broke off of the windshield during normal use. At no time did I pull on the rearview mirror with excessive force.

On 04/09/2020 the windshield spontaneously cracked across the lower right side while sitting in our garage. There was a very small etch that could have been caused by a small rock however we were never aware of a rock hitting the windshield. The first indication was the large crack after sitting in the garage over night. This windshield was replaced with new. On 07/26/2021 the windshield spontaneously cracked again, while driving, starting at the lower center and then immediately spreading across to the left side. There was no indication of a rock hitting the windshield though there is a small etch at the crack start point. I have had several windshields hit by rock which always only left at most a small crack at the hit point and never broke across the whole windshield like these two incidents. Both incidents resulted in distorted vision making driving dangerous.

Was driving on freeway and heard a pop and windshield developed a hairline crack from bottom and extended up as we continue driving. Not even a chip but immediately a crack. Windshield is too brittle.

VEHICLE PARKED AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AIRPORT FROM 2/27/21-3/5/21 DEVELOPED WINDSHIELD CRACK IN STATIONARY CONDITION WITH NO OBSERVABLE EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD OR CAR. LUCKILY THE CRACK IS MINOR AND DID NOT IMPAIR DRIVING BUT A FULL REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO AN ALMOST NEW PARKED CAR WITH NO NOTICEABLE DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD.

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE (64) AND GOT A SMALL CHIP (ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY PINKY NAIL) FROM A ROCK/ PEBBLE IN LOWER LEFT AREA OF WINDSHIELD. PARKED THE CAR AT HOME. CHIP WAS STABLE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CHIP NOW HAS A CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD HORIZONTALLY ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY. THE DEALERSHIP (CASEY SUBARU) HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS COST ME $730 OUT OF POCKET WHICH IS TO BE REFUNDED TO ME FROM BOTH MY INSURANCE COMPANY ($230) AND THE DEALERSHIP ($500). I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CASEY. I WAS TOLD THAT CHIPS NO MORE THAN ONE HALF INCH ARE COVERED. BUT NOT CRACKS. THANK YOU, SCOTT.

Windshield cracked after a slight impact to the glass from something off the road. Car was purchased new in April 2020, first windshield was replaced in February 2021 and second windshield was replaced in July 2021. Three windshields in 15 months

Windhshield spontaneously broke in linear pattern, approximately 2ft in length, across passenger side, without spidering/inpact. Car was parked in open sun parking lot for apprimately 5 hours. Taken to Safelite autoglass for repair when they stated that they see 2-3 newer subaru’s a day for similar issues.

Driving north on the interstate with no other vehicles on the road. Windshield spontaneously cracked from passenger side defrost to middle of windshield. Took the car into the dealer, and they claimed a rock hit it because they could run their fingernail into the crack. I strongly disagree with Subaru’s maintenance division as I was there when it happened and there is no chip or star shaped damage from an impact of any object. The crack quickly spread across the entire length of the windshield.

Purchased new and front windshield spontaneously cracked in multiple directions overnight. No impact evidence at the center of the crack. Noticed online that many Outback owners are reporting this same problem. Not sure if it’s a defective windshield or body flex which caused windshield to flex and crack. I expect the windshield to be replaced by Subaru at no charge.