NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING HIS SON'S VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT A LARGE HORIZONTAL CRACK HAD FORMED FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AND EXTENDED TO THE BOTTOM PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND THE CRACK HAD FORMED WITHOUT IMPACT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THE CONTACT CALLED DON MILLER SUBARU WEST (5822 ODANA RD, MADISON, WI 53719; (608) 442-3200) AND WAS INFORMED TO START THE VEHICLE MORE FREQUENTLY SO THAT THE BATTERY WOULD RECHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND I DISCOVERED ABOUT A FOOT LONG CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A REASON FOR CAUSE, NO CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD OR ACCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. IT'S MOSTLY GARAGE KEPT AND HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES OVER 14 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.
BATTERY DRAIN, SEEMS TO BE UNDIAGNOSABLE. QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOW LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
I'VE HAD RECURRING ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY DYING. I'VE REPORTED PREVIOUS ISSUES ON HERE TO SHOW THAT IT IS RECURRING. I DON'T DRIVE THAT OFTEN BECAUSE I'M WORKING REMOTELY RIGHT NOW BUT DROVE 90 MILES IN A SINGLE TRIP ON FRIDAY, JAN. 22. ON SATURDAY, JAN. 23 MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I NOW CARRY A BATTERY JUMPER BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS ISSUES SO I JUMPED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE ABOUT 50 MILES. ON SUNDAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE SO I DROVE MY 90 MILE RETURN TRIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT USED MUCH BUT I MADE SURE IT WOULD START EACH DAY AND TOOK A SHORT TRIP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 2, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. INSTEAD OF JUMPING IT, I'M GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN TROUBLESHOOT. THEY HAVE TROUBLESHOOTED IT TWICE BEFORE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE BATTERY DRAIN. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE IN THE OFF POSITION AND I HAVE NOT USED ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHICH I MADE SURE IS CLOSED AND LOCKED UPON EXITING. I HAVE A CLAIM GOING WITH SUBARU CONSUME AFFAIRS. THIS WEEK THE LOWS WILL BE IN THE NEGATIVE NUMBERS AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO STAND OUTSIDE AND JUMP MY OWN VEHICLE IN THAT WEATHER BECAUSE OF A FAULTY BATTER/ALTERNATOR/LEMON VEHICLE.
THE BATTERY DIED WITH ONLY ABOUT 6500 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LAST DRIVEN 48 HOUR AGO. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A WARM GARAGE SINCE IT WAS LAST DRIVEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT CALLED GLASSMAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (888) 451-0949) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,133. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN IT CRACKED.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the battery would drain with the engine off. The contact had to jump start the vehicle to resume normal operation. The contact also stated that the tailgate would independently open while driving due to a defective latch. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they could not determine the cause of the battery failure; however, the tailgate latch was replaced. Despite the visit to the dealer, the failures persisted. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and offered to provide a cash incentive towards another vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS. I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON AS IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE
INFOTAINMENT CENTER SCREENS BLACK OUT OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. DEALER HAS DONE TWO UPDATES ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.
WINDOW MOTORS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. GET STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION OR WHEN ROLLING DOWN WILL POP BACK UP AND DOWN BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAVE HAD ONE MOTOR ON DRIVER SIDE REPLACED AND AM NOW NEEDING THE DRIVER SIDE REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH PASSENGER SIDE.
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED IN A SAFE LOCATION (DRIVEWAY).
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY. NOTHING PHYSICALLY DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK AS WELL. I SEE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PLACE AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET ADDED AS THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD AND HAS JUST OVER 15,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST MONTH, THE BATTERY HAS DIED 4 TIMES CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED. THE CAUSE OF THE BATTERY DYING IS VERY MINOR ELECTRICAL USAGE WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT STARTING.
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT AROUND 55MPH AND THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A CRACK ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN AIR/WIND HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON DRIVER'S SIDE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT GLASS WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT NO OBJECT HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON DRIVERS SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. NO OBJECTS HIT VEHICLE.
Windshield developed a crack from no apparent external cause and crack has spread across windshield from driver's side to vmcenter if vehicle obscuring driver view of roadway. I live in MT where cracked windshields are very common, usually occuring due to rock or pebble striking glass and then spreading from a "bullseye" to a crack. This incident occured with no apparent external object striking vehicle, not was the crack preceded by the common bullseye normally created by flying gravel or rock.
AUTO ON-OFF FUNCTION SHUTS OFF ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE STOPS IN TRAFFIC FOR ANY REASON. THE ENGINE IS TO RESTART WHEN DRIVER STEPS ON ACCELERATOR...HOWEVER THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. MANY TIMES THE ENGINE FAILS TO START WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO BELIEVE THE ACCELERATOR NEEDS MORE PRESSURE. WHEN THE ENGINE DOES FINALLY START THE CAR LEAPS FORWARD SINCE IT IS STILL IN FORWARD GEAR. THIS FORWARD LEAP IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE ITHE LEAP IS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. MOST DRIVERS TURN OFF THIS FUNCTION HOWEVER THE DRIVER TURN OFF SELECTION IS VOIDED ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER MUST REMEMBER TO CANCEL THIS AURO-OFF FUNCTION EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED SUBARU HAS RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FUNCTION AND HAS DECIDED TO RELOCATE THE OFF-ON ICON TO A FRONT SCREEN RATHER THAN THE PREVIOUS 3RD SCREEN. THE CORRECT FIX WOULD SEEM TO BE ONCE THE DRIVER SELECTS TO SHUT OFF THIS FUNCTION IT SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE THE OFF SELECTION UNLESS INITATED BY THE DRIVER. ONCE I SHUT OFF MY RADIO IT STAYS OFF UNTIL TIRNED ON AGAIN. SUBARU SERVICE PROGRAM WRI-20 JANURARY 2021
VIN [XXX] there is a problem with the electrical system. The auto will not keep the battery charged sufficiently to start the car reliably. The battery has enough power to illuminate the control panel of the vehicle, but it will not start the engine. Overnight, he battery drains to a point that it will not turn the engine over. The dealer had the car for about five hours to diagnose the cause of the discharge. They found no trouble with the electrical system and said the battery and alternator functioned normally. The dealer found no adverse electrical leaks causing the battery to discharge overnight. The dealer suggested that we weren't driving the vehicle enough. They sold and installed a trickle charge device to alleviate the problem. The trickle charger has not helped. Safety concerns: we have to jump start the car EVERY day. We have to remember to disable the auto stop/start option to prevent the car from shutting the engine off during idle while waiting for a stop light to change. On numerous occasions we must exit the vehicle, attach a jump start battery pack to the car's battery and start it as traffic is whizzing by. We have been in remote areas where mobile/cell service is unavailable to call for help and only because we have the jump start battery pack are we able to start the the car. The dealer was unable to reproduce or verify the trouble. They were only able to state there was no problem found. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else. No warning of any kind is exhibited leading to the trouble. This problem is a hazard. It puts the occupants in harms way if the car shuts off in traffic. Having to start the car in bad weather is another risk. This problem has been going on since January of 2021. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
DEAD BATTERY, LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON THE CAR, 14 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE; CAR IS KEPT IN A HEATED GARAGE AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECTED TO TEMPERATURE EXTREMES
THIS 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT RAN WELL FOR THE FIRST 10,000 MILES. WE WERE INFORMED IT HAD A RECALL AND THIS WAS CORRECTED 1/06/2021 BY CARBOONE'S SUBARU IN UTICA, NY. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WHEN THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE AND ADAPTIVE STEERING ARE ENGAGED IF THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO LEAVE ITS LANE THE WARNING MESSAGE IS 'PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL'. BEFORE THIS IT WAS 'LANE DEPARTURE'. IF THE ADAPTIVE STEERING IS NOT ENGAGED THE WARNING REMAINS 'LANE DEPARTURE'. THIS BEHAVIOR HAPPENS ON ALL ROADS WHEN THE ADAPTIVE STEERING AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CAN BE ENGAGED. IT OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS WARNING TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL OCCURS WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE ON THE WHEEL AND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING (LANE DEPARTURE) NOR WHAT THE VEHICLE WARNINGS ARE WHEN NOT USING THE ADAPTIVE STEERING. THIS PRESENTS A CONFUSING PICTURE TO THE DRIVER AND COULD LEAD TO AN INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SUBARU'S RESPONSE TO THE CHANGE OF WARNINGS IS 'THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR'.
BATTERY DIES. THE CAR IS LITTLE OVER 1 YEAR OLD, THE BATTERY DIED AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED SEPTEMBER 2020, DEALER CHARGED IT UP, THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2021 AND DEALER REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY. THE CONTROL PANEL HAS GONE "BLACK" SEVERAL TIMES NO STATUS SHOWS.
I/WE WERE DRIVING WEST ON RIVER DRIVE, IN DAVENPORT IOWA, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. LATER IN THE TRIP IT CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. NOTHING HAS EVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A ROCK IMPACTED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL SUBARU OF GEORGETOWN (7501 N INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,800.
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.
WHEN APPLE CARPLAY IS BEING USED, THE MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY HAS FROZEN SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN IT FREEZES, THE RESETS ITSELF TO A BLACK SCREEN. ONCE IT RESETS TO A BLACK SCREEN, THE EYESIGHT IS DISABLED AND RAB (REVERSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING) IS DISABLED. I HAVE HAD A MOMENT WHERE THE SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLACK AND BOTH THINGS WERE DISABLED FOR OVER 15 MINUTES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. UNTIL THE MOMENT I TURNED OFF THE CAR DID IT STOP SHOWING THE ISSUE BUT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST INSTANCE OF IT HAPPENING. THE MOMENT I DO NEED THE EYESIGHT WOULD BE TOO LATE SINCE IT'S DISABLED. I'VE RECORDED SEVERAL VIDEOS OF THIS HAPPENING AND I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY TELL ME NOTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THAT THE VIDEO RECORDING IS "HYPOTHETICAL." I'VE UPLOADED SOME OF THE VIDEOS I'VE RECORDED ONTO YOUTUBE FOR YOU TO CHECK AND VERIFY. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CHANNEL/UCNA9Z1X9ITGGUPUO_AL_BLG
CRACK IN FRONT OF MY EYES DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10, NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO IT NOT STARTING. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US WITH A BAD BATTERY AND MISSING PARTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER OUR TRANSMISSION BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHEN NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING HAS HIT IT.
The left and the right front windows won't roll up when you push the button to roll up the driver side, it goes up and goes down and doesn't shut at all you have to turn off the car to stop it, super dangerous, and the right passenger window doesn't go down or up at all with the driver control on the door. You know what else is INCREDABLY DANGEROUS? THE LED LIGHTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY RETINA BLINDING! THEY BLIND ME AND I'M IN MY OWN CAR, THE OTHER SUBARU LIGHTS ARE BLINDINGLY HIGH AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL!
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT. NO MARKING OF ROCK OR ANY DAMAGE.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN A RELATIVELY NEW (1-YEAR-OLD) VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED THE CRACK IN THE MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I BELIEVE IT WASN'T THERE YESTERDAY WHEN I LAST PARKED THE CAR.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 OUTBACK ON NOVEMBER 23RD.ON DECEMBER 30TH IT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE BOTTOM ABOUT TWO INCHES. EACH DAY IT HAS GROWN. NOW IT IS ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG AND IS SPLITTING TO EACH SIDE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME I WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT IN ON MY INSURANCE. THE CAR HAS 842 MILES ON IT..FROM ALL THE REPORTS I HAVE READ AN THIS ISSUE SUBARU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS WINDSHIELD ISSUE. I HAD HOPED THIS CAR COULD LAST FOR YEARS BUT IT IS NOT LOOKING THAT WAY SO FAR.WHEN THE CRACK DEVELOPED IT WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT AND HAD NOT HAD ANY IMPACT.
IT IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT. I DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE SIDE OF THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE TIRE SINCE I DIDN'T DROVE ON ANY OBSTACLE. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR BLOW, LOOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR DEADLY ACCIDENT.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ~12" CRACK VERTICAL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO KNOWN PEBBLE, ROCK, OR DEBRIS WAS KNOWN TO HAVE STUCK THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A RELATIVELY LOUD "POP" SOUND AND THE CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BLACK SECTION OF GLASS THAT SUPPORTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (VISIBLE BUT LESS OBVIOUS IN THE PHOTO THAN THE CRACK THROUGH THE TRANSPARENT SECTION OF THE GLASS). THE VEHICLE WAS ~4 MONTHS OLD (PURCHASED NEW) AT THE TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM ~15 TO 35 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO DEVELOP A CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BASE SEVEN INCHES LONG, WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAMS SUBARU OF SAYRE (222 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE PROVIDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD ITS WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE TRAVELING ON A TEXAS HIGHWAY (SOUTH PADRE - AUSTIN) ON DEC 27, 2020. THE CRACK STARTED SMALL AND GREW QUICKLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE TRAVEL TO ALMOST 20 INCHES. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS EXPENSIVE, CONSIDERING THE EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED. I HAVE TRAVELED OVER 200K MILES IN THE US IN MULTIPLE CARS BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY AS IT HAPPENED ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD BE A ONE-OFF EXPERIENCE BUT READING MORE ABOUT THE PENDING LAWSUIT ON DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS MADE ME SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT.
TODAY (26 DECEMBER 2020) AS I PARKED MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN JUST FOUR MONTHS I NOTICED MY WINDSHIELD STARTING TO CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES, ROAD DEBRIS , OR WINDS TO CAUSE THIS. THIS IS THE THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW SUBARU IN FOUR MONTHS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM! I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES IN FORTY-PLUS PLUS YEARS, AND NEVER IN ALL THE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND MODELS OF VEHICLES HAVE I EVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS!
I WENT OUT THIS MORNING 12/26/2020 AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ON 12/22/20 WHICH I HAVE REPORTED. I MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED SECURELY AND ALL LIGHTS WERE OFF. PRIOR TO THE 12/22/20 INCIDENT, I HAD 2 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. ONE PREVIOUS INCIDENT INVOLVED A BATTERY DRAIN (I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATE) BECAUSE THE CABIN LIGHT WAS LEFT ON OVERNIGHT. THE BATTERY DRAINAGE PREVENTION FUNCTION SHOULD HAVE KEPT THAT FROM HAPPENING BUT DID NOT. ALSO, ON APPROX. 9/1/20, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM SUBARU ABOUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I TRIED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE BUT THE PROCESS WOULDN'T COMPLETE FOR SOME REASON. WITHIN A FEW HOURS I RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL SAYING TO DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS ONE AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE UPDATE. THE ISSUE LEFT ME WITHOUT ANY DISPLAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE RADIO REPLACED.
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO IMPACT, JUST CRACKED AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD (ABOUT 10MPH).
MY WIFE AND I WERE SITTING IN OUR CAR AT A RED LIGHT STATIONARY AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BASE UP ABOUT 10 IN LONG FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK, THAT I THOUGHT WAS WEIRD AS I DIDN'T HEAR A ROCK, BUT A CRACK. I SAW THAT 2020 SUBARU OUTBACKS HAD A LAWSUIT FOR DEFECT. I FOUND OUT WEEKS AFTER I MADE AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO HAVE MY WINDSHIELD FIXED. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
ON TUESDAY 12/22/20 AT APPROX 3 PM I GOT IN MY CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD MOVED IT THE EVENING BEFORE FROM THE STREET TO THE DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT OPEN ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND LOCKED IT WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT USED THE LIFT GATE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED. I HAD NOT TURNED ON ANY INTERIOR LIGHT EITHER OR HEADLIGHTS. I HAD IT JUMPED THE NEXT MORNING AND IT STARTED.
I HAD ALMOST THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE WITH MY WINDSHIELD AS ANOTHER COMPLAINT I SAW FILED. MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD ITS WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON A HIGHWAY IN SC ON DEC 22, 2020. THE CRACK STARTED SMALL AND GREW QUICKLY OVER THE COURSE OF MY TRAVEL TO ABOUT 16 - 18 INCHES. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED WHICH WAS BOTH TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE. I HAVE TRAVELED A LOT IN MY LIFE WITH MULTIPLE CARS BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT SPREADED LIKE IT DID WITH MY NEW OUTBACK. IT IS DISAPPOINTING AND CONCERNING AFTER READING MORE ABOUT THE PENDING LAWSUIT ON DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS.
ON THE 21ST OF DECEMBER THE BATTERY IN MY OUTBACK WENT DEAD. I TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECHARGED THE BATTERY. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TWO DAYS LATER, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THE 29TH OF DECEMBER. BOTH TIMES, THE CAR WAS STARTED 10-12 HOURS BEFORE.
THIS IS THE SECOND CRACKED WINDSHIELD I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WITH THIS CAR IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND 18K MILES. IT STARTED AS A TINY ROCK CHIP BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND TURNED INTO A 12+ INCH CRACK WITHIN A DAY. I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THE TINY ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT THE FACT THAT I AM NOW ON MY 3RD. WINDSHIELD SHOULD POINT TO SOME SORT OF ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT AND REPROGRAMING OF THE SAFETY COMPONENTS TOTALS $1,400 AND CAN ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEALER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A STONE HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED THE GLASS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWICE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE GLASS WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 10,000.
ON DECEMBER 18,2020 I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I WAS TRAVELING MAYBE 5-10 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. AN AUTOMOBILE STRUCK ME PERPENDICULAR AT 30-40 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY TAKEN BY THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SPEED WAS ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSES. THE CAR WAS STRUCK SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE SCUFFED ON THE SIDEWALL FROM THEM ROLLING UNDER THE CAR. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS WINDOW FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SIDECURTAINS DEPLOYED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE KIA THAT IMPACTED ME. SUBARU TIED MY CAR UP FOR 4 MONTHS AFTER I REQUESTED THEY COME LOOK AT THE CAR TO DETERMINE IF IT ACTED CORRECTLY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY DOWNLOADED DATA FROM MY CAR AND HAVE REFUSED TO SHARE IT WITH ME. THEY CLAIM THAT THE IMPACT WAS OBLIQUE. THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DESIGNED NOT TO GO OFF IF IN FACT THIS HAPPENS. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL. IT SAYS THAT IF THE IMPACT IS PERPENDICULAR THE AIRBAGS/SIDE CURTAINS SHOULD DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS 3 MONTHS OLD TO THE DAY. INCLUDED ARE PICTURES OF MY CAR SHOWING THE DAMAGE. I ALSO SENT PICTURES OF HOW THE FRONT TIRE WAS BENT FROM THE IMPACT.. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED THE PICTURES OF THE KIA THAT IMPACTED MY SUBARU.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026