2017 Subaru Outback: windshield wiper failure

Filed Jan 29, 2023 · Visibility · NJ

Hello, I am making a complaint about my 2017 Subaru Outback's windshield. I am frustrated that my windshield has cracked for the second time in just over 2 years. In early October 2020, I purchased the vehicle as a used car. Three weeks later a small rock hit the windshield on the driver's side and a small chip became a large crack that spread across my vision over 1 ft long. I brought it to the Subaru dealership I purchased the vehicle from to have it replaced, which cost over $500.00 for parts and labor which included recalibration of the eyesight technology installed with the vehicle. I recently (January 2023) replaced my windshield wipers and as I was doing so the passenger side wiper arm slipped from my hand and struck the windshield and immediately formed a 5 inch crack. The wiper arm was about 3 to 4 inches away from the windshield when this happened. I cannot believe this happened at all. In both cases the cracks traveled well over a foot across the windshield within 2 days. My vehicle is equipped with eyesight technology and I have come to understand that the windshields on these vehicles are made thinner than usual to accommodate it. I believe this is a defect in their windshield manufacturing and/or design. I find it unacceptable the windshield is that fragile. Subaru vehicles are touted as very dependable, rugged and capable of off road use. My confidence in this notion is low and everytime something strikes the windshield I pray it doesn't crack. I will be spending over $1000.00 for new windshields in the 2 plus years I've owned this vehicle.

Filed Dec 30, 2022 · OH

front windshield cracked spontaneously during extreme cold while front defroster was running set on high. no overhead objects. no other cars or vehicles on the roadway. 15 mph. crack is in the windshield wiper resting area extending from the black edge to the center, in a horizontal crack, bilaterally.

Filed Dec 18, 2022 · Visibility · ME

I was warming up my car and clearing it off after a snow storm. The windshield had no problems when I wiped it clear of the snow with the wipers up (I always leave them up before a storm to prevent damage to the blades). When I put the drivers side wiper down, a large crack formed on the windshield starting at the blade on the passenger side and crossing over the driver's side. This was clearly caused by some part of the wiper and is unacceptable. Since it happened on a Saturday morning I had to drive to get my daughters (2 hours away) and ride with them with the cracked windshield until I can get it in for repair on Monday. This is clearly unsafe because there is greater chance for the crack to expand in the cold weather and if an accident should happen our safety is severely compromised. I will report this to my dealer on Monday (I have a scheduled oil change). No problems with the windshield had been found in any previous appointments or inspections.

Filed Dec 14, 2021 · Electrical, Visibility · NV

My battery has died seven times. I have received three battery replacements. Never a full solution. Windshield wipers never work properly either, despite changing brands.

Filed Aug 27, 2021 · Visibility · TX

Upon getting in the car parked in the garage, noticed two cracks symmetrically coming from the base of the center of the windshield extending up about 6 inches. These cracks were not there upon parking in the garage the previous night. These cracks within a day kept moving upward and outward in a curvy symmetrical pattern and are slowly moving since. Upon investigation with a flashlight there is a tiny pin size chip under the wiper that should never have caused such dramatic cracking.

Filed Apr 11, 2021 · Visibility · 39,380 miles · FL

I bought the car 25 june 2020 and 3 days into it I got a chip going theu an automated car wash I called safelite and the ins company and they replaced the windshield and out of nowhere I get a crack coming up from bottom of windshield on drivers side going up to wiper area the car sat for 2 days in my driveway while I drove my other vehicle prior to this florida heat is brutal I believe this is a faulty windshield you cant see it well unless your in driver seat or cleaning windshield ad I am ocd

Filed Apr 10, 2021 · Visibility · 36,000 miles · CA

A minor rock hit on highway causes windshield crack from from bottom near wipers all the way to the middle of screen.

Filed Mar 2, 2021 · Visibility · 18 miles · MS

I was driving down the road city highway 90 in ocean springs, ms (55mph) and my windshield suddenly cracked about six inches from from the driver side near where the frame meets with the car over. I did not get hit by anything. It was lightly raining, I had my windshield wipers on the absolute lowest setting. It was about 47 degrees fahrenheit, and I had my defroster on split with my feet set to 70 degrees fahrenheit.

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Body, Visibility · 65,000 miles · TX

Windshield is cracking without any cause. It cracked near the passenger side wiper while it was sitting in a parking garage under normal conditions. I had the windshield replaced today, weather was perfect (sunny, 65 degrees f), and it cracked again, while parked, only hours after the replacement in almost the same spot..

Filed Oct 22, 2020 · Visibility · 86,000 miles · VA

I bought this vehicle new. I am on the 4th windshield now. Cracks show up below the wiper and spread straight up and down then across the windshield. Any litle ding causes a complete loss of the windshield. I have never owned a car that had this problem...

Filed May 17, 2020 · Electrical, Visibility · 25,000 miles · CO

My windshield has cracked without being hit by anything across the bottom near the wipers. My battery continues to die for no reason that I can find, even after I have replaced it. I don't leave the lights on or anything and I can come back to my car and I have to jump it. I have also been in it after driving it, stopped and turned the car off and listened to the radio and 10 minutes later I go to turn the car back on and it's completely dead. After I get it going the gate will beep continuously while it is still closed and I have to reset the whole vehicle to get the beeping to stop. I took it to get checked and they told me to replace the battery. When I got the battery checked for power nothing seemed to be wrong with the battery. And yet this continues to happen.

Filed Mar 2, 2020 · Visibility · 66,360 miles · CA

Parked the car with no crack in the windshield. Warmed up the car in the morning and found a crack when leaving for work. Vehicle was parked when it happened. Crack is located right above the wiper blade and spans in three directions right where the wiper deicer is located. Because of where it is located it could not have been caused by normal driving such as a rock or debris. I believe this to be a defect in the windshield.