2020 Subaru Outback: windshield wiper failure

Filed Nov 11, 2024 · Visibility · SC

Problem component: exterior mirror on driver side It was raining, I was driving, I heard what sounded like a loud explosion by my driver side window. After the initial shock, I thought a tire had blown out, but car drove ok and no tire warning light came on. It was a rural road with no shoulder, only deep stormwater ditch along the roadside, so there was no place to safely pull over in traffic to assess what may have happened. I drove about 2-3 miles before I could pull over at a safe spot.There I saw that the back side of my driver side mirror had completely disappeared. Wires were exposed. It appeared to have exploded off for no apparent reason. The body of the car was completely fine, the white exterior paint of the car was perfect, the actual housing of the mirror showed no marks, there are no dings or cracks in windows. No sign of any debris hitting the car. I reported it to Subaru general headquarters, and gave them all the info. I have an appt with local Subaru dealer this week. The mirror and housing are still on the car, minus the back, which is gone. My husband returned to the scene a few minutes later and searched for the piece that had propelled off the mirror or for any debris that could have caused the mirror to explode. There was nothing on the road, so wherever the back of the mirror went, it must have propelled far off the road. Safety issue: because an explosion like that nearly caused me to lose control of the car. And the piece that propelled off the mirror could have hit another car. Additional info. at the time of mirror exploding: my windshield wipers were on, it was a warm day so my air-conditioning was on, good chance my front dehumidifier was on. Car is equipped with heated mirrors, but heat was off.

Filed Jul 21, 2024 · Visibility · IL

This is a safety issue regarding the durability of windshields. I have had 2 incidents now with my 2020 subaru outback having a cracked windshield. Both times it came on suddenly with at least a foot long crack or more the first time and an 18 inch crack the second time just recently. I reported the incident to the service manager this time and he put me in touch with customer advocacy at subaru who is waiting for a report from the diagnosis on Monday, July 22. The first crack was in March 2024. Prior to the crack happening, I noticed a drip of dried substance running down the inside of my windshield from the top of the windshield. I thought it must be sealant and was going to contact subaru. However, without warning, I pulled out of my garage one morning to find a crack across the driver side of the windshield at least a foot or longer. There had been no incident of any rock hitting my windshield that I noticed and there was no damage to the paint on frame close to where the crack started which was on the outer edge of the windshield. The crack grew larger and crossed over the driver's visibility. I asked if there had been a recall since I thought this was odd and spontaneous but there was none. The service repair person said if a rock chip occurs in the defroster area in the perimeter of the windshield, the windshield will sustain a long crack. So I believed that something like that must have happened in my lack of knowledge of prior issues with subaru windshields. I had a $1000 deductible on my insurance and the repair was over that. Subaru refused to negotiate with State Farm to reduce the price so I paid the entire amount out of pocket. The second crack occurred while I was driving in the rain. I turned off my wipers to find an 18 inch long crack on the passenger side of the windshield starting at outer edge of glass. No incident of a rock chip, no damage to paint on frame.

Filed Feb 16, 2024 · Visibility · IL

Heated windshield area where the windshield wipers are shorted out and caused the windshield to crack

Filed May 7, 2023 · Visibility · AZ

On May 3, 2023 (~12:30pm local time) I was driving on the highway at approximately 60mph and there was a 'pop' sound. I looked at my windshield and an L-shaped crack appeared from the base of the windshield near the wipers up to half-way on the windshield. There was no damage to the windshield to indicate a rock had hit it or the car in any way. Given the poor quality OEM windshields that Subaru has installed in past models (2015-2016) that also have had this problem, I would like to notify the federal safety agency so that Subaru can be notified. When I called my dealer directly, there was not much help on the cause.

Filed Apr 16, 2023 · Visibility · OH

While driving in light rain, with no visible strike, a crack appeared on the passenger side windshield; starting below the wiper and extending upwards in an arc towards the center. This is the 3rd time a crack of significance has appeared. Coincidentally, this crack appeared less than 2 weeks after having the windshield replaced by a Subaru dealership.

Filed Apr 10, 2023 · Visibility · NY

The windshield has developed a crack spontaneously and is spreading across the entire windshield. It started near the bottom of the window near the wipers and moving it's way up towards the top and spidered out towards the driver's side now. It continues to grow while I wait for an appointment to get it replaced.

Filed Jun 29, 2022 · Visibility · GA

The car experienced an unexplained spontaneous front windshield crack. It started small on the drivers side near the wiper and has continued to spread. No foreign body or rock has hit the windshield. I took the vehicle to O'Steen's Subaru in Valdosta and they refused to repair it.

Filed Jan 21, 2022 · ID

Windshield: Mid December noticed crack along right lateral side of windshield when car parked in garage. No preceding incident noted. Garage temp 40 degrees. Had windshield replaced with original Subaru replacement windshield at Safelite on 12/31/21. On 1/20/22, while driving 60 mph on highway, 33 degrees, snowing, wipers and defroster on, heard noise like a rock hitting windshield, and noticed a crack from the bottom/ middle of the windshield. There were no cars within 300 feet of my car so I doubt a rock was kicked up to hit my windshield. I believe windshield is defective. Will have it replaced again. Although this repair is covered by my insurance, repeat claims like this will cause insurance rates to go up for all consumers.

Filed Dec 29, 2021 · Lights, Visibility · CA

1.) Headlights. They are extremely bright to oncoming traffic and oncoming traffic is always flashing or beaming you with their high beams as they think your brights are on when they are not. This is dangerous. Also LED lights do not put off enough heat and the headlamp body itself freezes over in cold rain or snowy conditions severely reducing your ability to see during low light situations. Wipers. The windshield wipers do not last. They should be silicone and they are rubber which is terrible for longevity.

Filed Nov 16, 2021 · Visibility · NY

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.

Filed May 1, 2021 · Visibility · 10,750 miles · NJ

When driving down the road windshield just started cracking on passenger side from below the windshield wiper below the window trim. Within minutes it went from a 3-4 inch crack to encompassing the majority of the right side of the window. This is the second incident with this windshield. In december a small pebble barely tapped this driver's side and caused an instant gouge.

Filed Feb 18, 2021 · Visibility · 3,900 miles · CA

Windshield started cracking from below the wipe trim and keeps cracking. Was driving up donner summit hwy 80. Traveling approximately 60 MPH. Temperature in 20's elevation gain to near 6500 feet. Some sleet snow wipers in use. Noticed crack after storm cleared. Crack happened from no known impact. Didn't hear any rock impact.