NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, A PEBBLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S WINDSHIELD AND CREATED A TWELVE INCH CRACK. UPON ARRIVING HOME, THE CRACK EXPANDED TO APPROXIMATELY 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.
SLOWING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, CLUTCH IN. SPEED ROUGHLY 2 KM/HR. WENT TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKE ACTIVATION. TRIED BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN, SAME RESULT. ACTIVATED PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ALSO DID NOT STOP THE CAR. CAR HIT THE BACK OF A GRAVEL TRUCK AHEAD, AND SEEMED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH INTO THE TRUCK 7-10 CM, WHICH IS FURTHER THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED GIVEN THE LOW SPEED OF THE COLLISION. COLLISION DAMAGED THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND BROKE THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, NO INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OF EITHER VEHICLE. TRUCK TURNED THROUGH TURNING LIGHT, I CAREFULLY MOVED THE CAR UP AND TRIED STOPPING AT THE LIGHT. BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY, SO I TRIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND IT ALSO SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOTICED MUCH MORE TRAVEL THAN USUAL AND A SPONGY FEEL, BUT THERE WAS RESISTANCE WHERE THERE WAS NONE PREVIOUSLY. I DECIDED THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND DROVE SLOWLY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEFT IT TO BE INSPECTED.
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
TWO PROBLEMS. 1. REPLACED WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES IN 15 MONTHS. TWO WERE ORIGINAL SUBARU BRANDED WINDSHIELDS. ORIGINAL AND INDUSTRY REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD ARE TOO BRITTLE AND THUS UNSAFE. ANY LITTLE PEBBLE CHIPS THEM AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE A LONG CRACK WITHIN A FEW HOURS. 2. RADIO SYSTEM DOES NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION PROPERLY. AT TIMES IT SCROLLS DOWN AND WE ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE CHANNELS OR ADJUST THE VOLUME. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN JULY AND WOULD REPLACE IT SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. SUPPLIER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO SEND PART AFTER FOUR MONTHS. SUBARU IS NON RESPONSIVE TO OUR CONCERNS.
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.
ON SEPT.27TH, 2015, THE LIFTGATE OPENED ON ITS OWN. MANY TIMES THE LIGHTS ,ONE AT A TIME, OVER THE MIRROR, WILL TURN ON AND BE HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN I GET INTO THE CAR AFTER BEING OUT OF CAR FOR HOURS OR OVER NIGHT.THE LIFTGATE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM,AS ARE THE LIGHTS.ALSO, THE BLUETOOTH TELLS ME I AM CALLING MYSELF FREQUENTLY.ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS?? ONCE THE LIFTGATE OPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. I HAVE NOTES ON DATES & TIMES
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.
THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2015 WAS PARKED IN A LOT AFTER A 12 MINUTE DRIVE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. IT WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND WAS NOT YET DUE FOR SERVICING WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED. THE SUBARU OUTBACK MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 3RD-27TH 2015 HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO "POSSIBILITY OF FIRE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK". I BELIEVE THE SAME THING OCCURRED WITH MY CAR AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE MODEL IS NOT RECALLED SOMEONE WILL GET BADLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO FIRE.
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.
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE, MERELY AS A RESULT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RETRACTING ONTO IT WHILE BEING WASHED. (I HAVE NEVER IN MY 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING CARS HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE IMPACT OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER RETRACTING ONTO IT!!!) THE CRACK HAS SINCE SPREAD ALMOST TO THE DRIVER SIDE. BASED ON MY OWN RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION, I BELIEVE THE BUILT IN WINDSHIELD DE-ICER UNIT COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. IN THE EVENT AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, THE WINDSHIELD COULD VERY WELL SHATTER AND CAUSE BODILY INJURY. A SUBARU OF AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMED VIA EMAIL THAT "IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE SEEN A HIGHER DEMAND FOR WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT THAN WE USUALLY SEE. OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING HARD WITH RETAILERS AND SUPPLIERS AVAILABILITY....WE HAVE ALSO UPDATED OUR PRODUCTION PROCESS TO IMPROVE THE DURABILITY OF OUR WINDSHIELDS." CLEARLY, THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2015 WINDSHIELDS HAVE A DEFECT, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED NEXT WEEK. ONLY TIME WILL WILL TELL HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE AND HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST. IN FAIRNESS, THE SUBARU OF AMERICA REP HAS ASKED ME TO SEND A COPY OF THE REPLACEMENT RECEIPT TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP WITH THE COST. CONSIDERING SUBARU'S REPUTATION, MY HOPE IS THEY WILL ULTIMATELY REIMBURSE ME IN FULL.
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED HORIZONTALLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE CRACK. IT WAS FINE WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE; THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE CRACK WAS THERE.
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.
I WAS AT WORK TODAY AND WHEN I LEFT I SAT IN THE OUTBACK FOR ABOUT 10 MIN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND MADE PHONE CALLS. WHEN I GOT READY TO TAKE OFF I HEARD A CRACK. I LOOKED AROUND AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO PICK UP THE GRANDKIDS AND MY HUSBAND SAID, "HOW DID THE WINDSHIELD GET CRACKED? HE WAS RIGHT IT WAS CRACKED RIGHT AT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. I CALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE SALES COMPANY AND THEY SAID I WILL HAVE TO COME WHEN A SUBARU REP IS IN THE STORE AND HE WILL TELL WHETHER IT WAS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT, I WAS SITTING STILL AND IT JUST CRACKED. IT WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING, AND THERE ARE NO INDENTS WHERE IT WAS HIT.
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.
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.
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. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/SUBARU/OUTBACK/2015/ACCESSORIES-EXTERIOR/VISIBILITY_WIPER.SHTML
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM THE NHTSA (CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 15V502 - TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK). I CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. WHO IS RIGHT?
PLATE GFN9291, SUBARU RE:(#:1-11519581273)
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.
MY 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5LIMITED HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH SUDDEN-ACCELERATION.IT WILL SURGE WHILE FOOT IS ON BRAKE USUALLY AT STOP SIGNS,RED LIGHTS.IT IS BECOMING WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT.I AM 100% SURE THAT MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND THE FLOOR MAT IS NOT INVOLVED EITHER.IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS AND WE HAVE HAD NO RESULTS AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE..IT BEGAN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND IS STILL HAPPENING A YEAR LATER
I HEARD A POP ON THE HIGHWAY, ALTHOUGH NOTHING HIT MY VEHICLE. SEVERAL SMALL CRACKS APPEARED-ONE QUICKLY GOT LARGER. I HAD CALLED SUBARU A FEW MONTHS BEFORE ABOUT THE POP AS MY MECHANIC SAID THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE REPLACED-THERE WAS NO REACTION TO THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH WIND NOISE WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND HAD THE SMALL WINDOW REPLACED AS WELL. THERE IS A GENERAL ISSUE WITH THE WINDOW SIZING AND PLACEMENT OF THE WINDOWS IN THIS MODEL, AND SUBARU NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS.
THE WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BEHIND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS AN IMPACT POINT AT THE ORIGIN OF THE CRACK, YET THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE WHATSOEVER TO THE WIPER ASSEMBLY. I WASHED THE CAR ON TUESDAY 8/11/15 AND THERE WAS NO CRACK THEN. THE CRACK WAS FIRST NOTICED BY A PASSENGER ON 8/12/15. THE CRACK SEEMS TO BE GETTING LARGER. THE SUBARU DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT I KNOW NOTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IS ALWAYS KEPT IN MY GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE.
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.
WENT TO PICK UP MY BRAND NEW 2015 OUTBACK FROM THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THEY WILL BE REPLACING IT, BUT THIS CRACK IS IDENTICAL TO OTHERS DESCRIBED IN MANY COMPLAINTS. CRACK STARTED IN THE HEATED WIPER ELEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IS NOW ABOUT 12 INCHES IN LENGTH. SUBARU DEALER SAID THEY BELIEVE IT OCCURRED IN THEIR CAR WASH. LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT IS NOW OBVIOUS SUBARU 2015 OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP.
NEW WINDSHIELD SUFFERED A MINOR ROCK IMPACT ON THE FREEWAY. THE CRACK PROPAGATED QUICKLY. THE WINDSHIELD REQUIRES REPLACEMENT, BUT THE SUBARU DEALERS SAY THERE IS A 3 MONTH BACKLOG!
DOOR LOCKS, BOTH FRONT AND REAR REMAIN UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING, UNLESS SOMEONE REMEMBERS TO MANUALLY ENGAGE THE LOCKING SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING, CHILDREN COULD OPEN DOOR, PEOPLE COULD BE THROWN OUT OF VEHICLE BECAUSE OF UNLOCKED INSECURE DOORS ETC. BUT ALSO AIDS THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT BY ALLOWING THEM EASY ACCESS TO INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM ANY DOOR WHILE STOPPED (TRAFFIC LIGHT SHOPPING CENTER LOTS ETC.)
7/28/15 - I CAME OUT TO MY 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY AND FOUND A "V" SHAPED CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD, APPROX 9-11 INCHES IN EACH DIRECTION, ORIGINATING BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS DEFECT IN THE GLASS SINCE THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY WAS APPROX. 93 DEG. 7/29/15 - I WENT TO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP AND UPON INSPECTION BY THE SERVICE DEPT. WAS TOLD "A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD" WHICH CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. MY RESPONSE, "HOW COULD A ROCK HIT UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WHERE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A ROCK HITTING IT?" THE COST TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IS OVER $700.00, NOT COVERED BY SUBARU WARRANTY AND THE WINDSHIELDS ARE BACKLOGGED BY 4-6 WEEKS SINCE THERE NONE IN STOCK. I RETURNED HOME DISCOURAGED AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED UP NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2015 WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. 7/30/15 - I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR, ARMED WITH 19 PAGES OF WINDSHIELD COMPLAINTS. THE SERVICE DEPT REP INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD AND ALSO SAID "A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD" BUT SAID THIS IS COMMON OCCURRENCE, WINDSHIELDS WERE IN SCARCE SUPPLY AND NOT COVERED BY SUBARU WARRANTY. HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE LAST WINDSHIELD THEY HAD IN STOCK AND RESERVED IT SO I NOW HAVE A REPAIR DATE IN A WEEK. I AM STILL GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THE $700.00 WHETHER IT IS COVERED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS COMPREHENSIVE OR CASH OUT OF POCKET. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE REP ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT, THICKNESS OF THE GLASS AND THE HEATING ELEMENT UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AND OTHER VEHICLES HIT BY SMALL PEBBLES WHERE "PITTING" WOULD OCCUR BUT NOT CRACKING WHEN HIT. AS A GOOD SERVICE REP, HIS ANSWERS WERE EVASIVE BUT EMPATHETIC, WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS BEING IGNORED BY SUBARU. I WAS ASSURED, THOUGH, IF IN THE FUTURE, SUBARU WERE TO HAVE A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD, I WOULD BE REIMBURSED.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN PARKING LOT. VERY LONG BREAK STARTING AT BASE AND CONTINUED HALFWAY UP THROUGH THE CENTER.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 8". CRACK IS INSIDE GLASS (GLASS IS SMOOTH ON EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF CAR). NO TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS AND NO IMPACTS TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE WHEN CRACK OCCURRED - GLASS WAS NOT CRACKED WHEN PARKED IN SECURE GARAGE FRIDAY EVENING. WAS CRACKED WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED OVER THE WEEKEND. STARTED IN THE LOWER CORNER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND SPREAD ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY TO DRIVER'S SIDE.
NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THE MORNING OF 7/23/15, I DO NOT RECALL ANYTHING HITTING MY WINDSHIELD, BY LUNCH TIME THE CRACK HAD SPREAD HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. NOW TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD I'M TOLD IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND MAY TAKE QUITE A WHILE TO GET A REPLACEMENT. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SUBARU INSTALLED CHEEP OR DEFECTIVE GLASS WINDSHIELDS.
FOR THE SECOND TIME, AFTER BEING PINGED BY A SMALL STONE, THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK CIRCA 3000 MILES SIMILAR EXPERIENCE W/ 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK ALSO W/ LOW MILEAGE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD IN SOME 56 YEARS OF DRIVING THREE TIMES IN 7 MONTHS SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SORT OF SYSTEMIC OR WINDSHIELD CONFIGURATION PROBLEM?
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A RANDOM CRACKING SOUND. I THEN HEARD IT AGAIN COUPLE MINUTES LATER. DROVE HOME AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE GYM ON A REGULAR ROAD I HEARD THE SAME CRACKING SOUND AND THEN SAW A HUGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD QUICKLY SPREADING. THE CRACK IS QUICKLY SPREADING AND IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACK ON 2015 OUTBACK WAGON. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT AT 6:00 PM. THE NEXT MORNING, THERE WAS A ~12 INCH CRACK, LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO OVERHANGING TREES AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED.
A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON 7/17/15 SHOWING A TINY CHIP AND 2-3 MM CRACK. WE HAD THE CHIP REPAIRED BY SAFELIGHT EARLY MORNING OF 7/18/15 AND IT LOOKED GOOD. THE NEXT DAY, 7/19/15, THERE WERE 2 CRACKS OVER 6 INCHES LONG AND THE WINDOW WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WOULD HAVE CHALKED IT UP TO JUST BAD LUCK TO HAVE THE REPAIR FAIL UNTIL I CAME ACROSS REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON THE INTERNET AND THEN CAME ACROSS THIS SITE.
NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN HAS SERIOUS GLARE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. ALMOST DROVE OFF ROAD INTO A DITCH YESTERDAY, WHILE TRYING TO SEE SCREEN. NO ONE ELSE ON ROAD. SYSTEM VIRTUALLY USELESS. ALSO SEVERE GLARE ON DRIVER-SIDE MIRROR FROM CAR INTERIOR, MAKES IT HARD TO SEE VEHICLES ON LEFT. SUBARU COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH DESIGNING A PRE-CUT ANTI-GLARE SCREEN COVER OR SIMPLY REPLACING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SCREEN WITH A NEW ANTI-GLARE PLASTIC ONE. SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY GET HURT OR KILLED.
FOUND A 2 FOOT CRACK ON MY BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. AFTER WASHING MY CAR YESTERDAY, I STOOD BACK TO ADMIRE HOW GREAT THE CAR LOOKED AND THEN WENT INSIDE. WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE 2 HOURS LATER, I NOTICED A 2 FOOT CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE STARTING POINT IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A ROCK COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY HIT THE CAR UNDER THE BLADE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND I'VE TAKEN EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WITH IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR OUTBACK AROUND TOWN WHEN SHE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE CENTER WINDSHIELD, JUST BELOW THE MIRROR ATTACHMENT POINT. SHE DID NOT RECALL ANY MAJOR STONE OR GRAVEL HITS (OTHER THAN THE USUAL DUST/DEBRIS ON NEW ENGLAND ROADS). LATER THAT DAY THE CRACK HAD SPREAD TO APPROXIMATELY 6" AND THEN THREE DAYS LATER (IN THE INTERIM, SHE WENT INTO LABOR AND HAD A BABY), THE CRACK HAD EXPANDED TO NEARLY THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED BOTH THE DEALER AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. AS IS STATED ELSEWHERE ON THE NTSB COMPLAINT SITE, THE ONLY WINDSHIELDS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2015 OUTBACK ARE FACTORY, OEM UNITS - WHICH ARE ON BACK ORDER FROM MOST DEALERS AND GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANIES. GIVEN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT WINDSHIELD CRACKING (BOTH HERE AND AVAILABLE THROUGH VARIOUS OTHER AUTOMOTIVE SITES), I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD WORK TO FIX AN OBVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE GLASS.
WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A ROCK. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DIME. WITHIN 4 HOURS, LEAVING THE CAR PARKED, THE CRACK SPREAD A FEW INCHES TO THE LEFT TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE. IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, THE CRACK SPREAD UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST WITHIN VIEW OF THE DRIVER.
I WAS GETTING GAS AT A STATION. WHEN I WAS FINISHED PUMPING GAS I ENTERED THE CAR, STARTED IT, PUT IT IN REVERSE, BRAKED, PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS, PUT ON THE BRAKE, IT CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, GAVE IT SOME GAS SINCE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE, CAR JUMPED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, MY FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKE AND IN DRIVE WHILE I TRIED TO KEEP IT FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. TRIED TO MANIPULATE BRAKE AND GAS TO STOP ROLLING BACKWARDS. EVENTUALLY I SWERVED AROUND PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT HITTING IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED NEW CAR. I WENT TO 2 SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL.
ON JULY 9, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I TAKE TO WORK AND HEARD A SMALL POP, LIKE A PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY CRACKED IN AN L SHAPE DOWN AROUND THE REARVIEW MIRROR. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME FROM WORK THAT NIGHT, THAT CRACK HAD EXTENDED TO ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS A LONG TIME, AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PEBBLE STRIKES WITHOUT ANY OF MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, AS IS EVIDENCED BY MANY OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I LOVE THE CAR OTHERWISE, BUT AM WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE POSTED COMPLAINTS WERE ON THEIR THIRD WINDSHIELD THIS YEAR ON THEIR 2015 OUTBACKS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I EMAILED SUBARU AND DID GET A REPLY SUGGESTING I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LET THEM INSPECT IT, AND THAT THEY WERE "NOT AWARE" OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELDS FOR THE 2015 OUTBACKS. INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE AND SEVERAL OTHERS SUGGESTS OTHERWISE. WE NEED TO SPEAK UP SO SUBARU KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON AND IS FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
PASSENGER SIDE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT (PERHAPS 50%). IT DOES NOT ALWAYS INDICATE THAT AN OBJECT IS IN IT'S VIEW WHEN IT ACTUALLY IS. IF YOU DEPEND UPON THIS DEVICE TO MAKE LANE CHANGES, YOU COULD HAVE A COLLISION. IT FAILS WHILE MOVING AT ANY SPEED ABOVE ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND WEATHER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND HE IS UNABLE TO FIX IT EVEN AFTER REPLACING BOTH BLIND SPOT SENSORS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND CONTINUES TO DATE. THE DEALER GAVE ME A 2016 LOANER MODEL WHEN WORKING ON MY CAR AND IT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED - MONDAY 6 JULY 2015 - WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, COLLISION PREVENTION OFF LIGHT, LINE WARNING OFF LIGHT, AND X-MODE LIGHT MESSAGES DISPLAYED. I HAD NOT DISENGAGED THE COLLISION PREVENTION OR LINE WARNING LIGHTS AND HAD NOT ENGAGED THE X-MODE FEATURE. THERE WAS NO MESSAGE INDICATING NO BRAKE LIGHTS. MADE APPOINTMENT FOR THURSDAY MORNING 9 JULY. BASED ON SERVICE ADVISOR'S ADVICE THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN, I DROVE THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. (DISCOVERED THIS WHEN MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME TO THE DEALER.) THERE SHOULD BE A MESSAGE TO ALERT THE DRIVER BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT OPERABLE. AFTER SERVICE APPOINTMENT THURSDAY (FLASHED COMPUTER TO CLEAR CODES), NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH FRIDAY AFTERNOON 10 JULY SLUGGISHNESS CONTINUED TO INCREASE, GEAR SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC, THEN THE COLLISION PREVENTION OFF LIGHT AND LINE WARNING OFF LIGHT MESSAGES DISPLAYED - BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE VEHICLE TOTALLY FAILED TO MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE. COASTED OFF THE EXIT RAMP AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. DO NOT KNOW WHETHER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OPERABLE WHILE THIS WAS OCCURRING. I AM AWARE THERE IS A RECALL WQS-54 ON THE EYE-SIGHT SYSTEM (WHICH WE SHOWED THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR). HAVING NO WAY TO KNOW IF BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OPERABLE IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU REGARDING THIS RECALL. UPDATED 11/14/2017*CN
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. NO IMPACT MARK OR ANYTHING. CRACKED IN THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD LIKE ALL 2015 AND NEWER SUBARU OUTBACKS APPARENTLY DO. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH PEOPLE DETAILING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE YET NO RECALL YET.
I HAD STOPPED TO DISEMBARK MYSELF AND PASSENGERS. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS NOT IN PARK. AS THE PASSENGER ON THE LEFT WAS GETTING OUT, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT AND PUT IT IN PARK. I HAVE A PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. ON PAGE 3-6 OF THE OWNER'S MANUEL IT SAYS " THE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CANNOT BE SWITCHED TO "OFF" WHEN THE SELECT LEVER IS IN A POSITION OTHER THAN P". IN CONTACTING THE DEALER SHIP THEY CHECKED OTHER OUTBACKS WITH PUSH BUTTON STARTERS AND THEY ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
THIS IS MY SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED. WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME I CAME OUT AND FOUND A 6" CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING BELOW THE WIPERS. IT HAS SINCE SPREAD AN ADDITION 12"+ INCHES UPWARDS AND 4" DOWNWARD. I BELIEVE BELOW THE WIPERS IS WHERE THE HEATING ELEMENT IS LOCATED AND IN A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, INCLUDING THIS SITE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF CRACKS APPEARING ON PARKED CARS ALL STARTING BELOW WIPERS. NOW FOR THE REAL PROBLEM, THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS AVAILABLE. THIS HAPPENED ON 6/24/15 AND I CONTACTED SAFELITE THAT DAY AND DUE THE HEATING ELEMENT THE PART HAS TO COME FROM SUBARU. IT IS NOW EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER AND THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT IN SIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SCREEN ON THE RADIO CREATED A BLINDING GLARE FROM THE SUNLIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO THE GLARE. THE WAS TAKEN TO RAMSEY SUBARU WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 08/24/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO BE REACHED. UPDATED 9/22/2017*JS
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026