2019 Subaru Forester

I WAS DRIVING ON THE LOCAL HIGHWAY IN GREENSBORO SUNDAY JUNE 16TH, WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING A LARGE CRACK RUNNING ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED IN MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT WE HAD ONLY HAD FOR THREE WEEKS AT THE TIME. OUR OTHER FORESTER WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS, ENCOUNTERING SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE AS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH MINIMAL IMPACT FROM A VERY SMALL OBJECT.

OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT THREE WEEKS, TWO DIFFERENT WINDSHIELDS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY VERY SMALL ROCK CHIPS THAT VERY RAPIDLY TURNED INTO LARGE CRACKS. THE FIRST OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY, IN TRAFFIC, AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (APPROX 35MPH). I HEARD A SLIGHT TICK AND NOTICED A VERY SMALL CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BUG). I MADE A NOTE THAT I WOULD NEED TO ARRANGE A REPAIR AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR, I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED I HAD AN 18 INCH CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD, DIRECTLY IN MY LINE OF SIGHT. I MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A REPLACEMENT WHICH WAS DELAYED, I WAS TOLD, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF FORESTERS AWAITING WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, AGAIN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I RECEIVED ANOTHER CHIP, WHICH TURNED INTO A 2 FOOT CRACK WITHIN ABOUT 2 MINUTES. THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE DUE TO SUBARU'S "EYESIGHT" SAFETY SYSTEMS. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED THE COST OF OWNERSHIP ON A VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED SPECIFICALLY FOR ITS PERCEIVED LOW RUNNING COSTS. IN MY 25 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR A FEW ROCK CHIPS BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD. NOW I WILL HAVE REPLACED TWO ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT SUBARU HAS USED EXTREMELY LOW GRADE OR DEFECTIVE GLASS THAT EASILY CRACKS, CREATING A VISIBILITY SAFETY HAZARD AND UNDUE EXPENSE FOR FORESTER OWNERS.

A CRACK HAS DEVELOPED IN WINDSHIELD. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEGUN BELOW THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. AND IS TRAVELING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, IN THE SIGHT LINE OF THE DRIVER.. THE CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 36" LONG AND GROWING. YES, I KNOW WINDSHIELDS CAN READILY CRACK IF HIT BY AN OBJECT. BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A DIFFERENT ISSUE BECAUSE: 1) THE VEHICLE IS NEW, ABOUT 2 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES. 2) I KNOW OF NO SOLID OBJECTS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD 3) THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE BEGUN IN AN AREA PROTECTED BY THE HOOD LINE. IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY A STONE OR OTHER OBJECT ON THE ROAD COULD BE THROWN UP AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADES. 4) WE FIRST NOTICED THE CRACK AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY, PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, FOR 3 DAYS. 5) WE HAVING THE FIRST HOT DAYS OF THE YEAR (90+ DEGREES F). 6) AND YES, THE INTERNET HAS A NUMBER OF VERY SIMILAR STORIES INVOLVING 2019 SUBARU FORESTERS ENDURING CRACKING WINDSHIELDS WHEN STATIONARY.

WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE DURING A DRIVE ON A COUNTY MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD GOING 30MPH. RECEIVED FIRST CHIP AFTER 3 DAYS OF USE ON AN INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH. AFTER LOOKING INTO COST FOR REPAIRS DISCOVERED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RECENT SUBARU VEHICLES INCLUDING A LAW SUIT IN CANADA AGAINST THE OUTBACK MODEL VEHICLES FOR SHATTERING GLASS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD ON A VEHICLE BEFORE AND NOW MUST DO SO WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, IF THE WINDSHIELDS ARE THIS THIN IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH FORCE TO HAVE OBJECTS COME FLYING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.