Subaru Glass Trouble

Subaru’s Windshield Woes

In a twist that’s almost like a plot from a daytime drama, Subaru has been under the spotlight for some pretty pesky windshield issues over the past years. The matter involved a lawsuit alleging that windshields in certain Subaru models tend to crack without much provocation. We’re talking about the bread-and-butter models here: the Ascent, Forester, Legacy, and Outback. After years in court, Subaru agreed to settle in April 2025, promising to reimburse owners who had to replace or fix their windshields.

The Legal Drama

Now, here’s a bit of a backstory. This whole thing kicked off with claims filed in 2019 that the windshields in Subaru’s 2017-2019 Forester and Outback were breaking almost out of the blue. Fast forward to 2025, and not only are those models still in play, but the list has expanded to include the 2019-2022 Ascent, 2019-2022 Forester, and the 2020-2022 Legacy and Outback. Subaru has promised to cover the repair costs, but only if the windshield cracks meet a specific set of criteria defined in the settlement.

What to Know

So, what’s a ‘qualifying crack’? It’s a certain type of damage with a specific look – a line running from a noticeable impact point toward the edge of the windshield. This impact point shouldn’t be larger than 5 millimeters in diameter and must show signs of a minor impact that’s visible and identifiable. Talk about jumping through hoops! If Subaru dealers can’t clearly see such a point, but the crack meets the criteria, they’ll still cover it.

Reimbursement Details

Those who manage to verify their windshield cracks with Subaru will receive some extra bang for their buck: 125% of the repair costs, escalating to 150% for a second repair and up to 200% for three or more. Documentation is the name of the game here; affected owners will need to provide repair receipts and photos. And for the tech-savvy or photographically challenged, Subaru has got them covered—they’ve set up a website for users to match their cracks with images provided, kind of like an online quiz but a bit less fun.

Driving Experience

Enough about the glass, let’s talk about the ride. Subarus, domestically acclaimed for their all-wheel drives and durability, deliver a comfortable drive. Comparing the feel of steering a Subaru Forester or Outback with trucks or bigger SUVs, they’re more agile and less cumbersome. They strike a sweet balance between rugged capability and everyday usability, appealing to adventure seekers and family folks alike. However, that whole potential cracking windshield thing sure paints the brand in a light they’d rather stay out of.

In conclusion, if out driving in a Subaru brings a grin, just be sure that’s not cracked by a rogue pebble. They’re taking the necessary steps to amend things, but it’s a win for owners who’ve been replacing windshields faster than tires. Hopefully, this puts Subaru’s glass debacle to rest, letting their drivers focus back on the joys of the open road instead of the frustrations of unexpected costs.