2019 Subaru Ascent Visibility Problems

Subaru windshild in my 2019 Ascent have been replaced twice in 30,000 miles due to very inadequate glass. I'm struggling to get Subaru to acknowledge their responsibility to replace this current cracked windshield with a new part, as per my reading of a settlement that they should be following [XXX] ). They are currently trying to send me to a 3rd party repair business to do the repair, but supposedly they have fixed the part on more recent versions of the car. By comparison, I had a Toyota Highlander for 11 years and never once had to replace the windshield glass. Yes, it took a beating, but never once cracked like this glass does. It's not up to the task, and clearly dangerous. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11643538

Incident

Jan 3, 2025

The windshield cracked with no obvious damage. The crack did not start at a chip. Cracked while not driving and no recent rock hits.

NHTSA ID

11633422

Incident

Feb 14, 2022

Yesterday I got in my vehicle first thing in the morning and there was a crack at the bottom of my windshield. I’m not parked anywhere near anything that could’ve caused a crack, so it appears to have just randomly cracked for no reason. This morning as I’m just sitting at the bus stop with my kid the crack got a little bigger.

NHTSA ID

11551291

Incident

Oct 22, 2023

Sunroof glass broke. No apparent reason.

NHTSA ID

11533547

Incident

May 15, 2023

Windshield broke for no reason. Crack not associated with any damage or weather incident.

NHTSA ID

11533546

Incident

Nov 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the front passenger’s and driver’s side doors were difficult to open due to large gaps in the doors caused by improper welding. The contact also stated that an abnormal line had formed on the moonroof without incident while the vehicle was stationary. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V508000 (Structure) which she linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the cause of the failure was due to human error. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,920.

NHTSA ID

11531770

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

30,920 mi

There is a chronic leak in the sunroof. This causes water to run down the C pillar under the carpet. The carpet has 3 inch thick molded foam attached to the bottom. The water sits in the metal floorboard pan, under the molded foam, so it sucks it up like a sponge, but the carpet never gets wet and shows signs of a leak. The dealer has serviced the sunroof yet it continues leak every time. The vehicle stays moldy and strong smells of mold never go away, also the thick foam won’t dry completely out due to the design of the flooring underlay.

NHTSA ID

11526122

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

The contact's wife owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, a crack was seen forming from above the rear-view mirror. The contact stated that there were no impacts to the windshield to cause the crack. The contact stated that the crack was expanding and extending down near the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11509406

Incident

Feb 3, 2023

Mileage

60,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the front windshield was struck by a small pebble kicked up by another vehicle. The contact stated that the damage was a small crack and chip on the lower section in the middle of the windshield. The contact drove the vehicle to a glass repair shop to have the chip and crack repaired. The contact stated that repair was performed; however, the windshield had started to crack at the point of the repair. The contact was advised by the glass repair shop that the windshield needed to be replaced. The windshield was not replaced. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11485750

Incident

Aug 21, 2022

Mileage

25,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a small rock struck the passenger’s side windshield causing a crack. On another occasion, the contact stated that she heard a pop and saw a small crack on the driver’s side windshield. The contact was unsure what caused the second crack. The dealer was contacted and referred her to a third-party windshield repair facility. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 54,000.

NHTSA ID

11483987

Incident

Apr 26, 2022

Mileage

54,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the driver’s side door window cracked without warning or impact. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the window needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that 6-months later, while his wife was utilizing the vehicle, she noticed that the front windshield had cracked without impact or warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11480744

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Mileage

50,000 mi

Multiple cracks/chips in windshield with normal driving

NHTSA ID

11476088

Incident

Jul 24, 2022

On the week of February 24th, 2022 we had a snow/ice storm that caused significant buildup on my windshield and after clearing it off and running the defrost and I noticed cracking on the windshield. I have heard of several consumers that have had problems with Subaru windshields around the same time (2015-2019) and were having the same cracking issues for the same defrost issue and cracking without cause. Have had the crack since February as the cost of the windshield will be exorbitant due to the eye sight camera and calibration.

NHTSA ID

11473636

Incident

Feb 24, 2022

Please note: I have already had the windshield replaced once. This is the second windshield on this vehicle. My windshield was hit by a rock on the front passenger side and it "spidered" instantly. For the past month it has spidered a little more. After washing my car on 6/21, the spidering has extended across the windshield to the driver's side in the driver's line of sight. Washing my car didn't cause this (nor should it!) because I have driven in the rain for the past month. We have a 2013 Subaru Forester and it just now has a chip that spidered. This is not normal!! Additionally, approximately 2 weeks ago I noticed the front section of my sunroof was cracked and had spidered nearly all the way from back to front of the glass. No chip is apparent. I am paying out of pocket on these repairs because my insurance rates go up when I go through insurance. The price tag for these 2 windows is $1800. This is getting ridiculous!

NHTSA ID

11470707

Incident

Apr 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed a horizontal crack on the lower driver’s side windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact on the windshield to cause the crack. The contact had the vehicle repaired through his insurance company by an independent mechanic. Recently, the same failure occurred in the same spot as before. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure obstructed his vision while driving. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11465096

Incident

Apr 10, 2022

Mileage

25,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact observed a crack at the bottom of the windshield by passenger’s side pillar. The crack then extended up to the center of the windshield just underneath the rearview mirror. The contact observed that the crack increased by a few centimeters every time the vehicle was driven. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11462516

Incident

Apr 23, 2022

Mileage

50,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, she heard a cracking sound coming from the windshield and saw a minor crack on the driver's side of the windshield. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence and parked it. The next day, the contact noticed that the crack had extended to approximately 5-feet long. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the windshield; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the windshield made an exploding sound and there was an 8-inch-long circle crack on the driver's side of the windshield. The vehicle was taken back to dealer who replaced the windshield for a second time; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated that she sealed the half inch long crack that was on the driver's side of the windshield herself. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 4,500.

NHTSA ID

11449995

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

Mileage

4,500 mi

My Subaru Ascent 2019 is 2.5 years old. The windshield has developed a crack on its own on a long drive. The crack first appeared at the bottom of windshield near front passenger seat, and has started spreading sideways towards driver side in a zig-zag fashion. It's about 10 inches long now. I called Subaru service center and informed them about the crack. The service center said one of their managers will call me to discuss. I'm waiting for the call. I had a similar random crack appear on the sunroof 6 months after purchasing the car. It also appeared on a long drive. Subaru inspected and initially refused to cover the sunroof under warranty. They later came around and replaced the sunroof on their own and without charge to me.

NHTSA ID

11445370

Incident

Dec 26, 2021

The windshield has cracked twice with very small cracks. The second time was within three weeks of having it replaced at the dealer by a 3rd party since the dealer didn’t handle that repair. On this second occasion, I neither saw or heard a rock or chip hit the windshield and yet after a cold night and parking in the garage I came back the next morning and it was there. The second crack doesn’t appear to be from any rock as it is very small and almost at the base where the new windshield was installed — but the dealer is saying they think Subaru may say it is coming from a small mark and then spidered out. I can’t even see how a rock could go ata downward angle to hit down in this area below where the wiper blades rest. I went on the website and there are many many complaints about this new vehicle’s windshield cracking - both from very small objects and on its own. I already had a transmission replaced on warranty and several other problems- as mine was the first 2019 Ascent sold in Columbia, MO. In short, these windshields have been the subject of a class action and they are defective and unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11442153

Incident

Nov 22, 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, he noticed the front windshield was cracked on the passenger’s side. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,040.

NHTSA ID

11439845

Incident

Nov 8, 2021

Mileage

31,040 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in a parking garage and when she returned to the vehicle, she noticed that the windshield was cracked. The contact stated she could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 33,663.

NHTSA ID

11433728

Incident

Sep 20, 2021

Mileage

33,663 mi

Unknown. We bought the car brand new from the Subaru Dealership and the original windshield is on the vehicle. There are 6+ cracks/chips in this windshield all are unexplained. The first crack happened 3 months after purchasing and the lasted crack happened 2 weeks ago.

NHTSA ID

11433321

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

Was driving south on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge, NJ - small pebble or rock hit the passenger side black trim on windshield (original windshield). Crack immediately started to expand to about 3-4” long. The next day the crack was almost half way across the entire windshield. I now need to have the entire windshield replaced which will require my taking time off of work to take it in, since the repair shop must recalobrate the windshield safety equipment. This amount of cracking seems excessive for a 2019 vehicle especially since the initial chip was so small - not happy that this occurred on such a new vehicle in what seems like a normal situation.

NHTSA ID

11426277

Incident

Jul 17, 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front windshield started to crack without incident or impact. The vehicle was diagnosed but was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

NHTSA ID

11423832

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

16,000 mi

A crack appeared one morning on the drivers/middle of the windshield going from the bottom up about 8 inches then turning toward the drivers side. Took the car to the local Subaru dealer where the tech examined and at first could not locate a ding in the glass. He eventually used a ball point pen and ran it along the crack. Just behind the wiper he said he felt some resistance and that indicated a chip. He rubbed the pen tip aggressively over this point till there was some wear. I pointed out that not only was this behind the wiper but how could something so small that it took hard rubbing with the pen to provide "a source" for the crack cause the windshield to break. I suspect a defective windshield.

NHTSA ID

11423828

Incident

Sep 4, 2020