2019 Subaru Outback

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DROVE OVER A CURB. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS FLATTENED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED AFTER THE CLAIM BECOMES APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SUBARU OF KINGS AUTOMALL (9536 KINGS AUTOMALL RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 583-9300) AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTERWARDS, THE DEALER WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300. *DT *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK EXPANDED IN HOT WEATHER. THE CONTACT CALLED LANCASTER COUNTY MOTORS SUBARU (1705 MANHEIM PIKE, LANCASTER, PA 717-569-4514), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. *TT*JB

SUBSTANTIAL WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH NO VISIBLE PREVIOUS DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTDOORS AT APPROXIMATELY 2045 CENTRAL TIME ON 8/15/2019 FACING WEST. AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 CENTRAL TIME ON 8/16/2019 VEHICLE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL 7+ INCH CRACK DESCENDING FROM TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY ABOVE AND DESCENDING VERTICALLY DOWN FROM NEAR THE DRIVER EYESIGHT CAMERA. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR GLASS WHICH IS MEANT TO PROTECT THE DRIVER AND PROVIDE A VIEW PORT FROM WHICH MOST SAFETY SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE OPERATE.

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, COMING DOWN FROM A MOUNTAIN RANGE AND JUST REACHED THE BOTTOM. I CROSSED A CATTLE GUARD AND MY SUNROOF SHATTERED. I DO NOT BELIEVE I ROCK HIT AS THE DEALERSHIP BELIEVES AS THEIR WAS NO ONE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA OF ARIZONA. I BELIEVE THE SUNROOF SHATTERED FOR EITHER NO REASON OR POSSIBLY CHANGE IN ELEVATION AND TEMPERATURES. THIS IS NOT SAFE. LUCKILY MY SHIELD WAS CLOSED, BUT THE SOUND ALONE WAS STARTLING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

SLOWLY PULLING STRAIGHT INTO PARKING SPOT AT GROCERY STORE. APPLIED BRAKE WHEN CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL STEERING, BUT BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. STEERED CAR INTO EMPTY PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF ME THEN TURNED HARD RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING PARKED CARS IN ROW ACROSS. SUBARU HIT A PICK UP TRUCK THAT WAS REVERSING OUT OF A DIAGONAL PARKING SPOT. THE CAR DIDN'T STOP UPON IMPACT, INSTEAD BOTH RIGHT SIDE WHEELS CLIMBED UP THE SIDE OF TRUCK AT AN ANGLE. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE ACCELERATION WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR.

WE HAD OUR FIRST SPONTANEOUS CRACK ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING OUR OUTBACK IN NOVEMBER 2018. I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT HAPPENED BUT WE HAD NOT HAD ANY ROCKS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A CHIP (THEY USED A BALLPOINT PEN TO INSPECT AND I BELIEVE THEY CREATED A SMALL CHIP ALONG THE CRACK LINE) BUT THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE. THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HEARD IT HAPPEN; THERE WAS NO APPARENT ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE CRACK.THIS TIME I DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO INSPECT WITH A BALLPOINT PEN AND, SURE ENOUGH, THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS A SPONTANEOUS CRACK AND SUBARU REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD FOR US. THE THIRD CRACK JUST OCCURRED AND I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO A SPONTANEOUS CRACK THAT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. THERE IS NO APPARENT CHIP. ALL OF THEM START IN THE BLACK AREA BELOW THE WIPERS. I WONDER IF THERE COULD BE A DEFECT IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR THAT CAUSES UNDUE STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD. I WENT TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS GET THEIR BALLPOINT PEN OUT. I WILL WAIT TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WILL ALSO PURSUE ISSUE WITH SUBARU CUSTOMER RELATIONS.