2020 Subaru Ascent window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Water intrusion occurred inside the vehicle, resulting in extensive mold contamination throughout the interior, including the seats, front and rear carpets, and a child’s car seat. The source of the water intrusion has not been identified. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Subaru retailer, which confirmed in writing that water was present inside the vehicle and that mold was covering interior surfaces, including the child’s car seat. The only diagnostic test performed was a car wash to check for a sunroof leak, which did not replicate the issue. The retailer indicated that further diagnostic work would require significant interior disassembly and cleaning at the owner’s expense before the source of the leak can be determined. The manufacturer was contacted regarding this issue and declined assistance, citing “lack of required maintenance.” The specific maintenance and its relationship to the water intrusion have not been identified, and the source of the leak has not yet been diagnosed. The retailer also stated that technicians would not enter the vehicle due to the extent of the mold contamination. As a result, standard recall repairs have not been performed while the vehicle remains in this condition. A dealership technician also documented in a recorded inspection that water was present beneath the carpet, that the source of the leak could not be identified without further disassembly, and that the extent of mold contamination created an unsafe working environment. This condition creates a potential health and safety concern due to mold exposure inside the passenger cabin, particularly for a child occupant. In addition, excessive interior moisture has caused window fogging, which may impair visibility while driving. No warning lights or prior indicators were observed before the issue was discovered. The problem has been confirmed by a Subaru retailer. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11728801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that he parked the vehicle in the parking garage overnight and when he went to get into the vehicle the next morning, he noticed that the windshield was cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11536360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

On Tuesday, January 3, I had a THIRD chip in my windshield. This just happened yesterday, so I have not had it evaluated yet. HOWEVER, this will be the THIRD chip that I will have to have repaired in the three short years I've owned this vehicle. The first chip happened within a month of owning the vehicle, and there is a current NHTSA complaint on file (11297348) for this chip. The second chip occurred in September 2022, and I have had that one repaired. NEITHER of the repairs "held" past 30 days. I have NEVER owned a vehicle that had a windshield that chipped so easily. I'm very surprised that this has not been a recall issue yet (as the glass repair shop suggested it should be- they see this ALOT with Subarus).

NHTSA complaint #11500139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Front windshield has cracked for a second time. The initial windshield purchased with the vehicle cracked, and was replaced in 2020. The second windshield has now cracked, and is pending repair.

NHTSA complaint #11497335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the parking lot, the windshield suddenly cracked without impact. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,200. The contact stated that they reached a settlement with the manufacturer where they paid for the majority of the windshield repair.

NHTSA complaint #11495335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

We've had this car for a little over 2 years and have had 3 cracked windshields, seems like anything that hits it causes a crack. I've been driving for over 45 years and multiple cars and have had cracked windshields 2 or 3 times. This doesn't make any sense. Thank you.

NHTSA complaint #11490861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

While parked, I adjusted the rear view mirror to my driving position. I heard a cracking noise and saw a crack go about three inches down from the rear view mirror on the windshield. Over night it spread from the mirror all the way down to the base of the windshield. I inspected the windshield for impact damage and found none.

NHTSA complaint #11488678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving 65 MPH, the contact was seated in the passenger’s side seat and noticed a crack on the driver’s side windshield, starting from the rearview mirror. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

NHTSA complaint #11482975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My windshield cracked for no reason. There is no point of impact. The vehicle is just over 2 years old and has been driven approx 7000 miles. I don't drive a lot, and live in a pretty rural area where there is little traffic. When I picked up my son from daycare the day before there was no crack. The next morning when I got in the car to go drop him off, there was a substantial crack. This seems to be a common problem with this vehicle, according to searches online. The vehicle was parked in my driveway, and nowhere near any trees. It did not storm that night. I cannot see any reason the windshield would have cracked.

NHTSA complaint #11456564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The windshield cracked on its own at the top of the windshield in the middle of the sights.

NHTSA complaint #11451204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My front windshield spontaneously cracked while driving. The closest car was a very small car almost a mile in front of me and couldn't have caused a rock to get me. There were no warnings before it happened and it hasn't been inspected by anyone yet

NHTSA complaint #11442793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Windshield cracked twice for no apparent reason. Had the windshield replaced by Subaru, and will now have to replace it a second time.

NHTSA complaint #11442608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

When I arrived at work I noticed a 4 inch crack at the bottom left corner of my windshield. I had not noticed any rock hitting my windshield. By the time I got out of work, the crack had expanded to about 8 or 10 inches and continued to expand to over 1 foot. This has never happend to me in the 35 years I've been driving and not to any of the many cars I've owned. I filed a claim with my insurance and plan to have the windshield replaced this week. However, I happened to do a Google Search about Subaru Ascent cracked windshields and noticed the recall of other Subaru models. Additionally, on the Subaru forums, there have been many others writing of the similar experience of an unexplained crack in the windshield of their Subaru Ascent.

NHTSA complaint #11436352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I recently bought my Subaru and I noticed the transmission would stall when going in to gear or changing gears and the rpm would be high, also last night I de fogged my windows and drove to my destination and noticed a crack in my windshield from the top where my eyesight is, I did not hear or see anything hit my car windshield, my car didn't give off any warning signs for either of the problems I stated, I have contacted subur 1800subur3 they say there is no recall so now talk to customer service so now I am waiting to speak to them

NHTSA complaint #11432762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Windshield cracked with no apparent reason.

NHTSA complaint #11424185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

As we were driving, a vehicle passed us going the other way and suddenly something hit our windshield and damaged it. I am reporting this because the cracks from this unusual incident are rather large in comparison to other windshield chips I have seen on previous cars.

NHTSA complaint #11423463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Several months ago a very small chip appeared in our windshield. We do not remember getting hit by anything. Within a couple of days the chip cracked almost half the length of the windshield. We paid over $1000.00 to have windshield replaced. Less than two months later we again saw a small chip in the windshield. My husband tried to fix it before it cracked and while fixing it the chip cracked almost half the length of the windshield. We will now have to pay to fix another windshield due to spontaneous chips that we were not aware of.

NHTSA complaint #11417688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The windshield cracked out of no where. I haven't even had the car for a year and barely drive it.

NHTSA complaint #11417433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WITHIN A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD AND WHILE MY CAR HAD UNDER 10,000 MILES ON IT, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. BOTH TIMES A PEA SIZE CHIP HAD PROGRESSED INTO A 12-18 INCH CRACK WITHIN A HOUR WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVING ON THE SAME CITY HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS AT/UNDER 60 MPH AND WAS HIT WITH COMMON HIGHWAY GRAVEL. MY PREVIOUS SUBARU, A 2018 OUTBACK, ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED WHEN THE REARVIEW MIRROR POPPED OFF THE WINDSHIELD ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND LEFT A HOLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THESE NEWER SUBARU WINDSHIELDS AND ITS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11415454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSE I CAN SEE

NHTSA complaint #11415018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED OUT OF NO WHERE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA complaint #11414451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU ASCENT. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICIED TINY DOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER CAMELBACK VW (1499 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 648-9181) AND THE MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA complaint #11414284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 4/16 AND SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED THIS CHIP. I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A LARGE CRACK

NHTSA complaint #11408617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

18 INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE, HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY, NOTHING STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AT ANY TIME.. JUST NOTICED IT TODAY 4/7/21 AT 0930

NHTSA complaint #11406880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

A HORIZONTAL CRACK APPEARED IN THE TOP 3/4 OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD. CRACK BEGINS ON LEFT MOST EDGE OF WINDSHIELD AND HAS SPREAD APPROXIMATELY 6' HORIZONTAL AND THEN 8' DOWNWARD. CRACK CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT ASAP. NO IMPACTS TO THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACK WAS FOUND AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11405228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

ON MARCH 19, 2021, WHILE PARKED, A HORIZONTAL CRACK WAS NOTICED ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, DRIVER'S SIDE. I ESTIMATE THE CRACK WAS 4-8 INCHES LONG. ON MARCH 21, 2021, A VERTICAL CRACK WAS NOTICED, WHICH EXTENDED FROM THE HORIZONTAL CRACK (PLEASE SEE PHOTOS).

NHTSA complaint #11404475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

PARKED VEHICLE FOR THE EVENING INSIDE OF GARAGE. NEXT DAY, HAD A LARGE VERTICAL, "S" SHAPED CRACK STARTING FROM THE AREA NEAR THE EYE SIGHT EXTENDING DOWN NEAR THE BOTTOM 3/4 OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO APPARENT CHIP OR DAMAGE AT THE STARTING POINT OF THE CRACK.

NHTSA complaint #11403445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WE'VE OWNED OUR CAR FOR LESS THAN 8 MOS AND RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT DID NOT EMERGE FROM A ROCK CHIP. WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS AS THE REPLACEMENT HAS TO BE OEM (I.E. EXPENSIVE) BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11397775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JULY 2020. SO IT'S BEEN 8 MONTHS AND ALREADY THERE'S A CRACK IN OUR FRONT WINDSHIELD

NHTSA complaint #11394443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AFTER A COLDEST NIGHT IN MY REGION VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WITH NO VISIBLE CRACK AND WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING TO DRIVE AWAY, THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #11388739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.