Subaru will pay car owners $5,000 each and lawyers will make $7.2 million
After more than five years of litigation, Subaru has agreed to settle a lawsuit in the U.S. related to complaints about the propensity of windshields in some popular models to crack. The automaker will reimburse those who performed windscreen replacements and will also pay compensation to the four plaintiffs.
Here's What We Know
The lawsuit was filed back in 2019 and accused Subaru of installing defective glass in Forester and Outback 2017-2019 model years. It was also alleged that Subaru concealed the existence of the defect. After years of litigation, the parties reached a settlement in April 2025, with the list of affected models expanding significantly.
Owners of the 2019-2022 Ascent, 2019-2022 Forester, 2019-2022 Forester, 2020-2022 Legacy, and 2020-2022 Outback models can now expect compensation.
The four plaintiffs will receive $5,000 each, while attorneys' fees of $7,250,000 are due. To be compensated, owners must prove the existence of what is known as a "qualifying crack."
By Subaru's definition, such a crack is "a certain type of windshield damage with specific features. It appears as a single line extending from or through a prominent point of impact and continuing to the edge of the glass." The "point of impact" must fulfil strict criteria.
For example, it must not exceed 5 mm in diameter and the crack pattern must be consistent with the nature of light impact damage. The point of impact must be visible and distinguishable. However, even if the dealer cannot clearly identify the impact point, but the crack meets the criteria, the repair will still be covered.
But that's not all: owners will have to go through a number of bureaucratic procedures. These include providing proof of repair and at least one photograph of the crack. If these conditions are met, they will receive compensation of 125% of the repair cost. If there were two cracks, the compensation will be 150%, and if there were three or more cracks, 200%.
In case the relevant photos were not saved, Subaru will offer to pass a test on a special website. From six random images, it is necessary to choose a photo that most accurately reflects their type of damage. If the choice is correct - compensation will be paid, and if not - denied.
Source: Carscoops
