You might have heard of the Subaru windshield settlement, in which you may be eligible to participate if you own or lease a Subaru between 2019 and 2022. The importance of this legal case on the national level is that most of the Subaru drivers in the U.S. received their windshields in fractured state within a short time after acquiring them. The settlement is now providing qualified vehicle owners with an additional warranty and money compensation of refund of previous repair expenses.
This paper describes the terms that the settlement covers and qualifications of the Subaru owners, in addition to the actions that these owners should take to make sure that they will access their benefits.
Background of the Subaru Windshield Settlement
The start of the Subaru windshield settlement was due to the protest raised by several Subaru owners, who argued that their windshields were easily broken with a similar ease after little to no significant impact. The civil suit bringing the title Powell, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc. claimed that various Subaru models relied on flawed windshields. These cracks would manifest soon after acquisition, and therefore force a large number of customers to spend money fixing them.
Subaru rejected the claims and said that its cars were built and produced properly. Nevertheless, Subaru had to pay a settlement to prevent a court battle. This settlement became final with the approval of the Court on April 21, 2025.
Which Subaru Models Are Covered
The settlement will apply to four most popular models of Subaru as of certain years:
- 2019-2022 Subaru Ascent
- 2019-2022 Subaru Forester
- 2020-2022 Subaru Legacy
- 2020-2022 Subaru Outback
You are also eligible to receive benefits under the Subaru settlement due to windshield in case you own or have owned a leased unit of one of these models, or leased a unit in the past.
What the Settlement Offers
The settlement offers two general categories of benefits to qualified Subaru owners:
- Extended Warranty Coverage: Subaru will provide an expanded warranty on eligible windshield cracks, occurring within or after February 5, 2025. This warranty will entail having one windshield replacement within a period up to eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. There is no action to be taken at this point in order to gain this coverage, as it goes by default to eligible vehicles.
- Cash Reimbursement for Previous Repairs: In case you had the windshield repaired or replaced prior to the settlement being approved, you are eligible to get a cash refund. Your repair should have been done prior to or within 45 days of the formal settlement notice and before the extension warranty lapsed to become eligible.
Such reimbursements include parts and labor cost but there has to be evidence of payment as well as documentation.
Eligibility Criteria
To receive benefits under the Subaru windshield settlement, you must meet the following requirements:
- You reside in the continental United States of America, Alaska, or Hawaii.
- You are a proud owner or lessee of one of the qualified Subaru models.
- In the course of routine driving, your car windshield shattered without any external force.
The settlement covers current and prior owners, therefore, although you might have disposed of your Subaru, you may be in a position to get a cash refund in case you can demonstrate that you owned this car and even the cost of repair work.
Deadlines and Important Dates
The settlement process involved several important dates:
- Claim Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025
- Objection and Exclusion Deadline: February 15, 2025
- Final Court Approval: April 21, 2025
Although there is no more deadline to submit the reimbursement claims, the prolonged warranty cover in the case of eligibility and vehicles still in use continues. Visitors must go to their local stores or use the Internet settlement site to get new warranty coverage details and warranty information.
How to Check Your Eligibility
In order to determine whether your Subaru in the Subaru windshield settlement, you may:
- Call the Customer service of Contact Subaru of America.
- Go with your car to your local Subaru dealer with your car VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
- Lists: documentation and guidelines: visit the agent settlement web site.
The availability of VIN of your vehicle will assist in quicker establishment of eligibility and sanctify your vehicle data to the settlement records.
Why This Settlement Matters
The Subaru windshield settlement demonstrates a significant problem within the American automaker liability in the minds of the car owners. Highly expensive repairs left many consumers that would otherwise have been covered by warranty due to the alleged defect. It not only rewards the victims but also sends a message to the auto industry to be transparent.
To Subaru followers, this situation is not about reimbursement. It will rebuild confidence between motorists and the company as well as strengthening the values of consumer rights.
Final Thoughts
In case you drive a Subaru Ascent, Forester, Legacy, or outback (2019-2022), then you should become aware of the Subaru windshield settlement and its benefits. Although you might have exceeded the deadline of claiming, the extended warranty cover may still help you to save money in repair expenses in the future.
To get more information, we always suggest visiting the official settlement site or call Subaru customer services to consult your eligibility. It is good to remain proactive in order to get all the benefits that are provided under the settlement.