Published
January 17, 2025
Updated
August 1, 2026
Subaru's settlement covers certain 2019–2022 vehicles with qualifying windshield cracks. Cash reimbursement claims closed in January 2025, but the one-time extended warranty may still apply depending on the vehicle's in-service date and mileage.
Current Status
The court granted final approval on April 21, 2025. The January 31, 2025 deadline for reimbursement claims has passed, and the official site does not post a public cash-distribution notice. A separate settlement benefit remains important: qualifying current owners and lessees may have a transferable windshield warranty lasting eight years or 100,000 miles from the vehicle's in-service date, whichever comes first. Warranty service is handled through an authorized Subaru dealer, not an old claim form.StatusFinal Approval Granted; Extended Warranty May Remain
Cash Claim DeadlineJanuary 31, 2025 — Passed
Warranty8 Years or 100,000 Miles from In-Service Date
Covered VehiclesCertain 2019–2022 Subaru Models
What Was the Subaru Windshield Lawsuit About?
Plaintiffs alleged that certain Subaru vehicles were equipped with front windshields that could crack more frequently or more easily than they would without an alleged defect. The litigation covered an estimated 1.4 million vehicles. Subaru denied that the vehicles or windshields were defective and denied violating warranties or other laws. The court did not decide which side was right; it approved a negotiated package of past-expense reimbursement and future warranty coverage.Which Vehicles Are in the Settlement?
Settlement Class Vehicles are model-year 2019–2022 Subaru Ascent and Forester vehicles and model-year 2020–2022 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles. The class generally includes current and former owners and lessees in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii when the vehicle was originally purchased or leased in those locations. Used-car dealers, vehicles acquired solely for resale, salvage or total-loss vehicles, certain company insiders, and people who validly excluded themselves are among the exclusions.What Was a Qualifying Crack?
The agreement distinguishes a crack consistent with the alleged residual-stress condition from damage that would ordinarily result from a substantial impact or another excluded cause. That distinction mattered both for reimbursement review and for the warranty. A tiny chip, a collision-damaged windshield, or a crack in a vehicle outside the covered model years is not automatically qualifying. The administrator and authorized dealer apply the settlement definitions rather than relying only on the owner's description.What Cash Reimbursement Was Available?
Former claimants who paid to repair or replace a qualifying windshield could seek reimbursement using proof of the expense and, where available, contemporaneous photos. Tier 1 claims with the required repair records and photos could receive between 125% and 200% of approved costs under the allocation rules, with no aggregate cap on Tier 1 payments. Tier 2 addressed certain claimants with proof of expense but no contemporaneous photo; it used a photo questionnaire and generally allowed up to 100% of approved costs, subject to a conditional $2 million collar and possible proportional reduction.What Proof Did Reimbursement Claims Need?
Useful records included invoices, receipts, payment-card or bank statements, repair histories, and photos showing the crack before replacement. A claim also had to identify the covered vehicle and satisfy the settlement's timing and crack criteria. The January 31, 2025 claim period is over, so those records cannot now be uploaded as a new reimbursement request unless the administrator expressly announces otherwise.How Does the Extended Warranty Work?
Effective February 5, 2025, Subaru extended its New Vehicle Limited Warranty for a qualifying crack to eight years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date, whichever occurs first. The benefit is a one-time replacement of a pre-countermeasure windshield with an updated windshield. It covers parts and labor at an authorized Subaru dealer and includes recalibration of the EyeSight driver-assistance system. The extended warranty is transferable during the coverage period and did not require a reimbursement claim.Why the Warranty May Still Be Available
The warranty clock runs from each vehicle's original in-service date, not from the April 2025 final approval order or the date this article was updated. A later-model covered vehicle with lower mileage may therefore remain within the limit, while an older or heavily driven vehicle may not. The one-time benefit ends after the qualifying updated windshield is installed. Vehicle condition and exclusions—such as a total loss, salvage history, material alteration, or odometer issue—can also affect eligibility.What If Subaru Previously Helped with a Repair?
Prior goodwill, customer-satisfaction, warranty, insurance, or other compensation related to the same crack could reduce a reimbursement award and prevent double recovery. The settlement did not take away unrelated warranty rights, but it set specific terms for the qualifying windshield benefit. A current owner seeking warranty service should bring the vehicle identification information and repair history to an authorized dealer and refer to the settlement warranty, rather than submitting the expired reimbursement form.Final Approval and Payment Status
The official case-status page confirms that the court held the final hearing and granted approval on April 21, 2025. The document library includes the final judgment and fee order. Those sources confirm approval, but the public site does not separately announce that every reimbursement check was mailed. Review the official Subaru settlement status and warranty materials for the controlling terms.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Subaru windshield settlement status website.
Case
Powell v. Subaru of America, Inc.
Case Number
1:19-cv-19114-MJS
Court
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Covered Models
2019–2022 Ascent/Forester; 2020–2022 Legacy/Outback
Cash Claim Deadline
January 31, 2025
Final Approval
April 21, 2025
Warranty
8 years/100,000 miles; one qualifying replacement
Official Website
official Subaru windshield settlement status
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