2017 Subaru Outback visibility & wipers problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Dec 10, 2025NCVisibility & Wipers

   My Outback has been through 5 genuine Subaru windshields this year, and 7 since 2019. Only one was impact damage, the rest developed cracks after installation. One only lasted 3 days after being replaced. Others have lasted 3 months. There is something defective with the current Subaru replacement windshields and the dealers can't help. These are $1,300 insurance claims each. Subaru needs to figure out what is happening with the poor quality before someone gets hurt from…

   NHTSA complaint #11704138 · source
2. Filed Jun 18, 2025MIOther / UnknownVisibility & Wipers

   My windshield (which has had multiple class action lawsuits) cracked spontaneously sitting in my driveway. I contacted Subaru of America and they denied any responsibility and claimed there is no assistance they can provide. This crack has gone from about half of my windshield to nearly the entire windshield horizontally. This is clearly a defective product as numerous complaints have been made by owners of multiple Subaru models including the Outback. This is indeed a huge…

   NHTSA complaint #11667761 · source
3. Filed Apr 29, 2025110,000 miINVisibility & Wipers

   The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in the garage, the contact’s son opened the garage door and became aware of a crack on the front passenger’s side windshield. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was…

   NHTSA complaint #11657645 · source
4. Filed Apr 14, 2025OKVisibility & Wipers

   Ongoing problem with Subaru. Spontaneous windshield crack. 74 degrees, parked in shade, no chips. Came out and has the crack completely across windshield just above drivers eyeline. This is has happened to many Subaru owners and Subaru does nothing. Now I want Safelite to do repair, but Subaru will not honor any work involving eyesight navigation unless it is Subaru glass,

   NHTSA complaint #11654573 · source
5. Filed Nov 13, 2024RIVisibility & Wipers

   I have had to replace the windshield three times in this vehicle since purchasing it. I've had it repaired one other time. The most recent incident was this past week when I came out of work and found a large crack near the Eyesight/rear view mirror area for no apparent reason

   NHTSA complaint #11625038 · source
6. Filed Aug 27, 2024CAOther / UnknownVisibility & Wipers

   My Windshield was replaced on [XXX] for a spontaneous crack occurring behind the review mirror and where the eyesight is located. The crack was very long and serpentine-like. There was no history of "rock" damage. On [XXX] , 6,807 miles on city street driving early in the morning, another crack in the replacement windshield occurred spontaneously. I took the car to ONE Subaru of Hayward and they wanted $250 to tell me the window was cracked. Their first response was it is a…

   NHTSA complaint #11611273 · source
7. Filed Jan 10, 2024TXVisibility & Wipers

   windshield cracked 3 years in a row found it odd that we were needed yearly new windshields on line search lead to class action law suit due to defective glass

   NHTSA complaint #11564559 · source
8. Filed Dec 3, 2023MEVisibility & Wipers

   As I was driving my car today I saw a crack suddenly appear in the windshield -- running horizontally two and half to three feet from one side to the other. It's quite a crack -- about three inches from the bottom, just above the edge of the black band. This is the third time this has happened -- although the first in this particular pattern -- and it will be the third time I have had to replace the windshield. I have always been told that it is dangerous to drive with a…

   NHTSA complaint #11558208 · source
9. Filed Aug 29, 2023OHVisibility & Wipers

   The windshield has cracked multiple times. I replaced in with the OEM Subaru glass before learning it is a known problem, initially on 2015-16 models but now 2017 to 2020. Subaru insists on recalibration of the ADAS system which has been done, at my expense. I was informed the aftermarket W/S has a slightly thicker W/S glass with a lifetime guarantee. If the W/S is critical in rollover, and air bag deployments, this known defect should be taken seriously.

   NHTSA complaint #11541421 · source
10. Filed Jun 5, 2023CAVisibility & Wipers

    After 2 years of owning my Subaru a crack appeared out of no where. Eventually it spread and is now a serious visibility concern

    NHTSA complaint #11525536 · source
11. Filed May 30, 2023ORVisibility & Wipers

    As I was driving on the highway, my windshield spontaneously cracked from the base where the windshield connects with the body of the car up in front of the drivers side. The crack is about 1.5 feet in length

    NHTSA complaint #11524497 · source
12. Filed May 22, 2023116,000 miORVisibility & Wipers

    The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a foot-long crack appeared on the lower driver’s side windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

    NHTSA complaint #11523283 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology