2022 Subaru Outback visibility & wipers problems

Related recalls

• Recall 22V712000Sep 22, 202242 vehicles
  VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

  Risk: An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-22.

What owners say

1. Filed Jul 31, 2026MSVisibility & Wipers

   Vehicle is exhibiting signs of a possible design defect which causes windshields to prematurely crack, break, or shatter. My vehicle is a 22 Subaru Outback that when bought new, in the first week of ownership developed a windshield crack that the dealer ship refused to replace under warranty. We worked a deal out and were responsible for a percentage of the repair on our part, and they replaced the windshield. The 2nd Windshield cracked after a few months, no visible impact…

   NHTSA complaint #11753956 · source
2. Filed Jun 7, 2026TNSuspensionVisibility & Wipers

   This car has had 3-5 windshield replacements since 2022. I bought the car new. It (a) cracks for no reason or (b) cracks if a tiny pebble size rock taps the windshield. Additionally, I took the car in to get an alignment as the steering wheel is pulling left. Guy tells me driver front strut is defective / blown / poorly mounted and that he has seen this issue with a lot of Subaru’s. Also that they are aware of the problem and replacing the struts in the 24 and 25’s. Also, I…

   NHTSA complaint #11742554 · source
3. Filed Sep 10, 2025FLVisibility & Wipers

   A crack on my windshield has appeared overnight out of nowhere, with no indication of impact or external damage. The car was parked in a private driveway facing the house, not the road. It started from the bottom edge of the windshield under the cowling and has made its way to the center of the windshield, and has since spidered out, moving both east & west on the windshield. I took the 2022 Outback Wilderness to Hania Subaru in Orange Park, Jacksonville, FL, where they said…

   NHTSA complaint #11686251 · source
4. Filed Aug 19, 2025MIVisibility & Wipers

   I have an 2022 Outback that has 29000 miles and have had 2 windshield replacements. And now on my third, from rock chips. I bought the extended warranty and they are denying my claim. I can’t imagine what the lifetime costs will be for this vehicle. They have offered an extended warranty because of the problem and are not honoring that either.

   NHTSA complaint #11681676 · source
5. Filed Aug 6, 2025WIVisibility & Wipers

   I bought my car in 2023 and it has less than 30,000 miles on it. Since purchase, I have had to replace the windshield THREE TIMES for massive cracks. Insurance does not cover the full cost. Nothing has hit the windshield as far as I know, but it keeps cracking. I have never had this issue with any other car.

   NHTSA complaint #11678783 · source
6. Filed Jul 6, 2025NCVisibility & Wipers

   I was outraged that my 2022 Subaru Outback on July 4, 2025 while the vehicle was parked and stationary in a secured garage, I discovered a significant crack across the windshield. There was no evidence of external impact or vandalism, indicating a likely **manufacturing defect or structural flaw** in the glass. This defect raises serious safety concerns and falls within Subaru’s responsibility under the vehicle’s warranty and applicable consumer protection laws.

   NHTSA complaint #11671422 · source
7. Filed Jun 21, 2025TXVisibility & Wipers

   The front windshield spontaneously cracked during use of windshield wipers. Resulted in multiple cracks from top center of windshield.

   NHTSA complaint #11668331 · source
8. Filed Feb 24, 2025NCVisibility & Wipers

   2022 Subaru Outback with 22, 000 miles. Car had been in my garage overnight. I drove to our local recreation center on the morning of February 18, ambient temperature in mid-30's. I came out 1.5 hours later and discovered a large crack had spontaneously formed in the windshield (passenger side, extends to very edge, no visible causative chip).

   NHTSA complaint #11644447 · source
9. Filed Jan 26, 2025COVisibility & Wipers

   The vehicle’s windshield developed a 8-10 inch crack due to most likely temperature changes. Seems like a known issue for this year/model vehicle.

   NHTSA complaint #11638676 · source
10. Filed Jan 14, 202541,000 miOHVisibility & Wipers

    The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle in the morning, she became aware of a 16-inch crack on the windshield. The contact stated that the crack had started close to the passenger’s side A-pillar, approximately 3-inches above the passenger’s side windshield wiper. The contact stated that the vehicle was in the garage when she became aware of the crack. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer or glass shop. The vehicle was…

    NHTSA complaint #11635793 · source
11. Filed Jan 12, 2025MIVisibility & Wipers

    Front windshield glass developed spontaneous crack. Originating on the drivers side approximately 8 inches up from the bottom drivers side of the glass. Initially the crack was about 5 inches in length horizontal but quickly developed to be 12.5 inches over 24 hours in a garage. Glass is available for inspection. There is no discernible impact point and crack seems to be spontaneous. An appointment at the dealership for assessment was booked and rescheduled pending extended…

    NHTSA complaint #11635528 · source
12. Filed Jan 2, 2025GAVisibility & Wipers

    In November we used the car for a road trip and returned to our home in Snellville, GA on [XXX] parked the car, unloaded the contents, and put the sunshade in the windshield as we always do. The next day (XXX), I opened the car and removed a few small items used during the trip and walked around the car inspecting the exterior of the car for anything that may have changed due to this trip. At this time, I noticed a crack in the windshield that was not there the evening…

    NHTSA complaint #11633641 · 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