This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving on a city street, I drove over a bump. The windshield developed a long crack starting at the left edge. The crack continues up and to the right crossing in front of the driver's view area.
Outback 2018 windshield started showing cracks while driving in highway. We had been driving for 1 hour in highway and suddenly saw the windshield cracking. In 15 mins, the crack got bigger and it was very tensed condition since I had my wife, new born baby and old parents in the car. I parked the car and called my insurance to check about the condition. I had spend my new year day on highway discussing the issue. It was a distressful day.
We have had 3 cracked windshields since purchasing the vehicle on 3/31/18. We have had them replaced by the dealer each time at a cost of approximately $1100-1200 each time. Each time we have been driving on a highway.
- Chico, CA, USA
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In the first 1.5 years of ownership we have had to replace the windshield twice. It cracked the first time while stationary in our driveway in the cold and was replaced a few months later. One week after it was replaced it cracked while driving down the interstate with no vehicles within 500 feet of the car. I've read and heard from other owners this problem is one that is a known issue with the Outbacks of this model year.
I went out to my car in the driveway this morning and the windshield had a 6 inch "T" shaped crack starting with a single crack emanating from the middle of the windshield on the passenger side, horizontally about 6 inches toward the driver side, then perpendicular in a T formation 3 inches up and down. The previous night I had driven the vehicle and the windshield was fine. I found no evidence of an impact strike on the windshield. The car was stationary when I found the crack. It haad been driven approximately 12 hours earlier.
A long crack formed from the top left side windshield has formed. We got this car from the dealership and within 15 minutes of driving home a crack had formed. No indication of debris hit. We heard a small popping sound and noticed the crack when we got home.
My windshield cracked for no apparent reason on the driver's side. The car had not been hit by anything, but had been sitting idle overnight. There was only a 15 degree temperature change so it wasn't that.
2018 Subaru Outback deveolped a crack in the windshield that originated on the lower left corner in the de-icer region. The curious location of this crack led me to seek out what could have happened. I found a service bulletin from Subaru in 2015 Subaru that specifically state "these types of damage would only be covered by this warranty extension if the windshield is identified as having the above outlined condition and the damage originates in the affected wiper deicer area. Other forums again and again mention recurring problems originating in this de-icer area and quickly propagating the rest of the windshield. Cracks in Subaru windshields often render eyesight unusable. Additionally the cost to replace these windshields is very high as you have to factor in recalibrating the eyesight equipment. I spoke to Subaru of America and they stated that "this was from outside influences/impact and there are other impact areas on other spots on the windshield." The refused to acknowledge the connection between this service bulletin/numerous other subar owners forums/unusual are for a rock to hit or crack to form. Also, the vehicle is still under warranty. I am disappointed that this safety hazard as occurred and Subaru not only refuses to authorize replacement, but they refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem with the windshields cracking.
The windshield mysteriously cracked on the lower third of the passenger side and immediately spidered out in all directions like a starburst even though the vehicle was sitting by itself in broad daylight in a lowe's parking lot. There are no chips/gouges on the glass surface on either the interior or the exterior of the windshield (which might suggest an impact). The glass appears to have cracked on the inside of the double pane windshield for no apparent reason other than manufacturing or design defect.
Windshield seemed to spontaneously crack from the top passenger side while parked. There was no evidence of any kind of impact. The crack progressed over a period of several hours, increasing while driving or with temperature changes. This is the second windshield in 2 years due to spontaneous cracking, and it is less than a year old.
Six months after buying my 2018 Outback the windshield cracked down by the defroster. There was no evidence of an impact. I replaced it with Subaru glass because of the eyesight system. Cost was $1000. One year later another crack appeared at the top middle part of the windshield. There is evidence of a small ding. The windshield seems particularly fragile and I understand others are having the same problem. I have replace three or four windshield in 40 years of driving other cars but now have two in less than two years on this car. Car is otherwise great but clearly there is a problem with the windshield.
The windshield cracked spontaneously one day while driving. No other cars were around. Took into the dealership and they told us it was a rock chip that had cracked the windshield but the crack started at the top of the window and went down. No impact point is visible. We have also has another Subaru which did the same thing but while sitting in garage.
Defective front windshields. The original had a legitimate crack from a rock hitting it. The first & second replacement windshields (Subaru branded) both cracked starting from the drivers side about midway up. The first replacement cracked at slow speed after pulling away from the curb. The second cracked after parking and closing the drivers door. Both cracks immediately spread laterally across almost half of the windshield in the drivers line of sight. The original windshield was replaced on 4/3/2019 and the first replacement windshield was replaced on 11/4/2019. This second replacement windshield cracked on 7/24/2020. Neither of these last two cracked windshields was caused by rock or debris hitting them.
Windshield experienced serious multi-fingered crack, originating in the top center portion of the windshield, where the 'eyesight' cameras are located. No known contact by object from road. Appeared to be spontaneous. Not certain if vehicle was in motion or stationary- didn't notice it until entering vehicle in the morning.
The windshield cracked out of nowhere and spread quickly. The vehicle was stationary when we entered the car and noticed a long crack in the windshield. I never had this happen to a windshield before. The crack keeps growing for no reason.
I have had my Outback for almost 2 years. In the last 3 months, I have experienced 4 cracked or broken windshields. I avoid driving behind trucks/semis but the smallest rock or anything seems to have disasterous result of bullseye/crack etc. I have had my windshiled replaced twice and now it needs to be replaced a third time.
After replacing the windshield once with oem glass. It cracked again, in roughly the same place as before (bottom middle of windshield). This is the second windshield in less than 2 years! Subaru clearly has a problem with their glass or clearances around the glass. This one cracked while sitting in a caribou parking lot. We werent even moving. No rock chips, nothing hit the window. All the sudden heard a "pop" noise, then saw the crack.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ogden, UT, USA