10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,728 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2018 Subaru Outback accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Subaru Outback:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2018 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 12)

problem #228

Feb 152024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We have experienced 3 cracked windshields within 4 months due to small rock debris kicked-up from passing vehicles. Each crack originated at the edge of the glass; 2 from outside edge passenger side and 1 from center bottom edge passenger side. Driving conditions were different for each incident, as each incident occurred during highway driving during light, medium, and heavy traffic flow. Passenger safety was not compromised. The dates for each incident were 15 February 2024, 28 April 2024, and 21 May 2024.

- Kechi, KS, USA

problem #227

Jan 122024

Outback

  • miles
My car-??s windshield is cracked for the fifth time since I purchased it new in December. This crack was spontaneous, nothing struck the windshield, though it was during a blizzard. Only one if the broken windshields was due to a significant rock strike. The other 3 happened after the most insignificant -??click-?? was heard on the windshield, nothing that would have damaged any other car. Each time I have replace with Subaru glass. I have seen multiple complaints online about the Subaru windshield fragility. The cost of this and safety hazard needs to be addressed. I will be scheduling this 5th windshield glass replacement shortly. My deductible is $250 so this 5th repair will add up to $1250 in just over 6 years. If repair receipts are needed, please contact me so I can obtain all of them from Glass America.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #226

Dec 152023

Outback

  • miles
The new (replaced in Sept of 2023) OEM glass installed by Subaru cracked due to weather change while the vehicle was stopped. There was no prior damage to the windshield nor warning this would happen.

- Forney, TX, USA

problem #225

Aug 312023

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This vehicle has less than 65,000 miles and has had 3 genuine Subaru windshields crack as a result of road hazards. We live in Los Angeles County and the windshields have cracked as a result of unseen freeway debris/objects (i.e., not a large object such as a chunk of a truck tire). In 45 years of driving, I have never experienced this many windshield failures. I am not sure if this is a repeated part failure or systemic safety hazard.

- Altadena, CA, USA

problem #224

Mar 302023

Outback

  • miles
My 2018 Subaru Outback's windshield has cracked overnight parked on the driveway. There's no visible rock strike point. This will be the 4th windshield replacement in the 5 year ownership. The first time was on 07/20/20. The last two were on 10/31/22, and 12/03/22. This means 3 new windshields in 5 months.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #223

Feb 032023

Outback

  • miles
The windshield on our 2018 Subaru Outback is now on its third cracked windshield in the last 12 months. Each time, a crack has formed on the edges of the windshield after a small pebble or other debris from the road is kicked up. Across this same timespan, I've had similar frequency of debris striking the windshield of my 2015 VW Golf, and have only had a small chip in the windshield that was repairable easily. Yes, different vehicles. However, in each incident both vehicles were travelling at similar rates of speeds, similar following distances, neither time behind any large vehicles (dump trucks, semi trailers, concrete mixers, etc). This is simply something being thrown up from the road. This is full on unacceptable. There are other lawsuits and class action suits against Subaru for slightly older models and I highly doubt that any meaningful changes to the design were introduced between the 2015-2016 Outback and the 2017-2019 Outback models. Reasoning being that the class action lawsuit was filed in 2017. By that point, the new models are already rolling off the production line. No way that anything substantial could have changed at that point.

- Midland, NC, USA

problem #222

Dec 152022

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Crack in the windshield with no apparent evidence of an object hitting the windshield. It started below the windshield wiper on the passenger side. Within days it spread several feet toward the middle of the windshield. The glass repair center noted that this is a common occurrence on Subaru Outbacks.

- Woodstock, VT, USA

problem #221

Nov 272022

Outback

  • miles
I was driving my vehicle in the dark through an unpopulated area of a highway. No other cars were near mine, as traffic was light. I was listening to music, but still heard a single -??pop-?? sound. A few minutes later I heard another one. The next morning ( day) I noticed a crack (almost straight across horizontal ) in my windshield that looks as if it originated at the edge of the passenger-??s side. It makes about a 90 degree curved turn about 1/2 way in the crack then goes up at a slight angle then makes another about 90 degree turn and then goes horizontal agsin.

- Lompoc, CA, USA

problem #220

Sep 192022

Outback

  • miles
I was changing the passenger side wiper blade, and when the wiper was lowered to the windshield, the windshield cracked. The crack is now moving up towards the forward eyesight detection system.

- Harmony, MN, USA

problem #219

Jun 162022

Outback 6-cyl

  • miles
MESSAGE TO SUBARU OF AMERICA BEFORE REPAIR Hi there, our 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R was parked in a covered parking garage for the last week. When we entered the vehicle, we noticed the windshield was cracked all the way from the passenger edge to near the rear view mirror. The windshield was not cracked after prior use of the vehicle. No object has struck the windshield during the time it was parked in the garage. There are no marks on the windshield to indicate any impacts. We have requested Earl Duff Subaru to order an OEM replacement and will make an appointment with them within two weeks. VIN = [XXX]. We would like to discuss the matter with you before / after the dealer inspection and replacement of windshield. AFTER DEALER REPAIR Earl Duff Subaru inspected the windshield and indicated to Subaru of America that there was no impact mark. The windshield was replaced at the owner's cost. Subaru of America provided $500 to Earl Duff Subaru on behalf of the owner. This covered approximately 50% of the repair. The owners insurance policy did not cover any of the repair costs. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Maryville, TN, USA

problem #218

Apr 172021

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Windshield sustained 7 in crack and needed to be replaced. No determination on if anything hit the windshield.

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #217

Apr 072022

Outback

  • miles
Windshield chipped with small pebble on highway. Chip was approximately the size of a penny.

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #216

Jun 022022

Outback

  • miles
Windshield has been replaced 4 times. 7/21/2018, 7/24/2019, 4/8/2022, 06/01/2022 Replaced at Subaru Dealership with Subaru glass all four times. Last time the glass broke (5/2022) there was no impact which was confirmed by Subaru staff. I went to the car and noticed two cracks which had suddenly appeared and could not be fixed. It is a safety hazard because the glass can't be replaced expediently because car eyesight also needs to be done/scheduled and ordered. 7/21/2018, 7/24/2019, 4/8/2022 Windshield replaced on these dates at the Subaru Dealership -----Glass cracks and spreads quickly once a small rock hits the glass while on highway. Impairs clear vision while driving. Safety hazard.

- Vass, NC, USA

problem #215

Mar 312022

Outback

  • miles
The windshield got cracked again from almost the same place as last time in 2019. Again, I found out the incident the morning when I just started driving. The crack originates from bottom of the glass without any chips. The very similar thing happened in 2019. I have not driven much since COVID. Looks like a manufacturing defect.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #214

Mar 302022

Outback

  • miles
The windshield cracked while driving at 45mph on a normal street. Nothing hit the windshield, it just popped and cracked. This is the second time this has happened to this vehicle. The previous cracks occurred while it was parked.

- Copperhill , TN, USA

problem #213

Mar 212022

Outback

  • miles
A crack has developed from the base of the windshield and has grown to about 9 inches so far as it crosses along the windshield. The only thing that has hit the windshield was a small bug as we traveled along the highway. The sound of the bug hitting the windshield was so tiny neither my wife or I could believe that was what caused the crack. This needs to be looked into as it could create a huge problem if the windshield suddenly shatters due to this defect.

- Raytown, MO, USA

problem #212

Mar 132022

Outback

  • miles
My husband, son, and I got into our parked 2018 Subaru Outback and closed our doors. My husband started the car and we immediately heard a loud -??pop-?? and saw a crack spread in several directions from the driver-??s side edge of the windshield across the driver-??s line of vision. Upon closer inspection, we were able to see 3 tiny chips in the glass, one of which was incorporated into the crack. As the driver of this vehicle at least 5/7 days a week, these chips in the driver-??s side windshield were small enough that I had not noticed them before (see pictures). This crack impairs my ability to operate this vehicle safely because it obstructs my line of vision. Had we been driving when it happened, the cracking may have caused an accident. I am also concerned that the windshield is not appropriately tempered to provide adequate protection and structural integrity in the event of a collision. This is the third spontaneously cracked windshield I have experienced with this vehicle since I purchased it brand new in Nov 2017. The first cracked windshield occurred within months of my purchasing the vehicle. The dealership where I purchased it replaced the windshield with no cost to me at that time. I was given the impression that the original windshield was faulty and the replacement would not be, though no fault was admitted by Subaru. The second incident occurred about one year ago, a little over 3 years after we purchased the Outback. This being the third windshield to spontaneously crack, I would like to try replacing it with an after market windshield. However, I have been informed by both the Subaru dealership and the local windshield replacement business that has worked closely with my dealership the two previous times I needed replacement, that an after market windshield can not be calibrated for my vehicle-??s EyeSight system. If I use an after market windshield, I will have to forgo the added safety features provided by the EyeSight system.

- Hartsburg , MO, USA

problem #211

Mar 132022

Outback

  • miles
Windshield cracked for no good reason!

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #210

Feb 272022

Outback

  • miles
My windshield has cracked twice already. Both times a fine line started at the bottom of the windshield during the cold weather in March 2020 and March 2022. The incident was dismissed by the local Subaru dealer in 2020 claiming the cracked was caused due to something hitting it. I took it to my insurance for repair. I hae not replaced the windshield foe the 2022 incident. I strongly believe that both incident have been caused due to manufacturing defect.

- Sterling , VA, USA

problem #209

Jan 082022

Outback

  • miles
Windshield has a long crack in it that begins under the passenger side windshield wiper. There are no signs of impact whatsoever. First noticed the crack in early January of 2022. Initially, it was a small crack, however, within hours it grew to the driver side. I noticed the initial crack when I was parking and the crack grew without me moving my vehicle or driving it.

- Denver, CO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?