Which Subaru Outback years have the most windshield problems?

Owner complaints are highest for 2020, 2019, 2022 and 2018. The 2021 model year has fewer. Years 2023 through 2026 show few complaints, but they have had less time on the road, so they should not be treated as clear of the problem.

Does a recall cover the Outback windshield cracking?

Not generally. Recall 22V712000 covers certain 2022 Outbacks where an incorrect clearcoat may leave the windshield insufficiently bonded. Recall 18V935000 covers a blank backup camera display on certain 2018 cars. Check your VIN in federal recall records.

How much does an Outback windshield replacement cost?

Owners report $1100 to $2500 per windshield, with specific figures of $1,700 and $1,400. Those totals include EyeSight camera recalibration, which is required after replacement. Some owners say it can only be done by the dealer.

Will the dealer cover a cracked Outback windshield under warranty?

Often not. Owners say dealers blame rock chips or road debris and decline claims, and extended warranty claims are also denied. A few owners did get a replacement, including one from the manufacturer and one from a dealer for a factory seal defect.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Subaru Outback Wiper And Visibility Problems

Windshields on the Subaru Outback crack with little or no impact, and cracks often spread across the driver's view within hours or overnight.

Owner complaints: 1,352
Share of all complaints: 38%
Crash / fire / injury reports: 2 / 0 / 0
Related recalls: 2

Outback wiper and visibility complaints by model year

Complaints are highest for 2020, 2019, 2022 and 2018, and 2020 has the heaviest rate relative to sales. The 2021 model year has noticeably fewer, though owners still report fast-spreading cracks. Model years 2023 through 2026 show few or no complaints, but they have had much less time on the road to collect them, so low counts do not mean those years are free of the problem. The 2024 and 2025 reports describe the same pattern: cracks with no visible impact within the first months of ownership.

2018
255 · 14.3/10k sold
2019
345 · 19/10k sold
2020
354 · 23.1/10k sold
2021
99 · 6.4/10k sold
2022
261 · 17.7/10k sold
2023
17 · 1.1/10k sold
2024
18 · 1.1/10k sold
2025
3 · 0.2/10k sold

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under visibility/wiper, visibility. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.

What goes wrong

The main problem in this area is the windshield, not the wipers. Owners describe a loud pop, or a crack found in the morning on a car that sat in a garage or driveway, with no rock strike they can point to. Others say a tiny chip grew into a long crack within minutes or overnight. Replacement glass often cracks again, and some owners report a third or fourth windshield. Dealers frequently blame road debris and decline warranty coverage.

A crack in the driver's line of sight is a real safety concern. Owners say lane sensing and automatic braking can stop working when the glass cracks in front of the EyeSight cameras. Federal records show one crash report each for 2018 and 2020 in this area, with no fire or injury reports. Windshield complaints make up 38% of everything filed against this model, so this is the most common thing owners write in about.

Symptoms owners report

Cracks with no visible impact

Owners hear a loud pop or find a crack after the car sat parked overnight or in a garage. Cracks often start at the bottom or side edge and run toward the middle. Several reports mention cold weather and a running defroster.

Small chips that spread fast

A pebble strike that owners say would barely mark other glass turns into a crack a foot or more long. Spreading often happens within minutes, hours or overnight, and heat or cold can make it grow. Shop repairs of small chips sometimes fail.

Replacement glass cracks again

Many owners report a second, third or even fourth windshield. Some happen within weeks of the last replacement. One owner with a 2022 model reported three windshields inside a five week window, even though one new windshield carried a ceramic coating.

EyeSight and safety features affected

Cameras look through the windshield, so a crack in front of them can disable the safety features. Every replacement needs camera recalibration, which owners say adds to the bill. Cracks that reach the driver's view also block sight of the road.

Shattering sunroofs

Reports from 2023 and 2024 describe a sunroof that breaks suddenly with a loud bang while driving or while parked. One owner says a closed inner shade kept glass out of the cabin. Dealers told one owner to call insurance.

Backup camera display goes blank

A 2018 recall covers a software problem that can leave the rearview camera display blank. A 2019 owner reports the display flashing on and off and the backup camera quitting, though that car was not covered by the recall.

When the problems start

Many cracks come early. Owners report failures at about 100, 600 and 1,000 miles, and several 2021 and 2022 cars cracked under 3,000 miles. Early 2018 reports fall between 5,000 and 12,000 miles, and 2019 reports often sit around 10,000. Another group runs from about 29,000 to 52,470 miles, and some 2020 reports reach 90,000. One 2022 owner's latest windshield failed at 41,000 miles.

Repairs and recalls

The usual fix is a new windshield, and owners report $1100 to $2500 per replacement, including EyeSight recalibration. One owner cited $1,700 and another $1,400, with the work done only by the dealer. Warranty and extended-warranty claims are often denied as rock damage. A few owners did get coverage, including one who received a free replacement from the manufacturer. Recall 22V712000 covers certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles with an incorrect clearcoat that may leave the windshield insufficiently bonded. The remedy is a vehicle exchange or repurchase. Recall 18V935000 covers certain 2018 Outbacks with a blank camera display, fixed by a free software reprogram.

Model years	Campaign	Problem
2022	22V712000	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.…
2018	18V935000	Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera…

Checking a used Outback for wiper and visibility problems

Look across the whole windshield from the driver's seat for cracks, pits or hazy spots, especially at the lower edges and around the camera area.
Ask for the glass replacement history. Several replacements on one car point to a repeat problem.
Confirm that EyeSight and lane sensing work, with no warning lights, and ask whether the cameras were recalibrated after any new glass.
Run the VIN through federal recall records. Check 22V712000 on a 2022 and 18V935000 on a 2018.
On a car with a sunroof, inspect the glass for chips or cracks and confirm the inner shade closes fully.
Test the backup camera display on a 2018 or 2019 car and watch for a blank or flashing screen.

2 wiper and visibility recalls cover the Subaru Outback. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.

Look Up a VIN →