6.4

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$830
Average Mileage:
24,750 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace windshield (9 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Subaru dealer.

problem #10

Dec 102019

Outback Limited 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 28,000 miles

Second time around... It was replaced in January, which started with a little impact on screen. Within a week the crack grew and grew until it went from roof line to A pillar. That was $1000. Then last week, I got another impact. I took it to have it filled for $150. I hope it doesn't return in a crack again.

While in shop, there was a total of 4 out of 9 cars being worked on. Four Subarus needing the screen worked on... The manager said it has been a Subaru week for broken screens... Wonderful, something to look forward to - meeting other Subaru owners at the glass shop...

- krjt, San Francisco, US

problem #9

Aug 222018

Outback Limited 3.6r

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,300 miles

Windshield cracked, and then the crack grew across the whole windshield. Insurance paid to have the windshield replaced.

- Stephen J., Coon Rapids, MN, US

problem #8

Jan 202020

Outback Premium 2.5i

  • CVT transmission
  • 56,000 miles

This is the second crack that our Outback has experienced, in the exact same place, and in the exact same pattern. The first crack occurred 18 months into ownership. It was replaced, and 18 months later, we have another crack in exactly the same spot. As with the first, there was no crack when the vehicle was parked in our driveway in the evening. Nothing struck the vehicle's windshield in the days prior. In the morning, we came out to an identical horizontal crack on the driver's side of the windshield. If one just simply googles "Subaru Outback Windshield Crack", one will find countless photos of identical cracks in the windshield.

As we have moved cities (San Diego to Portland), we took the vehicle in to have it looked at, as we also had a safety recall that needed to be fixed. We took it to Carr Subaru in Beaverton, OR. At this point, there are lawsuits about this problem, yet they treated it as if it were some unique problem and even blamed Safelite who replaced the first windshield. It's not Subaru's fault. It must have been a rock—basically the same spiel that is directly quoted in one of the lawsuits. So again, the dealership claimed that it wasn't their responsibility and we'll have to fix the windshield on our own dime. The dealership even went so far as to inform us that they had to be the ones to fix it, otherwise they wouldn't recalibrate our Eyesight package.

- Robert L., Portland, OR, US

problem #7

Jul 102018

Outback Premium 2.5i

  • CVT transmission
  • 25,490 miles

click to see larger images

cracked windshield

This was the first of two cracks in the windshield. The windshield developed a horizontal crack on the driver side only a year and half into ownership. Nothing was observed to have struck the vehicle. The crack was not there in the evening when the vehicle was parked in our carport. It was observed when we went to drive the vehicle in the morning. The windshield was replaced at our own cost, as the dealership would not take responsibility.

- Robert L., Portland, OR, US

problem #6

Apr 162020

Outback LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,300 miles

Original crack happened back in 2017. Made a separate complaint for that event. This time a very tiny pebble hit my windshield a few inches from original hit. It made a small starburst, then traveled right up in my view of the road. Now, I will have to get the windshield replaced. Will cost well over $1000. Have seen all the other complaints on same issue. If I have my insurance pay, my premium will go up I am sure. That is a whole 'nother rant....insurance companies are thieves!

- Janine R., Franklinton, LA, US

problem #5

Jul 032017

Outback LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

Driving on 2 lane state hwy when I heard a "tik" hit the windshield at the very bottom, below the wiper, driver's side. Must have been a very small pebble from the sound it made. The crack immediately went up and over to center of the windshield, almost to the top. I drove directly to Safelite and was told windshield would have to be replaced, couldn't be repaired. I was told it would be very costly due to eyesight feature. So, it wasn't effecting my view, so left it alone although it really was upsetting. Just recently, I heard about all the other cracked windshield complaints that sounded exactly like my problem.

- Janine R., Franklinton, LA, US

problem #4

Mar 052019

Outback Touring

  • CVT transmission
  • 32,000 miles

HAD TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY NOW MY INSURANCE RAISED MY RATE.

- Dwight J., Germantown, TN, US

problem #3

Jul 262019

Outback

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,854 miles

While driving down the highway July 2017, a very small rock hit within bottom 2 inches (near the center) of the windshield that over the course of a few days grew. Took it in and due to the eye sight re-calibration had to pay $1600.00 to have it repaired by the dealer. This past week, with a bump of my hand on the front windshield it cracked again! Seriously, hitting with window with my bare hand, with little force SHOULD NEVER CAUSE THE WINDOW TO CRACK. My insurance deducible is $1,000 so hardly worth reporting it. The cost to replace is exorbitant. After doing some research online I find that that easily cracked wind shields are a common problem. I can't keep replacing my windshield at $1,600 a pop!

- Michele J., San Leandro, US

problem #2

May 302017

Outback 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles

Have been a GM gal for YEARS. This is my first subaru because GM has changed the design, engine, and interior. First 4 weeks of having the outback, driving down the interstate and a small rock smacks the bottom right side of the windshield. This leave a small chip. Annoying, but ok, let's get this fixed. Dealer sends out safelite, and the small chip is filled in nicely.

A few months later. Same darn thing happened in almost the same darn place. Safelite comes out and fills in again.

Hot summer with lots of rain in the Virginia area (2018). Driving down the road and a small piece of something hits the windshield near the camera. Guess what....a horizontal crack starts to appear....REALLY something smaller than a period.

Driving to the dealer (45 mph) to have the windshield checked, and guess what??? YES number 3 or 4 you call it. ANOTHER small pebble strikes under my drivers side windshield washer arm. AND YES, another crack which is spreading.

Now remember I was a GM gal and I NEVER replaced a windshield in my 18 year old blazer, I barely had pot marks on the blazer windshield when it sold!!!! What the heck is going on with Subarus windshield. Does not sound like I am the only one that thinks these windshields and/or with eyesight windshields are poor quality.

- overit6, Ashland, US

problem #1

Dec 142016

Outback HDD 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,600 miles

This crack appeared suddenly on the lower right side (passenger side) of windshield of my 2017 Subaru Outback, and could be observed actually spreading toward the lower center after just having left my garage 3 or 4 minutes earlier into a snow storm.

There had been no sound of any impact on the vehicle since leaving the garage.

Upon close inspection of the cracked windshield there appeared to be a tiny ding in the midst of the crack. I was not aware of any prior impact of any hard object to this windshield.

I am disturbed about how a tiny (less than centimeter) ding could result in a crack that resulted in need for windshield replacement so soon after purchasing (3000 miles) the car. I am also unaware of any warranty with Subaru that would have covered the cost of replacement. A claim was made to my auto insurance. My windshield was replaced.

Please see complaints of further windshield damages requiring repairs, and a current crack to the replacement windshield which has not yet been repaired (probably will require another replacement).

- Joan G., Anchorage, AK, US