8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$400
Average Mileage:
20,750 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace windshield (6 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
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problem #8

Aug 082023

Outback Limited 3.6r

  • CVT transmission
  • 29,746 miles

My wife got into the car and removed the windshield sun cover. It barely bumped the Rear View mirror the windshield imploded around the mirror connection to the glass location. It covered her and the passenger seat with glass shards. Fortunately, she did not get injured. I was standing by the passenger side and had not entered yet.

We were traveling in Canada at the time about 1700 miles from home. I called the West Houston Subaru dealer where we bought the car new and they were not helpful. Said that they were not aware on any issues with the Subaru windshields and had no suggestions on what to do.

I then called a Subaru dealer in Winnipeg Manitoba. They were not aware of any issues or recalls on the windshields. The service rep asked for the Vin number, which I gave him. He could not find it in his data base. Finally suggested that since the Subaru was bought in the US, it would not come up in his Canadian data base. He went on to say that they must have the vin number to get the specifications to set up the eye sight system when replacing the windshield. He said that I could try some of the local shops, which I did, but they would not replace my windshield.

I then bought some Gorilla tape and taped the mirror into the hole in the inner glass of the windshield. Fortunately the outer layer was still intact. I then propped/supported the mirror in place with a wooden yard stick braced against the passenger seat.

We had a long 1700 mile trip back home, wondering all the way, if the glass and the Gorilla tape would hold until we made it back to Houston. It worked, but sure spoiled our vacation!

Subaru was not of any help and lost a future customer. I wont buy another one, even though we have loved the previous ones that we had.

- David K., Sugar Land, US

problem #7

Aug 262020

Outback Outback V4

  • CVT transmission
  • 31,000 miles

click to see larger images

cracked windshield cracked windshield

It has been well documented the trouble that Subaru has had with windshields cracking. More specifically it is a particular region of the windshield that cracks. A service bulletin was released in 2015 outlining the problem area. Numerous complaints all with the same region have been annotated, yet Subaru refuses to address the problem.

The problem occurs in the lower right or left region of the windshield within the outline of the de-icer. I am no expert on windshield impacts, but this seems to be a very odd place to have cracks originate from. My crack started at the lower left corner of the windshield and then propagated to the middle. I do not recall any rocks hitting the windshield. I have read many Subaru owners experience this problem repeatedly, always originating in the lower right or left of the windshield.

I called Subaru of America to discuss this issue, but they maintained that this was "an outside influence due to a rock hitting the windshield". I am terribly disappointed about the prospect of having to deal with broken windshields again and again in the future. It also makes me sick that I bought a 2020 ascent that reportedly has the same problem. I switched to Subaru based on recommendations online and through consumer reports largely based on their reliability, and discounted my own research about the windshields prior to buying.

- David W., MOORE, OK, US

problem #6

Dec 142020

Outback Limited 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,600 miles

Parked at a friend's house to help with a project around 11:00 a.m., went home at 4:00 p.m. and found my windshield cracked.

No rock damage, just cracked on a it's own while parked...

- Rodney B., Visalia, US

problem #5

Sep 122019

Outback Limited 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

There is a pending Class Action Investigation for 2017-19, due to inferior windscreens. GO TO : http://www.classlawdc.com/2019/07/25/2017-2019-subaru-forester-and-subaru-outback-windshield-defect-class-action-investigation/

File complaint there. Attorney will contact you.

- Gus S., Kansas City, US

problem #4

Apr 292019

Outback Limited 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Windshield cracked just sitting at work parking lot. Staring from the frame on the driver side small fine S curve at first about 20” but couple days later expanding halfway across the glass. Called the dealer and it is clear that they are well aware of the problem and referred me to a designated person handling just windshields. Being very careful with her instruction basically assuming no responsibility unless you have some kind of “extension” on your warranty. Basically instructing me to Subaru America. She did way to bring the car to the dealer so they can determine the cause. I am not sure what are their methods and what they can determine. Possibly just collecting data so they Subaru can address this with their glass supplier. Cost estimated at $2000. This is clearly not an isolated incident and I hope that there is a class action suit on the way to address this issue. Very frustrating and expansive repair. I currently own two and this is my third Subaru and possibly last.

- Nisim P., Hampton, NJ, US

problem #3

Apr 192019

Outback Limited 2.5i

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles

I have a spontaneous crack in my windshield, driver's side, starting in the upper left hand of the front windshield and going diagonally to my eyesight line, then the crack continues horizontally. Both legs of the crack are at least 6-7 inches in length. The crack happened while stored in my garage for the night. No stones or rocks hit my windshield before the crack. I went to drive it the next morning and there it was.

There was a class action lawsuit against Subaru for faulty windshields that would crack for no reason on the 2015-2016 Outback & Legacy models. I think this problem is still happening.

https://www.classaction.org/blog/consumer-class-action-claims-certain-subaru-windshields-are-defective

Copy of the lawsuit:

https://www.classaction.org/media/luong-v-subaru.pdf

- June C., Waitsfield, US

problem #2

Feb 252019

Outback 3.6R V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,389 miles

Driving back from Florida on I-77 in Pennsylvania on 23rd February 2019, suddenly heard a loud crack and thought a stone had hit the windshield but there were no other cars around and it was a divided highway. Temperature was aprrox 7-8 Celsius. About 2 hours later after crossing into Canada, we see a crack coming up from the bottom of the windshield on the drivers side. This crack got progressively worse and extended across the windshield horizontally to the middle just below the rear view mirror.

Took the vehicle (2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R) into the dealer and the service manager said he could see where the "stone" impacted, this was after he dug a small hole with his pen! There was no sign of impact on the windshield prior to the PEN! He said the Subaru rep would check it out and make a decision, I don't think my case was strengthened with his digging into the crack.

I paid for a new windshield which cost $798.00, since then I have called Subaru Canada twice nobody has called back. This seems to be a problem with this model. Awaiting a decision from Subaru.

Should have bought a Volkswagen!

Update from May 4, 2019: Finally received complete refund for the cost of a new windshield from Subaru Canada/Dealer.

It pays to be persistent with Subaru Canada.

- Barry K., Orillia.Ontario, ON, Canada

problem #1

Dec 272018

Outback Limited 3.6L

  • CVT transmission
  • 7,000 miles

I had replaced my first windshield within 48 hrs of driving the car off the lot brand new....not even a year old now and another crack has appeared. I am going to replace it with an independent dealer without using Subaru's Abra who over charged me exorbitantly... $313.45 which was supposedly just 50% of the total told to me by Subaru). Abra didn't give me any warranty and says needs to be replaced at full cost to me.

Again...hard to see if a rock hit it, it was raining and cold outside on the highway...didn't hear a rock again.

- lnorden, Acworth, US