Problems · by component
2017 Subaru Outback visibility/wiper problems
205 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Outback cite visibility/wiper, 22% of all 921 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
205
22% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the visibility/wiper
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My Outback has been through 5 genuine Subaru windshields this year, and 7 since 2019. Only one was impact damage, the rest developed cracks after installation. One only lasted 3 days after being replaced. Others have lasted 3 months. There is something defective with the current Subaru replacement windshields and the dealers can't help. These are $1,300 insurance claims each. Subaru needs to figure out what is happening with the poor quality before someone gets hurt from shattered glass or impaired visibility from cracks.”
“My windshield (which has had multiple class action lawsuits) cracked spontaneously sitting in my driveway. I contacted Subaru of America and they denied any responsibility and claimed there is no assistance they can provide. This crack has gone from about half of my windshield to nearly the entire windshield horizontally. This is clearly a defective product as numerous complaints have been made by owners of multiple Subaru models including the Outback. This is indeed a huge safety concern along with a very unfortunate lack of accountability by Subaru of America.”
“Ongoing problem with Subaru. Spontaneous windshield crack. 74 degrees, parked in shade, no chips. Came out and has the crack completely across windshield just above drivers eyeline. This is has happened to many Subaru owners and Subaru does nothing. Now I want Safelite to do repair, but Subaru will not honor any work involving eyesight navigation unless it is Subaru glass,”
“I have had to replace the windshield three times in this vehicle since purchasing it. I've had it repaired one other time. The most recent incident was this past week when I came out of work and found a large crack near the Eyesight/rear view mirror area for no apparent reason”
“My Windshield was replaced on [XXX] for a spontaneous crack occurring behind the review mirror and where the eyesight is located. The crack was very long and serpentine-like. There was no history of "rock" damage. On [XXX] , 6,807 miles on city street driving early in the morning, another crack in the replacement windshield occurred spontaneously. I took the car to ONE Subaru of Hayward and they wanted $250 to tell me the window was cracked. Their first response was it is a result of a rock. This is the exact location and pattern of breakage as the window was replaced in [XXX]. I have 3 Subaru outbacks, and my daughter's 2015 broke in the exact location twice. My daughter's car was in the garage for two weeks while on vacation. Her Vin [XXX]”
“windshield cracked 3 years in a row found it odd that we were needed yearly new windshields on line search lead to class action law suit due to defective glass”
Showing 6 of 205 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.