272 complaints reported

2020 Subaru Outback VISIBILITY/WIPER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
272
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after coming outside to start the vehicle, it was discovered that the front glass windshield had cracked. The crack was located on the passenger side of the front windshield and extended between 11 to 15 inches long. The cause of the crack was not determined. The contact indicated that no object had made contact with the windshield to cause the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 19,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2022
Dec 2022

The windshield cracked without anything hitting the windshield. This is the fourth (4th) time this has happened to this vehicle. 3/6/21, 7/13/21, 12/6/21. And now, today, 9/12/22. The dealer has all the records. We need the support of your organization to help us deal with this. We can't fight this by ourselves. Please help us!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2022
Nov 2022

The front windshield/ window cracked while parked in driveway,

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Nov 2022

We have had our 2020 Subaru outback for almost 2 years. Within these years, we have had 3 cracked windshields. The first time a rock hit the windshield causing a crack that moved quickly. The second time, we got a small ding from a rock. It did not cause the windshield to crack. However, I barely touched it with my fingertip and the ding turned into a crack that went halfway across our windshield. This last time, there was no apparent cause. We never heard anything hit the windshield, it just cracked. We have less than 29,000 miles on this car. I have never had a vehicle needing a windshield replaced this often if ever!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2022
Oct 2022

My windshield cracked for no apparent reason. I parked my car in my garage and left for a 6-week long vacation. When I returned, I noticed a small crack at the passenger side of the windshield which grew and has moved almost past midway horizontally. There are no impact sites or something else to suggest that something has happened to the windshield. I have contacted my insurance company which has suggested to change the windshield and is not covered. I came to the Subaru Dealership to fix a recall that is currently ongoing. I have been told by the dealer's customer rep that it's over $1000 to fix. As I tried to shop around, I have come across multiple complaints online that other people are experiencing similar issues with cars similar to mine. Hence, I am filing this complaint.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2022
Oct 2022

Cracked for no apparent reason on Monday 5/9/2022

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2022
Sep 2022

The windshield was pitted by something no larger than a grain of sand. Needed to use a magnifying glass to see it. Within 24 hours of no driving a 6" long crack developed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2020
Sep 2022

Front windshield spontaneously cracked windshield on drivers side midway to 1/3 across windshield. Had not driven in 2 days. Sitting in driveway. Was excessively hot day (upper 90 degrees). No prior windshield (or car) issues. Awaiting repair guidance from dealer and insurance.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2022
Sep 2022

Cracked windshield for no apparent reason. Rapidly spreading.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2022
Sep 2022

While driving on the highway, there must have been some road debris that hit the windshield and caused a long crack to form on the right lower quadrant of the windshield. Due to the development of the crack, the integrity of the windshield is lowered in the event another foreign object strikes it. Searching Outback windshield crack on Google or any other search engine will produce many reports in which other owners are experiencing the same issue. There is a subreddit titled subaruoutback in which there are over 50 reports from other Outback owners experiencing crack development for the first time in all their years of driving. I will be getting my windshield replaced by Safelite as to not place my passengers at risk. There have been previous lawsuits regarding Outback and Legacy models regarding defective windshield, which have since settled, although the year models are from 2015-2016, it would be interesting if they continue to persist for newer models such as 2020, 2021, 2022 since there are still many complaints and cracked windshields being reported. In the event that investigation proves that there are still windshield defective issues, hopefully Subaru can be encouraged to further research and provide safe windshield replacements for all parties involved.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2022
Sep 2022

02/08/2022, at 8:20am, I noticed a crack on the windshield on the passenger side. No explanation how it got there and there is NO chip. The crack comes from the edge of the windshield, out about 5 inches then curves up another 2-3 inches and then curves again towards the driver side another 3-4 inches. Within 12 hours it has grown. This crack will eventually impact my ability to fully see ahead while driving ( light glare and disruptive to the driver). Bob Rhorman Subaru (my local Subaru dealership) will be inspecting the windshield on 02/14/2022. There was no warning signs to this happening. I know Subaru of America has a history of defective windshields and my 2020 Subaru Outback does follow under the windshield lawsuit against Subaru of America.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2022
Aug 2022

My windshield cracked and I got it repaired on 7/7/22. The tech said it was a caused by a stress fracture. I got the windshield replaced and within a month on 8/4/22, I got another crack. I thought it must be an installation problem but Safelite told me it was another stress fracture. That same week I got another crack in the windshield, said to be another stress fracture. It seemed strange to me that the windshield would crack that easily. I then found this article: https://www.torquenews.com/1084/new-ruling-subaru-cracked-windshield-lawsuit-now-adds-25m-cars I paid a $500 deductible to Progressive (my insurance) for each windshield replacement. The car is available for inspection upon request. This vehicle is putting mine and other people's safety at risk because it easily cracks and makes it hard to see out of the windshield. The vehicle has been inspected by insurance representatives at Safelite in Ann Arbor, MI and Toledo, OH.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
Aug 2022

We notice on the morning of 8/14 /2022 that our Subaru Outback 2020 had a substantial crack in the windshield .The car was parked overnight in the garage. We called the Burlington Subaru dealer( as per advice from Subaru Consumer line) The dealer spokesperson(Erika) took our information and said a pre - approval person from the dealer ship will call us to discuss if the windshield would be covered under the warranty;3 years / 36000 miles. As the local dealer does not repair windshields ,all repairs are performed by a second party. We are awaiting a resolution from Subaru. In the meantime we would like to add our names to the complaints of many Subaru owners.Thanks , The Kayser’s.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2022
Jul 2022

Windshield cracks Third time to replace

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2022
Jul 2022

Windshield cracked without outside impact (e.g., rock, debris). Retailer refusing to cover under warranty. Car was parked when the windshield cracked.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2022
Jul 2022

Windshield was cracked and spread across the windshield. I wasn’t aware that it was broken until my sister got in the car and asked me if I knew it was broken! I don’t know when it happened or the mileage.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2022
Jul 2022

My outback has 22500 miles on it. The wind shield had not visible cracks or chips. I got to work on 10/06 and when I cam back to my car there was a large 2-3 foot crack starting in the black area around the glass. the crack there was large enough to fit a piece of paper into it. It appears to have just cracked and spread apart from strain or stress on the glass. The crack runs directly across my view as the driver. The windshield had always been loud and you could hear wind moving around it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2022
Jun 2022

The car experienced an unexplained spontaneous front windshield crack. It started small on the drivers side near the wiper and has continued to spread. No foreign body or rock has hit the windshield. I took the vehicle to O'Steen's Subaru in Valdosta and they refused to repair it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2022
Jun 2022

Apply getting in my car on June 20th I noticed a 8" Crack starting at the edge of the windshield on the right side about a quarter of the way up from the bottom pfrom the bottom. This is since propagated significantly. The interesting thing is that I just replaced the windshield 4 months ago for a failure that was remarkably similar no associated rock strikeThe crack starting at the right edge.This clearly suggests a design or manufacturing flaw. Note that the 1st one was repaired through the insurance company.. I'm taking it now to the dealer.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2022
Jun 2022

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Car was in garage. No impact to windshield observed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2022
May 2022

In mid 10/2021 while I was driving, my front windshield cracked with no apparent reason. The crack appeared on the passenger side, at the side edge of the windshield. As stated the crack appeared with no apparent reason as there was no imppact of any object to the windshield. No police report was made. I did not make a claim with my insurance. The winshield was replaced and eyesight syste,m was recalibrated at the Subaru dealership in Skokie IL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2021
May 2022

At the beginning of 05/2020 while I was driving, for no apparent reason, my front windshield cracked. The crack began from the upper edge of the windshield in the area of rear view mirror. As stated, the crack started with no apparent reason as there was no impact of any object to the windshield at the time the crack first occurred. No police report was made. I made an insurance claim to replace the windshield and to recalibrate the eyesight system. The windshield was replaced at Subaru dealership in Skokie IL, on 05/30/2020.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2020
May 2022

My windshield spontaneously cracked while driving through town and I feel I have a defective windshield. It started very small that evening, and the next morning it was cracked out in two different placed from that, I was not even able to contact the dealership in that timeframe as it occurred during after hours and had already cracked out before open business hours the next morning. When I contacted the dealership that day, I received no help, stating that my warranty does not cover cracks over "dollar bill size" even with my added "windshield protection" coverage. I have since read that this has been a known issue for several years as the windshields on these models are reportedly thinner than normal so that the "eyesight" technology can function appropriately, and it concerns me that this spontaneous cracking is a safety issue yet no recalls have been made. I am afraid to drive my car further as the crack enlarges day by day. I am still waiting to get this sorted out to get it replaced.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2022
May 2022

Parked car windshield cracked for no reason

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2022
May 2022

Very small rock hit the windshield and bounced off creating an immediate 3 inch crack that grew to reach almost the other side of the windshield in the next 2 days. This is the second windshield that needed to be replaced in under 2 years. It definitely cracks easier than any other vehicles we have owned and considering the lawsuit for the Subaru glass being prone to this, It is not cool they continue without correcting the issue, especially considering the expense. It does count against you for insurance claims.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2022

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Quick Summary

The 2020 Subaru Outback has 272 VISIBILITY/WIPER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.