What 917 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The windshield spontaneously cracked while driving at 60 mph. The crack is from the lower passenger side and extends approximately 8 inches. Did not notice a rock or object hitting the glass.

NHTSA ODI 11472300

In February of 2020, while in lock down for the pandemic, my windshield started to crack on the passenger side below the seal in the black area. It continued to spread. I took my car into the dealership once lockdown had lifted and I could get an appointment. I was aware of the issues with the windshield and they did a pin test confirming it was not due to a rock but rather the windshield itself. I was informed they would not replace the windshield and I would need to pay for it myself. My car warranty expired during COVID and the dealership was closed for much of that Spring due to local enforcement.

NHTSA ODI 11469319

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that there was a crack on the windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact to the windshield that could have caused the crack. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468625

Driving in traffic stop and go and about at 25mph a very small stone smaller then a pea hit the lower passenger side windshield. it cracked immediately from the very bottom up about 5 inches and then towards the driver side about 8 inches. the next two days it cracked about 6 more inches. Safelite fixed it but cost me $200. 1-800-subaru-3 started a claim and told me to go to dealer. dealer looked at it and documented it but did not offer to fix even after I told them this is a issue with Subaru windshields. i took pics of the crack before it was replaced

NHTSA ODI 11465250

A spontaneous crack began at the bottom, center of my windshield about a week ago and began inching up and over. It is continuing to grow while I try to figure out where and when to have it replaced. I live in the mountains and this is not an easy trip to the dealer. While searching for a dealer to replace the windshield, I found the problem with spontaneous cracks in other Outbacks.

NHTSA ODI 11456823

Windshield randomly cracked along bottom edge. Rocks were not heard hitting windshield and extreme temperatures were not occurring at the time of fracture. Crack as extended and branched within days of appearing and has cause visibility issues. Glass repair shop as confirmed the crack and is replacing entire windshield now. Dealership was called originally and they confirmed this is unfortunately an ongoing thing in similar models.

NHTSA ODI 11454703

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon approaching the vehicle that was parked in the driveway under the shade of a tree, he noticed that the driver's side of the windshield was cracked. The contact stated that the crack was irregular and was a foot long. The contact stated that he looked around but could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the windshield would be replaced at his own expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 11453461

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, a crack started forming on the driver’s side windshield and moved towards the center of the windshield. The contact stated that the windshield was not struck by an object to cause the crack to form. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,500. Subaru was made aware of this defective windshield and installed a NEW windshield at NO COST to the contact on December 27, 2021. The installation was accomplished by Don K Whitefish in Whitefish, MT on their R/O number 3602221/1. No further action is required.

NHTSA ODI 11444451

Driving on highway, noticed a chip on windshield, has run approx 12" since then. In 35 years of driving, I have not experienced a windshield crack run like this.

NHTSA ODI 11444512

My battery has died seven times. I have received three battery replacements. Never a full solution. Windshield wipers never work properly either, despite changing brands.

NHTSA ODI 11443754

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon entering his vehicle, he noticed a horizontal, foot long crack had formed on the driver’s side windshield without incident. The contact stated that the crack obstructed his vision while driving. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11443599

Windshield just started cracking across from drivers side to center. Windshield would craxk further just sitting in garage overnight. Looks like a river running across Windshield. No apparent rock or chips as cause.

NHTSA ODI 11434698

The windshield cracked while driving on the freeway in the winter. I had been driving for approximately half an hour when the front windshield cracked from the rearview mirror location downward. I didn't notice a rock or other object hitting the windshield that would have initiated the crack. The crack has continued to spread since then and is to the point where I am having to replace my windshield.

NHTSA ODI 11433414

Windshield chipped very easily due to small rock. In cold weather, the chip spread across into a whole crack. Safelite has stated that the windshield needs replacing.

NHTSA ODI 11431187

Upon getting in the car parked in the garage, noticed two cracks symmetrically coming from the base of the center of the windshield extending up about 6 inches. These cracks were not there upon parking in the garage the previous night. These cracks within a day kept moving upward and outward in a curvy symmetrical pattern and are slowly moving since. Upon investigation with a flashlight there is a tiny pin size chip under the wiper that should never have caused such dramatic cracking.

NHTSA ODI 11430732

The contact owns the 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the front windshield developed a crack starting from the driver’s side to the center of the windshield. The contact stated that neither a rock nor an object hit the windshield for the crack to appear. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,192.

NHTSA ODI 11430787

Windshield cracked out of the blue. Very large crack.

NHTSA ODI 11430595

The windshield cracked for no reason while sitting in a Novi, Michigan parking lot on 8/14/2021. The temperature was in the low 80s. No precipitation. This is the second time this has happen on this vehicle. This will be our third windshield since buying the car in 2017.

NHTSA ODI 11429895

In October of 2020, I awoke to find that my 2017 Subaru Outback's windshield had cracked during the night. I assumed it might have been struck while I was driving the previous day and then it subsequently cracked as temperatures dropped. A Subaru-recommended company replaced the windshield with an OEM windshield. However, on July 18 of 2021, the windshield cracked again. Thus, not even a year passed before the windshield cracked a second time. Once again, I assumed the windshield might have been struck while driving. After getting a quote on replacing the windshield a second time, the crack spread an additional 12" after the vehicle was parked outside for 4 hours. This time, I photographed the crack. The windshield is scheduled to be replaced on 7/27 so it will not be available for inspection after that date. My concern is that the windshields on this vehicle crack VERY easily in response to impacts that I didn't even notice. The cracks then spread very easily. These cracks obstruct drivers' visibility, which presents a safety risk. Replacing the windshields is very expensive because of the safety features require calibration.

NHTSA ODI 11425849

My wife contacted me thru text this morning (Monday the 19th, 2021) asking if I remember seeing the windshield cracked (starting on the passanger side) on Saturday, as thats the last time the vehicle was driven. She had just got in the vehicle to go to work, when she saw it. I told her no and couldn't figure out how it even happened as there is no damage of any sort that would of caused it. Where it started to crack, its not just cracked but deeply separated about half the length of the damage. To the point your fingernail can fit in easily. It craked a bit further later in the day.

NHTSA ODI 11425588

The windshield randomly cracked while parked in a parking lot. The crack propagated over half of the windshield over the course of the day. From the pictures you can see there are no starbursts or evidence of road debris initiating a crack. There are active lawsuits over the weakness of the OEM windshield on Subaru Outback’s. I have not had this inspected by a Subaru dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11424877

I have noticed a crack on the lower corner of the windshield on the driver side. The crack goes from one side to across the bottom of the window, with no evidence of an impact point.

NHTSA ODI 11424012

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the front windshield cracked without impact at the bottom on the passenger’s side of the windshield. The contact then stated as the day progressed, the crack continued to grow and spread throughout the front windshield. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 11423635

The contact owns a 2017 SUBARU Outback. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the windshield fractured at the top middle section of the windshield. The contact stated that the fracture was not caused by an impact. The windshield was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 56,500.

NHTSA ODI 11421263

SAFETY RISK: WINDSHIELD- 05/14/21 EXITED MY HOME AND WENT TO MY VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT MOVED AT ALL THAT DAY OR THE NIGHT PRIOR. I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT I HAD NEVER NOTICED BEFORE. NO SIGN OF THIS CRACK PRIOR TO 5/14/21.

NHTSA ODI 11416696