What 1,029 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, a crack had formed on various parts of the windshield due to minor rocks hitting the windshield. The contact stated that each crack obstructed her vision while driving. The contact had the windshield replaced by the dealer after each failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

NHTSA ODI 11495815

While driving slowly in traffic on the highway my windshield started to crack on the front passenger side. No rocks or debris were seen by myself. Even if a minuscule pebble were to have hit the windshield, the crack spread to over a foot in minutes and this seems like a fault on Subarus engineering. Wish I had known when I got this car two weeks ago.

NHTSA ODI 11493227

One morning when I got my car from the garage, it had a cracked windshield near the driver size bottom glass. Happened overnight while in the garage. Took it to Subaru and they agreed to replace it under warranty. They put in a new one, and as I was driving on the freeway, I heard a huge boom sound from the windshield, which startled me! They another boom/cracking sound. The windshield didn't crack, but it was terrifying. I took it back to Subaru and they checked it and did something to help with the seal. A few months later, the windshield cracked from the passenger side edge. Within minutes of driving, it spread half way across the windshield. Nothing had hit my windshield. I am on my 3rd windshield, by the way. There is a problem.

NHTSA ODI 11492178

The windshield cracked without any impact, vehicle was sitting in the garage and when I came back to it there was a large 8-10 in crack across the driver side. My visibility is impacted and potentially my safety should the strength of the windshield be compromised. Additionally, the safety systems built into the vehicle may be impacted by the crack. The dealership is refusing to complete service to replace the windshield. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else yet. No warning lamps, messages, or signs appeared before the windshield cracked.

NHTSA ODI 11491684

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, he noticed that a crack had formed on the windshield in the area under the rearview mirror. The contact stated that he did not know the cause of the failure as he had not heard a rock or debris striking the windshield. The vehicle was taken to OEM Windshields where the windshield was replaced. However, the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was parked in the contractor's garage. The windshield was replaced for a second time. However, the failure persisted. The contact stated that there was a third crack on the windshield which started under the rearview mirror and had extended to both sides of the windshield in an upside down "T" shape. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11489027

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. STARTED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND GRADUALLY CONTINUED TOWARD THE CENTER. IF IT CONTINUED IT COULD AFFECT MY DRIVER VISION AND THE "EYE SIGHT" SAFETY SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO SAFELIGHT FOR REPLACEMENT. THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE IT WITH AN AFTERMARKET BRAND. THE SUBARU WINDSHIELD WAS TOO THIN (THEIR OPPINION BASED ON PREVIOUS REPAIRS).

NHTSA ODI 11488234

Spontaneous crack of the front windshield, unsafe to drive for fear of collapse into car or during a collision.

NHTSA ODI 11487541

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the front windshield cracked. The contact stated that the windshield was not impacted to cause the crack. The contact stated that the crack had been expanding. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the cause for the windshield cracking was determined. The contact stated that the dealer informed him that the repair was denied by the manufacturer because the warranty had expired. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact stated he researched online and found that the 2015 and 2016 Subaru Outback were repaired due to a class action lawsuit. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA ID Number: 10188151 (Manufacturer Communication Number: 12-192-15R) (Structure, Visibility). The approximate failure mileage was 27,400.

NHTSA ODI 11487077

Within the three years I have owned this vehicle my windshield has crack with only minor impact or no impack at all to the windshield; the cost of paying for a second windshield replacement is an unreasonable expense something is wrong with the glass integrity of these vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11486173

On August 30, 2022 a small road chip hit my windshield as I was driving around 30 mph. I was surprised to discover that the windshield cracked at the site of the impact on the passenger side of the vehicle. The crack was approximately 12 inches long. Upon inspection the impact crater is very small, less than 1/16" by 1/32" and shallow, although the road chip was so small and vehicle speed so slow, I am surprised the windshield showed any damage at all. Later that day after leaving the vehicle parked I returned to discover that the windshield crack had lengthened to about 28" while the vehicle was parked. This is the THIRD windshield I have had to replace on the 2019 Subaru Outback! All windshields have been replaced by Subaru. I have concerns about the vehicle safety. Will the windshield protect the occupants of the vehicle from road debris as it is supposed to? Will the windshield rip open and injure the vehicle occupants when a minor object hits the windshield? Who should pay for the repair of the substandard windshield and increased auto insurance due to a high incidence of windshield claims? Is this vehicle safe to drive?

NHTSA ODI 11484415

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, she heard an abnormal noise and noticed a crack on the front passenger’s side bottom corner of the windshield. The contact stated that no object had struck the windshield to cause the crack. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair shop where the windshield was replaced. The contact stated that the failure occurred on the passenger’s side and then on the driver's side. The windshield had been replaced three times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11484041

I had to replace my windshield 4 months ago from a random crack that appeared for no apparent reason and I am now having to replace it again. It seems like this is happening to a lot of people with Subarus. I believe it is a safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11480616

I replaced my windshield in March 2022 due to a stone chip that immediately cracked to over a foot in length while I was driving. The chip was in the lower quadrant on the driver's side and ended up extending to about the center of the windshield. Five months later, I have another very large crack. I have no idea when this occurred and remember no instance that may have caused the crack. It starts roughly above the rear view mirror, curves out and around it to form a large 'J' shape. While I can understand stone chips are a symptom of normal wear and tear, the excessive cracking is concerning. I do not drive regularly on gravel roads nor am I on the expressway often. I regularly maintain my vehicle and didn't hesitate to get the windshield repaired initially. Having never experienced this issue with other vehicles (in which we've owned several years longer) I don't feel it is right to either have my insurance company or myself constantly be responsible for a product I believe may be faulty.

NHTSA ODI 11480395

Crack in windshield while car was parked overnight on 8/17/22. It is an upside down U-shape crack starting in the center, and one side propagating all the way down and other side about half that. The crack can be felt. There is no evidence of a rock or anything else hitting the windshield. Planning to have it replaced in two days.

NHTSA ODI 11480340

windshield suddenly cracked and I need to replace it

NHTSA ODI 11480229

2019 Subaru Outback. On 8/9/22 I was Driving on interstate and a tiny crack appeared in mid to lower left corner of windshield. Called dealer immediately because it is my second windshield—the first one was covered in 2020 under warranty after It spontaneously cracked. On 8/9/22 I called my insurance while driving (hands free) and they made same day appointment but Safe Lite could not repair the windshield because by the time I got there the crack had expanded, making it a full replacement. There is no recall but already a lawsuit involving 2017-2019 models of Subaru Outback windshields. Trying to get Subaru to replace it again. There needs to be a recall! Windshields should not crack spontaneously or so easily. Thank you!

NHTSA ODI 11479396

My windshield cracked on its own (without any object hitting it) under the passenger side plastic that covers the lower aspect of the windshield. The crack extended upwards and towards the driver's side. I'm concerned the crack will start to obstruct the driver's view and that it will be dangerous for passengers inside. Subaru America was contacted by phone and then a few weeks later we were given Case #220504-132599 (through an email from Kris Drechsel at Subaru America). Subaru of White Bear Lake, MN (Greg Nichol) inspected it on June 21st and determined the crack was NOT caused by a rock chip or any other object and the crack started from the bottom (under the plastic) and extended upwards (gave us a different Case #220621-171862). We were told someone from Subaru America would contact us about next steps. They never contacted us.

NHTSA ODI 11478215

My windshield now has three cracks d/t small rocks hitting the windshield at far distances from other vehicles. When I originally purchased this vehicle, the windshield was cracked requiring a replacement before purchase. This is a new windshield 2 years old from that initial replacement. The dealer has not confirmed an issue with their windshields. No warnings were provided to watch out for this by the dealer. The first crack occurred 4 months after purchase. The most recent one occurred today.

NHTSA ODI 11475117

The windshield on the Outback do not hold up. I have replaced my windshield 2 times. About to replace for a 3 time. All within 13 months. All Subaru windshields. I’m a cautious driver and do not drive close to others. A rock has hit the windshield but it automatically cracks over 8 inches. Not repairable. I’ve never had this problem with my other vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11474595

Windshield development a crack about 12 inches long without any known impact. It just popped and cracked by itself. Conditions were normal, no extreme heat or cold.

NHTSA ODI 11473294

The windshield cracked itself without being hit by anything. The crack grows visibly once in a while.

NHTSA ODI 11472790

I went outside to get my Sunday newspaper and noticed a large somewhat S-shaped crack on my windshield. It has been parked in the driveway Friday night and all day Saturday July 1-3. I have also had 2 small (nickel-sized) dings which I had SafeLite fix and neither of these have run. I’ve never owned a vehicle in my 60 some odd years with this many windshield issues. Subaru needs to pay for these issues and correct the problem. I will be out $997.28 for what appears to be a design problem.

NHTSA ODI 11472196

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, she noticed there was a crack on the front windshield. There was no impact to the windshield that could have caused the crack. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,593.

NHTSA ODI 11470448

I had a driver-side mirror damaged in a small crash. The wiring harness for the mirror was pulled from its location. The mirror was replaced, and the wiring harness was not to my knowledge. Since that repair, the vehicled dynamic cruise control, called Eyesight has failed more than 50 times. I have had the vehicle at the dealer 2 times. They concluded yesterday the unit checked out. I drove it for 5 minutes, and it failed again. I believe it could be related to them not replacing the wiring harness. They believe it may be related to a new windshield, which I find it hard to believe. They recalibrated the Eyesight with the non-OEM windshield. Subaru technicians believe it is related to the non-OEM windshield, and I am having a brand new windshield replaced with the OEM windshield. Which I also believe is inferior because of cracks in my orginal windshield.

NHTSA ODI 11469916

My windshield is constantly getting cracks and chips. When I tried to get the most recent crack repaired, the windshield cracked, forcing me to get a replacement. When the windshield got replaced, another crack appeared 24 hours later, rising from the bottom (near the car frame), towards the top of the car. This crack nearly doubled in size within 48 hours. I will be spending about $1500 total on two new windshields within a month. This is not what I would expect of Subaru. I've owned many cars in the past, and have never had to replace windshields at this rate.

NHTSA ODI 11468992