What 291 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The front windshield spontaneously cracked sometime overnight, while my car was parked in my garage. I noticed it when I got into my car one morning, and a roughly 6 inch horizontal crack had appeared, originating from the driver's side edge about halfway up the glass. I immediately got out and inspected the crack to find a point of impact, but it was a perfectly smooth crack line w/ zero points of impact. I drove the short distance to my destination, and an hour or two later when I got back in the car, it had continued to grow to maybe double the previous size (now 15-20" wide). The crack was directly in my line of sight from my eyes to the road ahead. The next day, I took it to my Subaru dealer, where they took photos and said they'd contact Subaru corporate to determine if they'd pay for the replacement. I just got news today that they'll replace it, but I'm responsible for a hefty "deductible" to replace their faulty glass.

NHTSA ODI 11517878

Hit a pothole while driving at highway speeds, that resulted in a large crack in the windshield. there are no visible chips in the windshield, just a large (approx. 5") crack that has since expanded. We have gotten a quote to replace it from a few repair shops and each one quoted roughly $1500.

NHTSA ODI 11516277

Windshield cracked for second time, no warning given.

NHTSA ODI 11513834

This is the second time in the two years I have owned this car that the windshield has cracked on the passenger side. The car was parked and had not been driven in three days.

NHTSA ODI 11501126

Crack appeared when I entered car in parking lot. Large crack Originated from where the windshield needs the frame on the passenger side of the front window. Crack originates about in the middle of the windshield on the Passenger side and travels 5 inches horizontally and then travels north at a 90° angle for another 4 inches. When I inspected car there was no trauma no impact and no chips on the windshield near on or around the craft area. No trauma to the frame correct accent paint or chips as well near on or around the crack

NHTSA ODI 11499992

Cracked front windshield. Replaced November 2021 & cracked again November 2022 in same spot. First incident parked in garage over night & next morning hairline crack on passenger side that continued across the window. 2nd incident, drove to work, parked & came out at lunch with a hairline crack lower left passenger side.

NHTSA ODI 11494843

Spontaneous windshield crack developed beginning on drivers side edge of windshield. dealer confirmed that there was no sign of impact to cause the crack and agreed to replace windshield free of charge.

NHTSA ODI 11486640

Crack in windshield rapidly developed into line of driver sight.

NHTSA ODI 11483389

The headlights on this vehicle are obnoxiously bright! I get flashed by oncoming drivers constantly at night. I even get flashed by pickup trucks. I'm not sure if it's the main headlamps or the fog lights. It does seem like the fog lights have really poor beam control. When driving on a country road at night I can tell the fog lights are lighting up the tops of trees by toggling them on and off. I passed an oncoming car just like mine a while back and I could finally understand why I get flashed all the time. They ARE really blinding. I tried to bring it up with Subaru of America and the guy on the phone literally laughed at me and just told me to not use the fog lights. They don't seem to care at all about all the safety issues the current generation Outback has. Very unprofessional. Subaru doesn't appear to welcome feedback at all.

NHTSA ODI 11482920

Windshield crack developed and requires replacement for the third time in 18 months on a new car.

NHTSA ODI 11482942

I had a rock hit my windshield and it instantly cracked and kept cracking in multiple directions looking like a spider. Had it repaired and same thing happens like 1 month later. And it seems when it rains there is some water that is getting through. I do not feel like Subaru has fixed the windshields since the recall on previous models. Pictures make it hard to really see severity.

NHTSA ODI 11482360

Hey NHTSA! This needs to be looked into ASAP!! My windshield has broken twice now after getting hit with debris so small I couldn't even hear it hit. I've been driving for 24 years and I've never broke a windshield. The windshield on these is hilariously weak. After they get chipped the crack spreads to the whole windshield in a matter of a couple days. The cracks are also delaminating and letting water in. This needs to be addressed ASAP. It's scary how thin and weak the windscreen is on these. This is a huge safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11480528

The front windshield developed a crack. It was not struck or damaged in any way - it appeared out of nowhere. The crack spreads quickly and the windshield must be replaced. This has happened to countless other Subaru Outback owners. The volume of broken windshields must be caused by some defect on the manufacturer’s side.

NHTSA ODI 11480080

Windshield spontaneously cracked while parked. I parked the vehicle around 3pm and at that time, no crack was present. I left the house at 5:30pm and in that 2.5 hours, a 12-18 inch crack appeared. There’s no visible impact point and it starts from the bottom edge of the glass on the passenger side. I have not brought it to the dealer yet as I’m working through a claim center for windshield coverage. This is the third time since I purchased the vehicle (May of 2021) that the windshield has cracked.

NHTSA ODI 11474811

Windshield has needed constant repair due to either small debris or even in one instance, self-cracking. On-board unit is constantly turning off.

NHTSA ODI 11472427

Crack in windshield, line of sight of driver.

NHTSA ODI 11464948

on January 3, 2022 my windshield cracked and spread right away. I took it to get it fixed. On May 4, 2022 my windshield cracked again and spread immediately. Both times it started from the edge and went inwards. I consider this as a safety hazard for the windshield to crack and spread so easily. This is the second time and we are only covered for 2 replacements on the warranty in a year. This expense can add up quickly

NHTSA ODI 11463503

Like many others have complained about, a small rock chip in the front windshield has spidered out across nearly the whole length of the windshield within a few hours of impact.

NHTSA ODI 11463212

Tiny spec of one sand grain instantly put a 14” crack across a windshield of a 2021 Subaru Outback I have pictures, how does a spec of sand crack a windshield?

NHTSA ODI 11461153

Noticed a 6 inch crack on passenger side starting under the wiper. Crack started spreading across the windshield, now about 18 inches long.

NHTSA ODI 11460363

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed a crack on the center passenger’s side of the windshield. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the windshield to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure with the new windshields. The contact stated he had the windshield replaced a total of three times. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 11459834

Windshield has cracked for no reason. Heard a small cracking noise driving on the road. No accidents or anything, see a ding on the windshield and a crack growing after two days of parking in the garage.

NHTSA ODI 11456534

The windshield cracked from the bottom corner and slowly spread across the entire windshield. I took a picture before replacing the windshield, a repair that cost ~$900 to replace and recalibrate the eyesight system.

NHTSA ODI 11454583

My windshield cracked within a few months and few thousand miles of purchasing my vehicle for no real apparent reason.

NHTSA ODI 11452027

We were literally sitting in the car, parked, and the lower left driver side windshield cracked! No visible chips. We will contact Subaru if America and out local dealership as well.

NHTSA ODI 11450341