2016 Subaru Outback Visibility/Wiper Problems
- 42
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- passenger side · 10 records
- windshield cracked · 10 records
- windshield crack · 8 records
- crack appeared · 8 records
- drivers side · 7 records
- side wiper · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 24 |
| 30–60k mi | 9 |
| 60–100k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Visibility/Wiper
I have a 2016 subaru outback, which i've owned since new (09/15/2015). I've had to replace 8 windshield so far, sometimes within 3 months, or even 2 days apart. I drive around san francisco bay area (not statistically higher risk for windshield damage) this constant issue with the windshield affects the safety of the car in case of foreign object impact or spontaneous cracking, because of reduced visibility and…
ODI 11307398
Visibility/Wiper
Crack in windshield directly behind the rearview mirror horizontally and vertically with no visible signs of impact, found one getting into the car which was in our garage
ODI 11297777
Visibility/Wiper
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 subaru outback. The contact stated that a fracture was evident on the windshield by the rear view mirror in the middle. The contact stated that the fracture was horizontal of where the rearview mirror was attached. Michael's subaru of bellevue ([redacted], bellevue, wa 98007 [redacted]) offered for the contact to have the vehicle taken to dealer for a diagnosis and inspection. The…
ODI 11297697
Visibility/Wiper
I received a small chip from a rock that then spread to about an 8 inch crack. It's been that way with no change for months. Then this morning we dropped to 26 degrees and when i turned on the defroster for the windshield the crack shot across the entire windshield. I hadn't even moved the car yet. I have been told by safelite that this windshield was faulty and subaru should replace it under warranty but the subaru…
ODI 11265408
Visibility/Wiper
I have noticed a small crack in the lower corner of the windshield and i have not been with a rock or any objects. I purchased the suv the february of 2019 and it appeared to have a new dealership windshield. I have seen many complaints online including lawsuits regarding subaru windshields that spontaneously crack. The windshields from subaru seem to be very fragile and i have concerns of a defect.
ODI 11277481
Visibility/Wiper
A crack on the windshield suddenly appeared while driving on highway with no other vehicles around. The crack was 8" long and started near the bottom corner on the driver's side. After parking it overnight, the crack spread across half the windshield. When we had the windshield replaced, safelite could not find any evidence of a cause, no chips or evidence of a rock hitting it. Even with the extended "gold"…
ODI 11222569
Visibility/Wiper
June 2019 - windshield cracked without any apparent impact from anything, driving by myself. Replaced windshield, and within two weeks, the same thing happened - windshield cracked without any apparent impact from anything. Vehicle was moving in both instances. Occurred on highway driving. In both instances, crack started small and went horizontally across the middle of the windshield impairing my vision and causing…
ODI 11271397
Visibility/Wiper
Car was stationary and had not been driven in several hours and the windshield cracked from the top center down about six inches across both the driver and passenger field of view. There was no previous damage, major or minor, from the point where the crack appeared to start from.
ODI 11189816
Visibility/Wiper
Please forward this message onto whom it may concern at subaru of america customer service. 2016 outback 3.6r bulletin number: 12-192-15r; nhtsa id:10093903; revised: 11/19/15 update bulletin number: 12-192-15r; nhtsa id:10093903; revised: 03/06/17 issue: spontaneous cracked windshield hello, i am the original owner of mentioned vehicle, 2016 outback 3.6r equipped with the all-weather package and eyesight. On…
ODI 11187188
Visibility/Wiper
I've only recently learned of the spontaneous windshield cracking issue that is in litigation. This happened to me. I was stopped, waiting at a light near the intersection of washington and the entrance to i-70 in denver. Suddenly, the windshield loudly popped and a large crack appeared on the passenger side which has since progressed in many different directions. I spoke to the dealership and they offered no…
ODI 11242237
Visibility/Wiper
Our windshield has had 3 chips/cracks in it since new. The first one was a chip that was repaired by safelight. The second was a crack/chip where the entire windshield was replaced by safelight. Both of these happened while the vehicle was on-highway. Both were in different spots, but were located on the drivers side. The third one was a large crack on the driver side we noticed yesterday (12/26/18) with no apparent…
ODI 11163652
Unknown Or Other · Visibility/Wiper
Driving to work on the highway and the windshield just popped and cracked. Little shards of glass flew onto the dashboard. Happened under the drivers side wiper.
ODI 11271386
Visibility/Wiper
3 months after getting my outback the windshield cracked at the base and went up and over. I replaced the windshield at a cost of $500. My windshield recently cracked again and when i take to them at the service counter they said it is not covered under warranty. I should not have to buy a windshield every year for a brand new car. For a car that is supposed to be 5+ star safety rated i should have an intact…
ODI 11118220
Visibility/Wiper
Spontaneous cracks on windshield and their extension during hot, sunny day. For the safety issue, it had to be replaced.
ODI 11102877
Visibility/Wiper
Driving on a 4 lane highway in a rural area at 7:30 in the morning, no other traffic around. I heard a sound like a small stick being broken. It got my attention and i wondered what in the world was that. About 10 miles later i noticed a crack coming up from the bottom of the windshield right in front of my face. It developed into 2 circle cracks in my viewing area. Dealer said it was a old chipped place or a new…
ODI 11101812
Body · Visibility/Wiper
Windshield spontaneously cracked. I have dashcam footage showing before and after the formation of the crack. There was no impact of any object to cause the crack over any period of time.
ODI 11092125
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield has cracked twice in 16 months. The 1st crack happened while driving on highway with no one around me- heard a pop and had an l shaped crack appeared on my windhield. The windshield was not struck by anything. After much negotiation with the dealer (the car was under warranty with about 10,000 miles), suburu replaced the windshield. The second crack appeared while stationary in my driveway after turning…
ODI 11098158
Visibility/Wiper
Sudden 6" crack in windshield originating on the lower edge under the wipers. I had driven the car home for lunch and back to work at 1:15pm and the crack was not there. When i got off work at 4pm the crack was there. Drove car home and put it in the garage. The next morning at 7am the crack was approximately 12" long running at a diagonal towards the outer edge of the windshield.
ODI 11072064
Visibility/Wiper
On november 18 we were driving along interstate 10 when a crack appeared in the windshield. There is no evidence of a rock hitting although we can't say definitely whether it did or did not
ODI 11047298
Visibility/Wiper
Driving on the highway early in the morning, no other cars around, heard a loud pop followed by a large upside down "l" crack coming from the bottom.
ODI 11025142
Visibility/Wiper
The windshield developed a crack while the vehicle was parked. There was no damage from the road or other sources. This problem has been reported by dozens of owners of subaru outbacks, especially ones with the subaru eyesight safety system, which my vehicle has.
ODI 11022393
Visibility/Wiper
The windshield developed a fissure over 2 feet long with no known (visible or audible impact) i simply noticed it as i was driving home and it was not there when i left home. It starts in the lower passenger side under the black portion and runs half way across the windshield.
ODI 11021726
Electrical System · Engine · Visibility/Wiper
I had difficulty several times removing the key from the ignition. The last time this happened, i was able to remove the key, but the car died. I called the dealer and they gave me the local towing company. Napleton subaru kept the car for two days and could not find anything wrong with it. I have been afraid to drive the car on the highway, or go too far from home.
ODI 11024212
Visibility/Wiper
Front windshield spontaneously cracked from top of driver side down both sides while sitting in home driveway for about two hours on clear, 90 degree day. No impacts noted while driving about 25 miles earlier in the day, and no chip in windshield at apparent impact point. Nothing fell on the vehicle in the driveway or exerted pressure on the glass.
ODI 11006456
Visibility/Wiper
While driving down an open road going about 45mph with no trees and no other vehicles around us, our sunroof exploded. I say exploded because we thought we had been shot. It was a very loud pop and then we were instantly covered in glass. Like almost the entire sunroof was now in pieces and inside the car. I actually googled "exploding sunroof" because we knew we didn't hit anything. There are literally pages of…
ODI 10979655
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2016 Subaru Outback.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.