This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Subaru Outback visibility problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Subaru Outback have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 49,935 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Outback | 4 |
| 2010 Outback | 6 |
| 2011 Outback | 10 |
| 2012 Outback | 8 |
| 2013 Outback (this page) | 11 |
| 2014 Outback | 7 |
| 2015 Outback | 125 |
| 2016 Outback | 84 |
| 2017 Outback | 217 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 11 visibility complaints filed for the 2013 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
"This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies developed to address the following customer concerns: ⢠Power windows inoperative from the driverâs door master and / or passenger front door switch ⢠Unable to remotely operate other door windows from the driverâs door master switch ⢠One-Touch Auto Up / Down features inoperative from either / both front door switches"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗MODELS WITH SUNROOFS ONLY. If you encounter a customer complaint of water leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the map light area, the following 2 areas should be inspected closely for a potential source or cause: * The leak could be caused by water leaking past the sunroof cable mechanism. To remedy the condition, silicone sealer will need to be carefully applied to both of the front end caps. * One or both of the sunroof drain tubes may be kinked or restricted causing water accumulated in the frame assembly to overflow and leak into the interior.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Models with Sunroofs only. If you encounter a customer complaint of water leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the map light area, the following 2 areas should be inspected closely for a potential source or cause:
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2013 Subaru Outback describe four distinct visibility-related failures. Multiple windshield cracks occur without obvious impact, often on the outer edge and splintering inward; one owner replaced the windshield twice within two years at personal cost, while another's crack formed while the vehicle sat in a closed garage. A sunglass holder below the center mirror has failed clips that let the cover spring open while driving, obstructing the rearview mirror.
The wiper motor is unreliable. Some owners report intermittent or complete failure; one owner's motor caught fire mid-drive after the wipers refused to stop or return home. Subaru issued recall campaign 16V694000, but owners faced months-long waits for replacement parts that never arrived, prompting one owner to source parts from the dealer and repair it himself.
Most alarming are sunroof failures. Owners report the glass spontaneously shattering at highway speeds (65–75 mph) with no prior visible damage or impact, accompanied by a loud popping noise. One incident occurred at just 24,000 miles; another at 31,000. Dealers have been unable to determine the cause. Owners note no manufacturer warning about the risk.
Same Subaru Outback visibility reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield stress cracking
Cracks form on windshield edges, often without observed impact. Cracks splinter inward from the outer edge and occur multiple times on the same vehicle. One owner reported a crack forming while parked in a garage with no visible impact on security footage.
When: 2 to 5+ years of ownership; mileage range 45,000 to 116,000
Symptoms owners cite: Visible crack on windshield, typically at outer edge; Cracks splinter inward; Impaired visibility while driving; No observed or heard impact prior to cracking
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid out of pocket for two replacements at $324.87 and $326.80 per incident. Dealership refused to address the issue; directed owner to manufacturer customer services.
Sunglass holder cover clip failure
The two tiny clips holding the sunglass holder cover closed fail, causing the cover to pop open and remain open while driving. The open cover obstructs the center rearview mirror and may interfere with night-mode operation.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Cover pops open while driving; Cover remains open; Obstruction of rearview mirror view; Potential interference with mirror night mode
Windshield wiper motor failure and fire hazard
Wiper motor fails to operate or operates intermittently. In one case, the motor caught fire while vehicle was in motion. Wipers would not return to home position or stop when turned off. Subaru dealership determined root cause but claimed the fire incident was unrelated to prior recall WVW32 extended to 2012 models.
When: At approximately 45,000 miles; fire incident occurred on vehicle purchased new in October 2012
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers fail to operate; Intermittent wiper operation; Wipers will not return to home position; Wipers will not stop when turned to off position; Motor caught fire while vehicle in motion; Loud popping noise prior to fire
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V694000 (Visibility)
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts were unavailable, delaying repair indefinitely. Owner reported exceeding reasonable timeframe for recall completion. One owner self-repaired with parts supplied by Subaru dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V694000 (Visibility) issued; manufacturer stated fire incident unrelated to prior recall WVW32
Sunroof spontaneous shattering
Sunroof glass explodes or shatters spontaneously while vehicle is in motion at highway speeds. No prior visible damage or impact is evident. One incident occurred at 75 mph, another at 65 mph, another at 70 mph, and another at 24,000 miles. In one case, the sunroof cover was closed when the glass broke.
When: Various mileages: 24,000, 31,000, 65 mph driving incident, 75 mph driving incident, 134,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof glass suddenly shatters; Very loud popping noise; Glass shards scatter onto shade guard or throughout vehicle; No prior visible damage; No observed impact; Occurs at highway speeds (65–75 mph)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer replaced the sunroof but could not determine cause of failure. Other incidents were not repaired.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Subaru outback. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked inside the garage, a crack formed on the upper passenger's side of the windshield. The contact stated that he checked the security footage around his home where the vehicle was parked and saw no evidence of an impact to the windshield. The contact stated the crack impaired his visibility while…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Subaru outback. When the front windshield wipers were activated, the wipers failed to operate. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v694000 (visibility). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated…
Had visibility trouble with your 2013 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2013 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $350.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 45,000 and 63,680 miles, with the median around 49,935. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 63,680. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.