Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) Quality Assurance has identified an increase in the number of cracked windshields on some 2015 and 2016MY Legacy and Outback models. SOA has now further extended the warranty to 8 years / unlimited miles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Subaru Legacy visibility problems
moderate 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 37 visibility complaints filed for the 2015 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 37 visibility complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 12 model years of Subaru Legacy in our records for visibility problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
Windshield Extension parameter changes
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a âpoppingâ or âsnappingâ -type sound heard when opening the sunroof. The sound may occur when the rear portion of the glass lid weatherstrip contacts or catches the roof frame when the sunroof is opened.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Legacy has a documented windshield defect that shows up in three ways: spontaneous cracks from the deicer strip at the bottom with no impact, fragile glass that shatters from minor rock chips, and random cracks appearing overnight while the vehicle sits parked. Owners report cracks starting at low mileage—some under 3,000 miles—and spreading inches per day. Many get replacement glass and watch it crack again within weeks.
Subaru issued a Technical Service Bulletin for deicer-area cracks and extended the warranty to five years on that specific zone for all-weather-equipped models, but dealers routinely deny claims, saying the crack is in the wrong spot or looks like impact damage even when owners describe no collision. A class action lawsuit (Luong v. Subaru) is pending over this issue.
Because many 2015 Legacies came with EyeSight (adaptive cruise, emergency braking, lane-keep assist), you must replace glass with OEM parts only—no aftermarket option exists. That means $500 to over $1,000 per replacement, plus dealer recalibration fees ($400 reported). OEM glass has been on national backorder, with some dealers holding 500+ units waiting for stock. One owner replaced the windshield six times in 14 months. The moonroof also spontaneously shattered on at least one vehicle at highway speed.
Same Subaru Legacy visibility reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous windshield cracks from deicer area
Windshield develops cracks originating from the deicer strip at the bottom of the glass, often while vehicle is parked overnight or stationary. Owners report no impact or external cause. This defect is documented in a Subaru TSB and covered under an extended warranty (5 years from production date) for vehicles with all-weather package, though coverage disputes are common.
When: Early ownership, low mileage (ranging 2,500 to 26,433 miles); cracks appear overnight or while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Cracks starting at deicer strip (bottom center area); Spontaneous crack initiation with no visible impact or chip; Rapid spread of cracks across windshield; Crack may grow inches per day after initial appearance
Repairs/costs cited: OEM glass replacement required ($500–$1,000+); replacement windshield recalibration and EyeSight camera recalibration needed if vehicle equipped with EyeSight system; parts frequently on backorder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued; 5-year extended warranty on windshields for vehicles with all-weather package from production date; coverage limited to defects in deicer area; many dealers deny claims citing location or impact appearance; class action lawsuit pending (Luong v. Subaru 4:17-CV-03160-YGR)
Windshield prone to cracking from minor impacts
Windshield exhibits excessive fragility, cracking or shattering from small rock chips, minor pebble strikes, or road debris that would normally result only in small chips on typical vehicle glass. Multiple owners report the glass cracks extensively from minimal impact, requiring full replacement rather than chip repair.
When: Throughout ownership; often 1–3 months after purchase or within weeks of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Small pebble or gravel impact results in large crack (6–12 inches or more); Crack spreads rapidly (within 30 minutes to hours) after initial impact; Minimal chip followed by extensive cracking; Multiple cracks develop from single impact point; Replacement OEM glass cracks again within days to weeks
Repairs/costs cited: OEM glass replacement required (only option for EyeSight-equipped vehicles); aftermarket glass unavailable; labor includes EyeSight recalibration; parts chronically on backorder; typical cost $500–$1,000+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; dealers often attribute cracks to impact rather than material defect; extended warranty coverage disputed or denied on replacement glass; EyeSight recalibration not always covered under warranty
Spontaneous windshield cracks without any known impact
Windshield develops cracks while vehicle is stationary or during normal driving with no audible impact, no visible external cause, no stone strike, and no chip initiation point. Cracks appear overnight, while parked, or mid-drive with no explanation, often starting at edges or bottom corners and spreading rapidly.
When: Low mileage (as early as 2,100–6,000 miles); cracks appear overnight or during routine driving; can occur multiple times on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Crack appears overnight with no prior crack visible; No popping or impact noise heard (or noise occurs but no crack immediately visible); Horizontal or vertical crack, often starting at bottom edge or passenger-side corner; Crack spreads inches per day without further driving; Vehicle parked or stationary at time of crack appearance; Multiple spontaneous cracks on same vehicle over time (up to 6 replacements reported)
Repairs/costs cited: OEM glass replacement required; EyeSight recalibration needed; replacement glass also susceptible to same failure within weeks; parts on backorder; cost $500–$1,000+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers often deny coverage citing impact appearance despite owner denial of any contact; Subaru acknowledges manufacturing defect in deicer area but coverage limited to that specific zone; no recall; extended warranty disputed
Sunroof spontaneous shattering
Panoramic sunroof glass spontaneously shatters while vehicle is in motion at highway speed. No external impact or collision observed, no debris strike, and no proximate vehicles. Glass appears to have been pushed upward from inside, suggesting internal stress failure.
When: During highway driving at 57–70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Loud popping or gunshot-like noise; Sunroof glass completely shatters; No external cause visible; Sunroof cover closed at time of failure; No other vehicles close enough to cause impact
Repairs/costs cited: Sunroof glass replacement required
EyeSight camera malfunction in low-light and adverse weather
EyeSight driver-assist system frequently disables during night driving or in inclement weather due to glare or light interference from oncoming vehicles. When disabled, all associated safety features—emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and warning systems—are also disabled, rendering the system unavailable when most critically needed.
When: Night driving and heavy weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: EyeSight system disables when oncoming vehicle lights shine on camera; All safety warnings disabled during night driving; Emergency braking unavailable; Adaptive cruise control unavailable; System malfunction occurs regularly despite dealer diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic ($400+) performed with no resolution identified
Dashboard glare obstructing vision
Factory-installed navigation system screen reflects sunlight and creates glare that obstructs driver visibility, particularly when sun is at certain angles.
When: Low mileage (600 miles); occurs in sunlight conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Sun reflection off navigation screen; Obstructed forward visibility
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I have a 2015 Subaru legacy with 6000 miles on it. On dec 8th, 2015, I took it to the dealer for routine service, I.e. Oil change filter, tire rotation, system checks and fluid levels, etc. I waited for the car. I was told to come back and look at the windshield in the service bay. I was told that there was a crack (horseshoe shaped) around the center top of the windshield. The crack was not…
1) spontaneous cracks in windshield originating from deicer while car parked overnight 12/3/20 taken to Subaru 12/4/20. Subaru website search showed models with all weather package from my production date had defect in windshield cracking from deicer area & warranty extended 5 yrs which expired 4/20 Subaru may not cover $1000+ cost which involves recalibrating & testing eyesight after replacing…
The windshield spontaneously cracked starting at the bottom of the glass. Was first noticed after being parked in work parking lot and was approximately 6" long; in the morning while running an errand the crack expanded another 6" while the vehicle was parked.
I was driving down the road for my commute to class when I heard a loud pop kind of like a gun shot. This is when I noticed that my car was getting colder, and I saw that my sunroof had exploded. This had happened when I was going around 57mph up a hill with the closest person in front of me to be a good 1/2 or 1 mile away. As well as there not being any trees or anything above me, since I was in…
Had visibility trouble with your 2015 Subaru Legacy?
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 2015 Subaru Legacy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 4,000 and 32,371 miles, with the median around 15,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,000; a quarter make it past 32,371. 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/2015/Subaru/Legacy.
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.