ON 2019-11-30 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER HEARD A SUDDEN SOUND AND A CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK APPEARED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE CENTER BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, RISE UPWARD ABOUT A FOOT, THEN TOWARD PASSENGER SIDE A FEW INCHES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE CRACK BECAME LONGER TOWARD PASSENGER SIDE, WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT. ON 2019-12-03 VEHICLE OWNER CALLED SO…
2016 subaru Legacy visibility problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$350
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
HIGH GLOSS NAVIGATION SCREEN AND HIGH GLOSS FINISH ON VENTS REFLECT SUN AT CERTAIN ANGLES AND RESULT IN SUN BEING REFLECTED INTO DRIVERS EYES CAUSING A BLINDING CONDITION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT WHEN SUN IS OUT. THIS IS A SEVERE AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DRIVEN SUBARUS FOR YEARS AND JUST GOT THE 2016 LEGACY. HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. HAVE T…
WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING BRAND NEW, MY 2016 LEGACY DEVELOPED A MASSIVE CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE DEFROST. I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WITH A NEW SUBARU WINDSHIELD ONLY TO HAVE IT CRACK AGAIN IN A DIFFERENT PLACE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. I CONTACTED SUBARU AS THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS ON THE EARLY 2016 MODELS AND THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. CARTER SUBARU SHORELINE (17225 AURORA AVE N, SEATTLE, WA 98133; (206) 542-1166) WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2016 subaru Legacy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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