This bulletin announces a design change made to the power window main switches.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Subaru Impreza visibility problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 21 visibility complaints filed for the 2017 Subaru Impreza, 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 provides a service procedure for replacement of the A/C compressor clutch stator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information bulletin announces a change made to the lens portion of the fog light assembly. The new lens has optimized light distribution characteristics while remaining interchangeable with the original type.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces a change to the procedure used in production of the rear door glass assembly. The bottom edge of the door glass is pressed into a metal channel lined with rubber. The channel attaches the door glass assembly to the window regulator. In below-freezing temperature conditions, water freezing in the channel combined with the door glass sticking to the door weatherstrip can increase chance of the glass separating from the channel when attempting to operate (lower) the window. A lubricant has been added to the rubber portion to insure the glass gets fully seated during assembly which maximizes the clamping force of the channel on the glass.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Service Information bulletin provides a guideline to use for placement of required or mandated windshield stickers (inside and / or outside) on vehicles equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and High Beam Assist (HBA) features. Examples of these types of stickers include: * Government facility / Military base access stickers * State-mandated Vehicle Safety Inspection and Emission Compliance stickers * Parking Permit Stickers The cameras used by both of these features require a clear, unobstructed "view" through the windshield for their proper operation. The illustration below shows the "Prohibited area" in gray. Any stickers mandated to be placed within the Prohibited area sho
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe four distinct visibility issues with the 2017 Impreza. The most frequent complaint involves windshield brittleness: glass develops thousands of tiny pinpoint chips at low mileage (55k miles and below), creating dangerous glare at certain times of day. Small impact damage—sometimes minor debris at highway speed, sometimes just a small chip—rapidly expands into large cracks (8-15 inches) within hours or overnight. A shop technician reported this cracking behavior is common for this model year. Multiple owners needed windshield replacement twice or three times within 12–24 months. Windshield-integrated safety systems require recalibration after replacement, adding cost.
Side-view mirror adjustment range is inadequate. Both driver and passenger mirrors cannot adjust far enough outward to meet SAE and AAA recommended positions for eliminating blind spots. Mirrors hit a hard limit and bounce rather than continuing to adjust, leaving dangerous blind spots even when blind-spot detection is present.
Less frequently, owners report catastrophic failure of sunroof and door mirror glass. One sunroof glass exploded spontaneously while driving on a clear, dry highway, leaving a 10" x 4–5" section missing and surrounding glass protruding. Another passenger door mirror completely disintegrated at highway speed with no collision, leaving only the wiring intact and damaging the adjacent window with debris. Dealerships covered these failures under warranty.
Same Subaru Impreza visibility reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous sunroof glass shattering
Sunroof glass has broken and shattered spontaneously without external impact, with large sections missing or broken and protruding outward. Owners describe it as an 'explosion' while driving on highways under normal conditions (dry weather, no precipitation, no visible objects in roadway, no overhead obstruction).
When: Occurs while driving without warning; one reported incident on clear highway at 36°F and 3:30 PM
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosive sound while driving; Large section of sunroof glass missing (approx. 10" x 4-5" in one case); Surrounding glass broken and protruding outward; No external object found on sun shade or vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced sunroof glass; frame remained intact. Repair covered at no cost under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealership covered full replacement cost of sunroof glass at no charge to original owner with less than 12 months ownership.
Passenger door mirror spontaneous failure/explosion
Door mirror has catastrophically failed while vehicle is in motion, with plastic casing completely destroyed and mirror assembly hanging by electrical wiring. Owner reports the mirror 'exploded' at highway speed with no collision or sideswipe, and debris damaged the adjacent passenger window with etching.
When: At approximately 45 mph driving through a curve on four-lane road with no traffic or objects to contact
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang, initially mistaken for blown tire; Passenger mirror hanging in pieces by wiring; Plastic outside mirror casing completely destroyed; Debris etched and scraped passenger window; No external collision or sideswipe to trigger failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reported taking vehicle to dealership for warranty repair/replacement; less than 12,000 miles at time of failure (purchased October 2017).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner sought warranty repair/replacement as original owner within warranty period.
Side-view mirror adjustment range insufficient for blind-spot elimination
Driver-side (and passenger-side in at least one case) rearview mirrors cannot adjust far enough outward to achieve SAE and AAA recommended positions for blind-spot elimination. Mirrors reach a hard limit and 'bounce' when the adjustment range is exhausted, leaving dangerous blind spots in the driver's field of view.
When: Issue present from ownership; affects multiple owners regardless of mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror cannot adjust outward far enough to see vehicles in side blind spots; Mirror reaches hard adjustment limit and bounces; Unable to achieve SAE and AAA recommended mirror positions; Blind spots remain even with blind-spot detection features active
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted in complaints; design defect requiring redesign or recall.
Windshield brittleness and spontaneous cracking
Windshield glass exhibits unusual brittleness and susceptibility to spontaneous cracking. Owners report tiny pinpoint chips developing en masse even at low mileage (55k miles), cracks forming spontaneously while parked or during low-speed driving, and minor debris causing rapid crack propagation. Small chips have expanded into large cracks (8-15 inches) quickly, sometimes overnight, even from minimal impact.
When: Occurs at low mileage (55k miles reported); can happen while parked, during normal driving at 15-55 mph, or overnight after initial chip
Symptoms owners cite: Thousands of tiny pinpoint chips across windshield surface; Severe glare at sunset or certain times of day from chip damage; Spontaneous cracks forming with no identified external cause; Cracks forming or expanding overnight while vehicle parked; Small debris impact causing 8-15 inch cracks; Cracks starting at edge between frame and glass near wiper; Chips expanding into large cracks with minimal pressure during repair attempts; Multiple windshield replacements required (two in 12 months, three in less than 2 years in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacements at $1,000 or more; one owner noted repair shop technician reported this is a common issue with this model and year. Windshield-integrated safety system requires recalibration after replacement at additional cost.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
A small object hit the side of my windshield while I was driving home and later caused a 6-inch crack to form. The crack expanded to 10+ inches overnight while my car was parked in my garage. I now have to have my windshield replaced and safety system will need to be re-calibrated at an additional cost.
The windshield on the car seems to break, and/or chip very easily and much more frequent than any other vehicle I have owned.
A crack appeared in the windshield on the driver's side of the car. The car was moving when the crack appeared but was stationary (driveway) when the crack expanded from the driver's side to the passenger side by the next day.
I am logging a complaint regarding my Subaru Impreza 2017 windshield. I bought new in 2017, and it currently has only about 55k miles. The windshield is completely covered (literally thousands) of tiny pinpoint chips. At certain times of day (usually sunset) the glare that this causes is so bad that visibility is very poor and driving is almost scary. I contacted the dealership and they said they…
My windshield has a small crack and I am not sure when it happened.
The windshield cracked for no apparent reason. It was replaced at safelite auto glass. The receipt is attached.
The windshield has a crack out of nowhere. This happened in my garage where the vehicle is parked most of the time.
Windshield cracked after taking small road debris to windshield while driving approx 55 MPH on a highway. Immediately after debris hit windshield began to splinter and crack which worsened into a 8-10" long damage making the windshield ineligible for repair. Windshield required replacement
Had visibility trouble with your 2017 Subaru Impreza?
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 2017 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 14,953 and 38,980 miles, with the median around 32,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,953; a quarter make it past 38,980. 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/2017/Subaru/Impreza.
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.