2017 outback second time windshield has cracked. First time (11/2018)something very tiny hit the bottom of the windshield and it cracked. The car was on an interstate. The emphasis is on tiny, no way it should have cracked. This time, 12/25/2019, I was in the passenger seat, on an interstate, looking straight ahead and all of a sudden a crack appeared on the top of the windshield. I exclaimed…
2017 Subaru Outback visibility problems
moderate 217 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
217
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 217 visibility complaints filed for the 2017 Subaru Outback, 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 217 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.
Visibility accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Do not buy a 2017 Subaru Outback with EyeSight unless you accept recurring windshield failures and $500–$1,000+ repair costs. Owners report 2–7 cracked windshields in 2–3 years from trivial impacts, spontaneous cracks, and defroster use; Subaru denies warranty coverage and dealers refuse repairs.
The 2017 Subaru Outback has a pervasive and well-documented windshield defect. Owners consistently report spontaneous cracks and catastrophic failure from minor impacts that would not damage most vehicles. A tiny pebble, a wiper arm slip, or a tap on a snow-covered pane triggers cracks that spread across the full windshield within hours to days. Many owners say they heard no impact, yet dealerships blame "rock chips" with no visible evidence. The glass, made thin to accommodate the EyeSight camera system, separates from its laminate backing—sharp enough to cut hands.
Multiple owners have replaced windshields 2, 3, 4, even 7 times in 2–3 years of ownership. Each replacement costs $500–$1,000 because EyeSight recalibration is required and non-OEM glass is incompatible. Owners report cracks initiating from the lower edges, VIN window area, or near defrost vents—sometimes triggered by heater use or temperature swings.
Subaru issued Service Bulletin #12-19215R and faces at least two class action lawsuits (Luong and Powell v. Subaru of America). Dealerships uniformly deny warranty coverage and refuse to repair. Only a few owners succeeded in getting Subaru reimbursement through persistence and escalation. The problem persists in 2017+ models, not just 2015–2016. Owners also report glare issues: windshield haze when wipers operate in rain, and extreme navigation system reflection causing nausea in one case. A 2017 Outback with a sunroof had its glass shatter mid-highway at mild temperature.
Same Subaru Outback visibility reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield spontaneous cracking and poor impact resistance
Windshield cracks spontaneously during normal driving, parking, or minor temperature changes. Cracks also form from trivial impacts—tiny pebbles, wiper contact, minor rock chips—that would not damage windshields in other vehicles. Once initiated, cracks spread rapidly across the full windshield within hours to days. Multiple owners report replacement windshields failing in the same manner.
When: Throughout ownership, from under 100 miles to 110,000 miles; often within 1-2 years of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang or pop sound when windshield cracks suddenly while driving or parked; Horizontal or irregular cracks spreading 2-12+ feet across windshield; Cracks initiated from lower edges, VIN window area, or near defrost vents; Crack propagation over hours or days without further impact; Glass separating from laminate layer; pieces peeling away and causing cuts; No visible impact point or only tiny chip when major crack forms; Cracks appearing after defrost/heater use, temperature changes, or wiper contact
Repairs/costs cited: OEM glass replacement with recalibration of EyeSight camera system required; costs $500–$1,000+ per windshield. Multiple owners replaced windshield 2–7 times. Non-OEM glass incompatible with EyeSight technology.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru service bulletin #12-19215R (mentioned in complaints); class action lawsuits Luong v. Subaru of America and Powell v. Subaru of America (2015–2016 models). Dealerships typically refuse warranty coverage, citing 'rock chips' despite minimal evidence. Subaru of America reimbursed some deductibles on case-by-case basis. No factory recall or windshield design revision for 2017 models.
Windshield glare and haze during rain with wipers on
Heavy glare and haze appear on exterior windshield when wipers are used in rain, particularly when light reflects on the glass. Visibility severely impaired despite wiper operation. Cleaning and defrost have no effect.
When: Early in ownership; reported consistently with 2017 models
Symptoms owners cite: Heavy glare when wipers are on and light hits windshield; Haze coating reappears with each wiper swipe; Visibility severely limited during rain with reflected light; Beading occurs on windshield as rain falls, then converts to haze after wiper swipes
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Cleaning and defrost did not resolve the issue.
Dashboard reflection glare into navigation system
Bright glare from outside reflects off the navigation system's face plate, creating extreme brightness that blinds the driver and creates hazardous distraction. One owner reported the light so intense it caused nausea and migraines.
When: Early in ownership; complaint at ~1,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme glare reflecting off navigation system face plate without warning; Light so bright it causes eye discomfort, nausea, and migraines; Distraction from driving and hindered visibility
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership offered buyback, which owner declined due to significant financial loss ($5,500).
Sunroof spontaneous failure (exploded glass)
Sunroof glass spontaneously shattered while driving at highway speed, creating loud pop and ejecting glass debris from rear of vehicle.
When: 6 months into ownership, at ~10:55 a.m. during mild weather (60°F with gusty winds) on I-95
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop sound while driving on interstate at 60 mph; Sunroof glass shattered into multiple pieces during acceleration; Glass debris ejected from rear of vehicle; Vehicle had roof cargo carrier loaded
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner had dealer appointment scheduled to assess warranty coverage.
Rear windshield spontaneous cracking
Rear windshield cracked into several pieces (jigsaw pattern) while vehicle was parked and unoccupied.
When: At 14,790 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear windshield cracked into multiple pieces resembling jigsaw puzzle; No apparent cause; vehicle was parked
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid for replacement at dealership after independent mechanic ordered wrong parts.
Rearview mirror tinting/dimmer malfunction
Rearview mirrors too dark when dimmers activated; visibility through mirrors obstructed. Vehicle also had tinted windows.
When: At 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Mirrors too dark when dimmers activated; Unable to see out of mirrors
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership attributed issue to tinted windows on vehicle, not mirror defect.
Synthesized from 217 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Exploding sun roof: on 11/23/2017 our family was driving from hillsboro, or to coosbay, or for a family thanksgiving dinner. While we were on interstate I-5 south just near cottage grove, or we heard a loud shatter which scared all of us, we immediately pulled to the shoulder safely and noticed that the sunroof was shattered. We were going at 65-70mph with drizzle oregon rain and temps at 50's f
Spontaneous cracks in windshield without any visible evidence of a chip or experiencing any "hits" to the windshield while driving - go out to start my garage parked Subaru outback (touring) and notice a linear crack across windshield on three (3) separate incidences within 369 days feb 2018, may 2018, & feb 2019.
We noticed a chip in the windshield when we doing a car cleaning and reported it to our car insurance company; otherwise, we weren't aware of it happening, it still exists and I need to get the car inspected in january, and I don't know if it will pass.
Spontaneous cracks in windshield without any visible evidence of a chip or experiencing any "hits" to the windshield while driving - go out to start my garage parked Subaru outback (touring) and notice a linear crack across windshield on three (3) separate incidences within 369 days feb 2018, may 2018, & feb 2019.
Spontaneous cracks in windshield without any visible evidence of a chip or experiencing any "hits" to the windshield while driving - go out to my garage parked Subaru outback (touring) and notice a linear crack across windshield on three (3) separate incidences within 369 days - feb 2018, may 2018 & feb 2019
Had visibility trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 217 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 161 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 22,000 and 51,150 miles, with the median around 36,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,000; a quarter make it past 51,150. 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/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.