The front windshield spontaneously cracked
2018 Subaru Impreza visibility problems
moderate 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 34 visibility complaints filed for the 2018 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
Owners have filed 34 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 13 model years of Subaru Impreza in our records for visibility problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Windshield cracked under normal driving conditions. Car only has 35k miles on it.
OEM windshield chips with no cause. At 10,000 miles window is covered in chips everywhere. Dealer admitted chips/cracks are a known issue with all new models but not a warranty or recall claim.
I have had 3 windshields crack (all in the Winter months) for no reason with this Impreza. On December 4 2021, I turned on the car and while still in park, a 5" crack started growing from the bottom of the front windshield upward. The crack was not there when I started the car and during the day it grew to 8". This repair costs $1000 each time and from what I have read, Subaru is aware that…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the driveway and as he sat in the vehicle, he noticed that there was a crack on the passenger’s side of the windshield. The contact looked around but could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to an independent mechanic for repair. The…
On the morning of friday, november 13 2020, we found the windshield of the 2018 impreza to have cracked overnight without any sign of impacts. The crack originated on the passenger side near the bottom where the wiper blade locates, but has spread quickly in less than 2 weeks ' now reaching across to the driver side, as shown by the photos. We have reached out to the Subaru dealership where we…
Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. Parked at work in morning, when I returned in the afternoon about a 12 inch crack across passenger side of windshield. No chips or cracks were there before.
Had visibility trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Subaru Impreza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 34 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 25 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 16,000 and 32,654 miles, with the median around 25,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 32,654. 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/2018/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.