RoadVitals

2018 Subaru Impreza Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Feb 4, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 149 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Subaru Impreza submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words

Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 4, 2024

Headlights Recall from 8/2022 still has no remedy available. NHTSA Recall Number22V624000

NHTSA ID
11569799
Incident
Aug 12, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jun 24, 2023

While parked at a roadside rest for the night I heard a sound similar to cracking but didn’t think anything of it. The next day when the sun came up I noticed the windshield was cracking and had a few chips in it. The chips were not the cause of the cracking and came along the cracks but we’re not centrally located to the cracks meaning they were caused by the windshield cracking. The night before the defrost was on cold because it had been raining and it was warm outside. I immediately took photos. I have been unable to repair the windshield considering it costs over 1000.00 and my insurance doesn’t cover defects in the quality of parts used on the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11528696
Incident
Jun 2, 2022
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 13, 2023

Subaru has failed to repair the halogen headlight safety recall in a timely manner. This recall was first announced on August 16th, 2022. It has been 9 months and the remedy for the safety recall has not yet been made available.

NHTSA ID
11521807
Incident
Aug 16, 2022
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11509657
Incident
Aug 20, 2022
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 30, 2023

Have had low visibility at night since purchase in 2018. Thought it was just the bulbs until receiving a recall notice that it is a manufactured issue and there is still no remedy. VERY low night visibility is a serious safety risk to myself and other drivers when having to operate after dark. It has been over 5 months and Subaru has still failed to make a remedy available to resolve problem.

NHTSA ID
11504453
Incident
Jan 21, 2023
Visibility
Filed Jan 4, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, he noticed that a vertical crack had formed on the bottom passenger’s side windshield. The crack quickly extended approximately 30 inches. The contact stated that the crack obstructed his vision while driving at various speeds. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID
11500184
Incident
Jan 3, 2023
Mileage
25,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 24, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that he parked and remained at a close distance from the vehicle; however, upon returning to the vehicle, he noticed that there was a large crack on the windshield. The contact inspected the windshield but could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,500.

NHTSA ID
11490560
Incident
Oct 22, 2022
Mileage
25,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that the front windshield was cracked. The contact was unsure what caused the windshield to crack since the vehicle was rarely driven. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer for an inspection. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 81,500.

NHTSA ID
11469183
Incident
Jun 14, 2022
Mileage
81,500 mi
Visibility
Filed May 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that after he poured water onto the windshield to wash the windshield, the windshield shattered. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

NHTSA ID
11463377
Incident
May 4, 2022
Mileage
16,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 1, 2022

Rear view mirror fell off while driving. There was no impact or otherwise cause for this to fall off. The mirror took a chunk of glass from the front windshield with it. Very dangerous.

NHTSA ID
11462933
Incident
May 1, 2022
Visibility
Filed Mar 6, 2022

Windshield cracked for not apparent reason. Parked car, places visor up, came back to car, took visor down and immediately noticed the crack. I do not remember any rocks hitting the windshield at that spot and I did not notice it at all until this morning when returning to my car. Very unusual.

NHTSA ID
11455418
Incident
Mar 6, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jan 7, 2022

The windshield on my 2018 Impreza car cracked on the lower left drivers side. The crack was unexpected and was not triggered by anything. It arrived out of no where. There is no chip or indentation. Crack is about the length of 2 dollar bills. I feel this is a manufacturing defect and should be paid for by Subaru. This is absolutely faulty craftsmanship and I am extremely disappointed with the durability considering I take excellent care of my vehicle and have had it for less than 1 year! Not to mention, I do not even want to think about the lack of protection this windshield would have provided me if I were ever been in an accident. As a mother, I prefer to drive a vehicle that is safe with my 2 year old daughter in the back seat. I read that there is an ongoing lawsuit with Subaru concerning 2017-2019 vehicles with windshield defects. I am not the only individual experiencing this. Not to mention, this is not an expense I was prepared for and shouldn’t have to be, if Subaru would make a windshield that was not faulty and safe for its consumers! Subaru needs to make this right and be considerate of its consumers.

NHTSA ID
11446675
Incident
Jan 7, 2022
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2021

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 this is not an isolated incident with these windshields. I complain each time that the windshields are defective and that vehicles I have that are 10 years old have not had a windshield crack or be relaced. Even a Subaru employee joked I should trade before getting another cracked windshield this Winter. I should have heeded that advice.

NHTSA ID
11442701
Incident
Dec 4, 2021
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2021

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 manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.

NHTSA ID
11441936
Incident
Nov 26, 2021
Mileage
47,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 2, 2021

Front windshield cracked for no reason.

NHTSA ID
11439122
Incident
Oct 27, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jun 7, 2021

The windshield is cracked for the 3rd time without anything hitting it. The past 2 times i have taken it to the Dealer for repair and made them aware of it. I have receipts in my possession showing the cost of replacement from my previous 2 windshields i have replaced from the dealership. Currently the windshield cracked yesterday while it was parked on 6/6/21. No damage to the vehicle was noticed prior to this time. This will be the 3rd windshield i will have to replace at my own cost. I am worried about my safety after the fact the windshield has cracked 3 times and wonder if it's going to happen while I am driving. There was no prior warning for each time it has cracked.

NHTSA ID
11420036
Incident
Jun 6, 2021
Visibility
Filed Apr 15, 2021

THE RUBBER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM END TO END IS NOT SECURE PROPERLY. I BOUGHT IT 2/8/2021. MY FIRST TIME WASHING IT WAS 4/12/2021 WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE RUBBER IS LOOSE

NHTSA ID
11408233
Incident
Apr 12, 2021
Visibility
Filed Feb 13, 2021

IN 2019, I EXPERIENCED 2 INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE GLASS IN THIS VEHICLE. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, I NOTICED A CHIP IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS WAS PATCHED BY A GLASS REPAIR SERVICE. IN THE 2ND INCIDENT, I NOTICED A CHIP IN THE GLASS OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THIS REQUIRED REPLACING THE ENTIRE GLASS PANE, ALSO DONE BY A GLASS REPAIR SERVICE. IN BOTH OF THESE INSTANCES, THERE WAS NOT A DEFINITE EVENT I COULD IDENTIFY AS THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
11396040
Incident
Jun 12, 2019
Mileage
10,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 11, 2021

WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN A SINGLE MONTH DUE TO THE FORMATION OF LARGE CRACKS DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. BOTH WINDSHIELDS WERE SUBARU OEM INSTALLED AT CERTIFIED SUBARU DEALERSHIPS. THE WINDSHIELD ALSO APPEARED TO HAVE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CHIPS CONSIDERING ITS AGE AND THE DRIVING CONDITIONS IT EXPERIENCED (PAVED HIGHWAYS)

NHTSA ID
11395739
Incident
Feb 11, 2021
Mileage
28,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 2, 2021

ON DECEMBER 13, WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IT STARTED AT THE TOP CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HAS GROWN SINCE. THERE IS NO IMPACT POINT OR REASON FOR THE CRACK.

NHTSA ID
11386202
Incident
Dec 13, 2020
Mileage
32,654 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 18, 2020

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED

NHTSA ID
11384042
Incident
Dec 10, 2020
Mileage
46,747 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 17, 2020

WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. CAR ONLY HAS 35K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID
11383985
Incident
Dec 17, 2020
Mileage
35,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 28, 2020

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 PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND REQUESTED A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. WE ARE AWAITING FOR A RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID
11376851
Incident
Nov 13, 2020
Mileage
18,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 27, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11376710
Incident
Nov 12, 2020
Mileage
49,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 7, 2020

WINDSHIELD CRACKING WITH ONLY LIGHT IMPACT. HAVE SEVERAL CRACKS FROM THESE IMPACTS. DID NOT HEAR IMPACT, NOTICED CRACK AFTER BEING IN SUN FOR A FEW HOURS. HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A WEAK WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID
11363311
Incident
Oct 7, 2020
Mileage
28,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .