RoadVitals

2020 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.
56
Latest Apr 28, 2026
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.
66%
of 85 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 2020 Subaru Impreza submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 56 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 56, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Apr 28, 2026

For the second year in a row my windshield has cracked. Nothing hit it, or happened to make it crack. Both cracks were long and coming from the bottom of the windshield under the passenger wiper blade. I noticed it today, 4/28/26 and the same thing happened in the beginning of April last year with the same circumstances (or lack thereof).

NHTSA ID
11734220
Incident
Apr 28, 2026
Visibility
Filed Feb 2, 2026

I HAVE NOW HAD 4 WINDSHIELDS CRACK AND BREAK AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME ONE LITTLE ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD BOOM ANOTHER FULL REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. EVERY TIME I GO FOR A ROAD TRIP THIS KEEPS HAPPENING THE MUST BE A DEFECT WITH THE DESIGN OR TYPE OF GLASS USED FOR THE SUBARU IMPREZA 2020 MODELS.

NHTSA ID
11715092
Incident
Jan 30, 2026
Visibility
Filed Jul 30, 2024

While car was parked. Front windshield developed crack in the lower mid section of windshield. There was no damage to windshield that would have resulted in cracking. Crack has since spread.

NHTSA ID
11605501
Incident
Jul 23, 2024
Visibility
Filed Jun 21, 2024

Windshield breaks (cracks) very easily. I have owned/driven cars for 45 years, during the first 41 years I have only had to replace one (1) windshield. Since I have owned this vehicle (Subaru), I am now onto windshield number five (5). Are they making these windows with inferior materials or thinner? I hate to think that an inferior window will not hold up or perform as designed in a major accident, possibly causing greater injury or death.

NHTSA ID
11595823
Incident
Jun 18, 2024
Visibility
Filed Oct 26, 2023

Over the course of 3 days, my vehicle has sustained 4 chips in the windshield from standard city street driving. The windshield now needs to be replaced from excessive cracks.

NHTSA ID
11552065
Incident
Oct 23, 2023
Visibility
Filed Oct 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound and became aware that the windshield had cracked. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the windshield was replaced. The failure had reoccurred, and a crack appeared on the windshield in the same area. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA ID
11550500
Incident
Oct 10, 2023
Mileage
94,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 27, 2023

Was sitting in car preparing to leave. Car was in park and turned on. Heard a loud popping/creaking noise. Looked up and the front windshield cracked in several places.

NHTSA ID
11519211
Incident
Apr 17, 2023
Visibility
Filed Mar 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, it was later discovered that a crack had developed on the front windshield. The crack measured approximately 10-inches and extended from the bottom of the windshield. The contact indicated that no rock or object had impacted the windshield to cause the crack. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

NHTSA ID
11512839
Incident
Mar 19, 2023
Mileage
15,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 3, 2023

I was stopped at a stop light. Traffic was basically at a stand still while the lights were changing. During this time my windshield spontaneously cracked on the lower center section of the glass. It cracked for seemingly no reason at all. Since traffic was stopped there's no way it could have been caused by a rock or flying debris. No weather (such as hail) was occurring at the time.

NHTSA ID
11509999
Incident
Mar 3, 2023
Visibility
Filed Jul 6, 2022

My car was parked outside on the street and when I went to drive it the next morning the windshield had a foot long crack in it. There is no obvious point of collision--it looks like it just split. I will need to replace the windshield for around $1300 since the crack is so large.

NHTSA ID
11472642
Incident
Jul 6, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jun 11, 2022

I own a 2020 Impreza Hatchback with 18k miles. A significant crack appeared in the windshield out of nowhere, literally while parked in a safe environment. I was advised by Subaru corporate and my local dealership that this is not covered by warranty and would have to make a claim with my insurance. I can provide pictures and further detailed information if so required.

NHTSA ID
11468778
Incident
Jun 9, 2022
Visibility
Filed May 31, 2022

A large Crack appeared and the bottom middle of the windshield and cracked upwards to the lower middle windshield and cracked both to the left and right side.

NHTSA ID
11466862
Incident
May 31, 2022
Visibility
Filed May 16, 2022

I was driving at approximately 5 mph, on a road with several steep speed bumps, with no cars around and no overhanging trees, and suddenly a 24-inch hairline crack popped across the driver's side of my windshield. There's no evidence of any impact at all on the windshield--the crack is entirely in between the laminate. Entire windshield now needs to be replaced and I assume the EyeSight recalibrated.

NHTSA ID
11464786
Incident
May 14, 2022
Visibility
Filed May 15, 2022

Vehicle was parked in sunlight for approximately 4 hours on a private driveway. Came back and there was a 12+ inch crack in the windshield. No evidence of rock chips. Glass will not be able to be inspected because it needed to be replaced.

NHTSA ID
11464729
Incident
May 14, 2022
Visibility
Filed May 10, 2022

Chipped windshield, crack started to spread inside the windshield

NHTSA ID
11464107
Incident
May 2, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 2022

My windshield cracked straight up the middle for no apparent reason. This problem has been confirmed by numerous NHTSA complaints. Less than 12,000 miles. No rock hit my windshield but I hit a bump when it cracked. $470 to replace or pay my $2,000 deductible.

NHTSA ID
11452296
Incident
Feb 13, 2022
Visibility
Filed Dec 27, 2021

The windshield cracked without any reason, at the top by the passenger side. The initial crack was approximately a foot and it has since grown and is moving horizontally across the windshield. It is available for inspection. This happened while the car was parked.

NHTSA ID
11445141
Incident
Dec 16, 2021
Visibility
Filed Dec 20, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 SUBARU IMPREZA. The contact stated that after warming up the after driving approximately 1/10 th of a mile at approximately 10 mph or less when the vehicle's windshield suddenly fractured under the seal rubber in the lower center of the vehicle. in the lower then suddenly migrated to the left and to the right of the windshield in different directions. The contact contacted the dealer however they had not inspected the vehicle in person as of yet. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.

NHTSA ID
11444436
Incident
Dec 20, 2021
Visibility
Filed Oct 14, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that the windshield had fractured on the passenger’s side lower right. The contact took the vehicle to a repair shop and had the windshield replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000.

NHTSA ID
11436753
Incident
Oct 3, 2021
Mileage
16,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 23, 2021

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason

NHTSA ID
11434108
Incident
Sep 20, 2021
Visibility
Filed Sep 4, 2021

The windshield spontaneously cracked. The car has 3600 miles on it, has never been driven on a highway, and resides in a garage

NHTSA ID
11431729
Incident
Aug 3, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jul 19, 2021

When driving on freeways, twice in the last 6 months, the windshield was struck by a small piece of gravel and cracked immediately. The first time there was an impact indent and a 6 inch crack, the second time there was a star shaped indent and an 11 inch crack. The windshield does not seem strong enough to deal with small gravel impacts. In both cases the crack spread overnight as the car heated and cooled. Both times I had the windshield replaced by a USAA-certified glass replacement shop and recalibrated by Subaru.

NHTSA ID
11425494
Incident
Jul 17, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jun 14, 2021

I was informed that the windshields in certain models are spontaneously cracking two inches from the bottom of the windshield - a tiny rock caused a 14 inch crack which is unheard of. Clearly, the windshield is terrible and Subaru doesn’t want to take responsibility for their faulty windshields. When I check Google, I am not the only one.

NHTSA ID
11420804
Incident
Jun 13, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jun 8, 2021

Spontaneous windshield large crack while parked at worksite parking place on 06/07/2021. My safety was put at risk because I had to drive back home not knowing if the windshield would explode. I called the dealer (Herb Gordon Subaru in Silver Spring Maryland)right away (around 5:30 pm) and they gave me an appointment for repair with an $800 estimate. They did not inform me of Subaru issued with windshields. This is a recently purchased pre-owned Certified vehicle on 3/22/2020. Called the insurance company and advised me to go in person talk to the dealership which I will today 6/8/2021. No warnings nor I noticed any thing hitting the windshield.

NHTSA ID
11420067
Incident
Jun 7, 2021
Visibility
Filed May 1, 2021

I GOT TO WORK AT 6AM AND THERE WAS NOTHING, GOT OUT AT 6PM AND SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ID
11414725
Incident
Apr 30, 2021
Mileage
12,368 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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .