RoadVitals

2019 Subaru Legacy 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.
51
Latest May 8, 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.
41%
of 123 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 2019 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 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 51, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed May 8, 2026

driver side mirror can not be adjusted to effectively see visually car in blind spot; fortunately car saw me changing lane when it was just off rear driverside fender; did not seen in mirror or in window; 70 years used visual; blind spot light inconsistent; visual is

NHTSA ID
11736451
Incident
Feb 5, 2026
Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 2024

We had to replace the car’s original windshield due to a stone hitting it on the highway- just bad luck and something that happens from time to time. Since then, we’ve had TWO replacement windshields spontaneously crack without any impacts in the span of 3 weeks. Subaru has a major problem. These windshields are not supposed to be disposable, and no one has time or money enough to replace windshields on a weekly basis. There is clearly a defect in the windshields, their mounting, or something that needs to be corrected. This represents a major safety issue for drivers.

NHTSA ID
11592264
Incident
Jun 3, 2024
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2024

On 3/1/24, I had my original windshield replaced with Subaru dealership due to a crack. I paid out of pocket. On 4/21/24, the windshield cracked again for no reason. I don't recall anything hitting it. I took it to the Subaru dealership on 4/22/24, and they took no responsibility even though it was still under warranty. They claimed it was due to something hitting the windshield, but they did replace it for free because we were "loyal customers". On 4/30/24, it developed a substantial crack again. I remember some small pebble hitting the windshield but not hard enough to cause it to crack. I was DONE with Subaru so I took it to Safelite to get it replaced on 5/10/24. Again paying out of pocket. This is my third windshield replacement in less than two months. I feel that the Subaru brand windshield is defective. It cracks easily for no reason. I've never had this happen so frequently with any of my other cars I've owned.

NHTSA ID
11589441
Incident
Apr 21, 2024
Visibility
Filed Feb 22, 2024

UNKNOWN. A very small pebble flew up from the road onto the lower passenger's side windshield, creating a small chip, approximately 2 mm, in the glass. Within 10 minutes, the glass started to hairline crack leftward by about 4 inches. I parked the car and checked a few hours later, and the crack was deeper and over a foot in length. It continued to grow with the car was parked, and was about 18 inches when I left work several hours later. I marked the end point of the crack on the inside glass when I arrived home to see if the crack would stabilize in size. The car was parked overnight and the crack has continued to grow in length and appears deeper this morning. What should have been a small chip, that would have been easy to repair, has become a major crack in the glass, one that continues to grow and is obscuring visibility as a result. My cost estimate to replace the windshield is over $1,000. It's my opinion the glass is as weak in my model car as in other Subarus that have this known glass issue where the repairs were covered under warranty.

NHTSA ID
11573382
Incident
Feb 21, 2024
Visibility
Filed Jul 27, 2023

The windshield of my vehicle randomly cracked from the driver’s side at the base of the windshield to about halfway across. Nothing hit the windshield whatsoever. I just heard a low sounding pop and discovered the crack.

NHTSA ID
11534944
Incident
Jul 26, 2023
Visibility
Filed Jul 18, 2022

ON 17JUL2022 A LONG CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD(FRONT). THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AS THE WINDSHIELD CAN BREAK AND IMPACT MY SAFETY IN THE CAR AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AROUND THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
11474480
Incident
Jul 17, 2022
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2022

Winshield cracked with unknown reason

NHTSA ID
11454602
Incident
Feb 24, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 6, 2022

UNKNOWN Spontaneous, crack located near perfect center of lower windshield.

NHTSA ID
11450631
Incident
Nov 6, 2021
Visibility
Filed Feb 3, 2022

Windshield cracks very easily with no outside force inflicting damage. Windshield has cracked 2 times in 2 years.

NHTSA ID
11450131
Incident
Feb 3, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jan 26, 2022

Windshield developed small crack & expanded to windshield wide in a few hours. Cracked windshield & crack expansion is unsafe. Not reproduced or confirmed. Not inspected. No warning lamps.

NHTSA ID
11448933
Incident
Jan 25, 2022
Visibility
Filed Nov 4, 2021

3 TIMES i HAVE CHANGED OUT THE WINDSHIELD With Not ever having anything hit it.

NHTSA ID
11439412
Incident
Nov 4, 2021
Visibility
Filed Sep 1, 2021

The windshield has chipped and cracked excessively with no cause. I have a low mileage vehicle that has now experienced 4 separate incidents where the windshield chipped and/or cracked with very little impact. On one occasion, the car was stopped completely but suddenly the windshield popped and cracked directly in front of the driver. I am afraid to drive the car for fear that the windshield is a danger to me and my passengers.

NHTSA ID
11431297
Incident
Jun 10, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jul 27, 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that the front windshield cracked without impact. The windshield was replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11426653
Incident
Jul 26, 2021
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 18, 2021

While driving on the Highway a small stone struck the windshield of my 2019 Subaru Legacy resulting in an immediate 18 inch crack with separation of the external glass. This is the 3rd windshield that has failed on my Subaru. One previous failure resulted in glass cracked on both the outside and inside of the windshield in separate intercepting paths. I know that windshield failure has been common amongst Subarus since 2016 and I am wondering how this can still be unresolved. The failures are so immediately dramatic in length there is no repair possible and the safety integrity of the glass is compromised.

NHTSA ID
11421436
Incident
Jun 18, 2021
Visibility
Filed May 4, 2021

I OWN A 2019 SUBARU LEGACY. I AM VERY SHOCKED THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE MAJOR WINDSHIELD CRACKS WITHIN ONLY 18 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST ONE WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (02/07/20), THE 2ND TIME WAS 7 MONTHS LATER (9/17/20), AND THE 3RD TIME WAS ON MAY 1ST, 2021. THE CRACKS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE; ONCE WHILE DRIVING ON A LIGHT TRAFFIC STREET, ONCE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, AND ONCE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE SUBARU IS VERY EXPENSIVE! THE COMPANY REFUSES TO COVER THE COST. I HAD TO PAY $500 DEDUCTIBLE, WHILE MY INSURANCE PAID OVER $300+. I HAVE DRIVEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARS FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, SUCH AS HONDAS, CHEVYS, VOLVOS, AND FORDS, AND NOT ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES EVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER OWNED A SUBARU AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE NIGHTMARE/EXPENSE IN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM WITHIN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A DEFECT EITHER WITHIN THE AREA OF THE FRAME OF THE CAR THAT HOLDS THE WINDSHIELD OR THE GLASS IS VERY POOR QUALITY, OR BOTH. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT SUBARU IS MISLEADING CUSTOMERS INTO BELIEVING THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE SOME OF THE SAFEST IN THE CAR INDUSTRY. I HOPE ENOUGH SUBARU OWNERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ARE COMING FORWARD. ABOVE ALL, I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE TO RESOLVE THIS TERRIBLE PROBLEM SOON.

NHTSA ID
11415068
Incident
May 1, 2021
Mileage
3,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 29, 2021

CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED IT SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11414538
Incident
Apr 15, 2021
Mileage
78,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 21, 2021

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING - UNSURE IF ANYTHING STRUCK THE WINDOW OR NOT, BUT IT STARTED OFF AS A 6 INCH CRACK AND IN UNDER 24 HOURS HAS SPREAD TO OVER 2 FEET IN LENGTH. I HAVE READ WHERE MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL IS CURRENTLY IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DUE TO FAULTY WINDSHIELDS AND I WOULD LIKE IT NOTED THAT I HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPACTED BY THE FAULTY OEM WINDSHIELDS THAT SUBARU IS USING.

NHTSA ID
11413159
Incident
Apr 20, 2021
Mileage
53,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 26, 2021

I WAS DRIVING ON 167 FREEWAY GOING TO WORK THE NEXT DAY I FOUND A CRACKED A LONG LINE ON MY WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED FOUND ON LEFT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW.

NHTSA ID
11398109
Incident
Feb 7, 2021
Mileage
28,650 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 19, 2021

I HAVE A 2019 SUBARU LEGACY PURCHASED IN SUMMER 2019. IT IS CURRENTLY 2021, AND I AM DEALING WITH MY 3RD CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I HAVE BEEN OVERLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT STAYING FAR FROM TRUCKS, DIRTY VEHICLES, LARGE VEHICLES AND JUST GENERALLY KEEPING DISTANCE AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. DESPITE ALL MY EFFORTS, I STILL ENDED UP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD YET AGAIN. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND I CANNOT CONTINUE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON REGULAR WINDSHIELD ISSUES. THIS IS WHILE I AM PROACTIVELY TRYING TO AVOID THIS ISSUE. 1ST WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS JULY 2019 - A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD 2ND WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS SEPTEMBER 2019 - JUST NOTICED A CRACK ONE MORNING, NOTHING ACTUALLY HIT MY WINDSHIELD TO MY KNOWLEDGE. 3RD WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS FEBRUARY 2021 - AGAIN, NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD IN THE AFTERNOON, NO NOTICEABLE IMPACT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
11396972
Incident
Feb 18, 2021
Mileage
500 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 25, 2021

THE WINDSHIELD GOT HIT BY A VERY TINY OBJECT (LIKELY A ROCK) AND HAD A CIRCULAR CRACK/CHIP AT THE LEFT LOWER QUADRANT ON 1/5/2021 WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR FOR WINDSHIELD REPAIR ON 1/9/2021. NOW THE DAMAGED AREA IS BIGGER WITH MORE FINE CRACKS. THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT GET HIT AGAIN AFTER 1/5/2021. THE REPAIR DID NOT CONTAIN THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
11389923
Incident
Jan 5, 2021
Mileage
16,270 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 4, 2021

I NOTICED TODAY THAT MY WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK THAT STARTS FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE BOTTOM TOWARDS THE ENGINE AND SHAPED LIKE THE NUMBER SEVEN. I DO NOT SEE ANYWHERE ALONG THE CRACK WHERE A CHIP APPEARS, WHICH LEADS ME TO THINK IT IS SOME SORT OF PRESSURE BREAK. AFTER READING THE RECENT ISSUES SUBARU HAS HAD WITH FAULTY WINDSHIELDS I FEEL THIS IS AN EXACT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

NHTSA ID
11386519
Incident
Jan 4, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jan 2, 2021

MY SUBARU LEGACY WINDSHIELD WAS DAMAGED RESULTING IN A CRACK 8/9/20 ON THE ROAD. THIS WAS REPAIRED. ANOTHER SMALL OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD SHORTLY AFTER ON 10/11/20 THAT WAS TO BIG TO REPAIR AND NEEDED A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. AFTER THAT ON 11/18/20 ANOTHER PEBBLE CRACKED THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WHILE ON THE ROAD. AMONG ALL THE CARS I'VE HAD, THIS CAR HAS THE MOST FRAGILE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID
11386182
Incident
Aug 9, 2020
Mileage
15,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 22, 2020

THE WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE CRACKS EASILY AND WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO WINDSHIELDS IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO POOR GLASS QUALITY.

NHTSA ID
11384537
Incident
Dec 12, 2020
Mileage
34,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 27, 2020

THE WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK ON THE LEFT BOTTOM CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT NO EXPLAINED REASON. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE SOUND THAT LED TO THE CRACK. I HAD TO PAY $500 TO GET THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND THE EYESIGHT CALIBRATED. NOTICED THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME.

NHTSA ID
11376490
Incident
Aug 4, 2020
Visibility
Filed Nov 14, 2020

A SMALL CRACK (ROUGHLY 2 INCHES IN LENGTH) APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD ON THE BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE, WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I NOTICED IT WHILE PARKED AT A RED LIGHT, BUT IT WAS NOT THERE WHEN I HAD STARTED DRIVING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ON MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE I HADN'T BEEN HIT BY ANYTHING, IT JUST APPEARED. THE CRACK SPREAD CONSIDERABLY FURTHER BEFORE I ARRIVED AT WORK AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT THE NEXT DAY.

NHTSA ID
11374658
Incident
Nov 18, 2019
Mileage
12,000 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .