2016 Subaru Outback Visibility Problems

1.Windshield crack in the deicing area. Driving on a highway heard a loud boom as if a very big rock hit the car. 30-40 second later there was another boom of normal loudness. At this moment windshield crack has been noticed. The windshield will not be available, replacing it on 12/22/2025 2. Visibility has been affected 3. No, problem was not reproduced. Dealer representative said that the problem is not covered by Subaru. 4. Windshield was visually inspected by the dealership representative. I will try to collect more data at the windshield replacement shop. 5. There were no symptoms of the problem. N.B - the crack outside is flat, as if no rock hit happened. - I have camera's MP4, where sounds can be heard, 1GB

NHTSA ID

11706372

Incident

Dec 12, 2025

I had a rock thrown at my vehicle's windshield and required a replacement. I went to a Subaru dealership, Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha, local to me for a replacement. A day after I received my car, the windshield developed a hairline crack emanating from the bottom. I brought it back to the dealer and they replaced it again. After that time, it was a whole week and a half when I noticed a hairline crack, this time from the top working its way down. I brought it once again to the dealer for a replacement and a better explanation as to what is going on. 1.5 months later, I took my car again and was good for a little over a month, when I noticed the same hairline crack, this time from the bottom. I am up to having three windshields being installed and have no confidence in the safety and longevity of the vehicle I have. Subaru has had engineers come out to evaluate my vehicle and determined that its structural construction is not compromised and have tried to diagnose another probable cause coming from the windshield wiper heater and unplugged it. I have heard crack noises when driving at random intervals and have it noted to the dealership. no further update has been told to me as of the writing of this concern.

NHTSA ID

11695178

Incident

May 1, 2025

Media screen failure. Is available for inspection. Safety of pedestrians or other accident at risk because the screen is useless in bright sunlight. Planning to complain to dealer. No warning signal or alert when backing up when screen is unreadable. This has caused accidents x 3 for my family. Backed into another car with no warning.

NHTSA ID

11599174

Incident

Jun 25, 2024

Travelling on I-95 southbound at approx. 70 mph in the right lane at least 8-10 car lengths behind another vehicle in front of me. Clear skies, 78* F, calm weather. I heard a loud, sudden noise followed by wind and what sounded like glass on my roof, thought it was fireworks or a gunshot. Pulled over to make sure my dogs are OK (all good, just spooked!) and see what happened to the car when I observed a large hole and continued cracking noise in the sunroof - glass was pushed outwards/ convex rather than concave as if an object had struck the glass from above or in front of my vehicle. Notified insurance then carefully drove home the remaining 20 or so miles, called dealership and started researching the issue. There are nearly 40 reports of spontaneous sunroof explosions on NHTSA website for Subaru Outbacks. Dealing with Subaru Corporate and a local dealership for repairs.

NHTSA ID

11593375

Incident

Jun 9, 2024

Windshield cracked on its own, this is the 3rd time I will be replacing windshield.

NHTSA ID

11577893

Incident

Mar 14, 2024

Windshield cracks on its own. This is my 3rd time replacing windhield.

NHTSA ID

11577892

Incident

Mar 14, 2024

A crack appeared across the upper middle of the windshield. There was no event, damage, or accident involved. The crack just appeared one day. The crack runs across the windshield in the area of the rear view mirror and in front of the mounted cameras used for the collision avoidance, lane departure system.

NHTSA ID

11513564

Incident

Mar 16, 2023

Front windshield cracked all the way across. Have not replaced so it is available for inspection. The crack impairs vision. Confirmed by dealer in Macon, GA. Has not been inspected except by the service department at Subaru in Macon, GA. No warning lamps or messages.

NHTSA ID

11503406

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated she pull the window bottom for the front passenger side window to roll up automatically, she stated the window rolled shut but rolled down again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and they stated that it may be a sensor that needed to be replaced that was triggering the anti-entrapment. The contact stated she tried resetting the one-touch feature, but it did not repair the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11483626

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

Mileage

5,000 mi

Windshield cracked

NHTSA ID

11466692

Incident

May 30, 2022

Two windshields cracked in 6 years - this is a safety issue that should not happen.

NHTSA ID

11455324

Incident

Feb 18, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon defrosting the windshield and clearing it from the heavy ice that had collected on the windshield during an ice storm, he noticed that there was a 30-inch long crack at the bottom of the windshield. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair of the windshield was not covered because the VIN was not included in Technical Service Bulletin Number: 12-192-15R; however, the manufacturer provided the contact with a coupon for the repair of the windshield. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11454643

Incident

Feb 25, 2022

Mileage

78,000 mi

WENT OUT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND NOTICED A LINEAR 6 INCH CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD-IT EXPANDED FROM NEAR THE WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE UPWARD AND WITHIN 2 HOURS ANOTHER CRACK BEGAN ABOUT 5 INCHES LATERAL TO THE EVER EXPANDING FIRST CRACK WHICH IS NOW GREATER THAN 12 INCHES LONG. I CALLED DEVOE SUBARU IN NAPLES FLORIDA AND ASKED ABOUT WINDSHIELD CRACK AND REPAIR-I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR THERE 3 YEARS AGO. I WAS INFORMED THEY DO NOT REPAIR WINDSHIELDS, NEVER DID THEY MENTION THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE OUTBACK. I CONTACTED SATELLITE WINDSHIELD REPAIR AND GAVE THEM MY INSURANCE INFO AND HOPEFULLY MY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE WILL COVER THE WINDSHIELD AND THE EYESIGHT CALIBRATION.I THEN GOOGLED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A REAL AND FREQUENT ISSUE WITH THE SUBARU.

NHTSA ID

11453928

Incident

Feb 24, 2022

We have replaced about 5 windshields in this vehicle since we have owned it. The cracks form from the bottom of the windshield in the black area where a rock couldn't possibly chip the windshield. Subaru refuses to recognize this vin number as part of their class action law suit that was just settled and has refused to extend the warranty on this particular vehicle although they are covering replacement windshields for other 2016 Subaru Outbacks. They clearly recognize that there is a problem but are refusing to admit fault. You do not need to look far to find numerous complaints in forums on the internet with people describing this exact problem.

NHTSA ID

11448849

Incident

Jan 21, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while approaching the vehicle in the morning, she noticed a L-shaped crack in the windshield which originated on the passenger’s side of the windshield. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that an issue with the windshield wiper had caused the fracture. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.

NHTSA ID

11446842

Incident

Jan 3, 2022

Mileage

46,000 mi

On November 15, 2021 my car was in the garage as normal. I started my car and I heard a "pop" I was headed out my driveway is when I notice a crack at the bottom of the windshield that is about 3" high and then curves for about 4".

NHTSA ID

11445393

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

Windshield cracks easily. On my 5th windshield, just replaced 2 weeks ago and it’s cracked again. The windshield cracks easily even with minor rock chips. This is the 5th windshield on this car.

NHTSA ID

11437501

Incident

Oct 13, 2021

Windshield cracked without any cause

NHTSA ID

11436058

Incident

Oct 8, 2021

The windshield cracked without receiving any kind of impact to it. No rock chip, sudden jolt, extreme temperatures or other weather event precipitated the cracking.

NHTSA ID

11433072

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

The adjustment of the passenger side side view mirror has malfunctioned. The mirror can not be adjusted properly for visibility of cars to the side of the vehicle. Only the driver-side window is operable. All other windows fail to open from the driver side control. The passenger window will no longer operate from the passenger side either. These windows would have to be broken in order to escape the vehicle in some situations (flooding). My mechanic says that this is a common problem in 2016 Subaru Outbacks. No warning lights were activated. A mirror not able to be adjusted for optimum sighting of other vehicles is surely a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11425585

Incident

Jul 15, 2020

A small rock chip at bottom of the windshield, near the heated wiper park area, caused multiple cracks across the entire windshield. Replacement was required as visibility was impaired

NHTSA ID

11424554

Incident

Oct 17, 2017

Windshield spontaneously developed a crack; there had been no impact to the vehicle or windshield.

NHTSA ID

11417830

Incident

May 18, 2021

BATTERY IS DRAINED WHILE PARKED.

NHTSA ID

11416751

Incident

Apr 20, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN AUGUST OF 2020 WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR OUTSIDE CAUSE ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE GLASS. I HAD IT REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND IN APRIL OF 2021 THE NEW WINDSHIELD NOW HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE GLASS. BOTH TIMES THE CRACKS APPEARED OVERNIGHT WITH THE VEHICLE IN A PARKED POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11414573

Incident

Apr 30, 2021

Mileage

65,000 mi

2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. A FOUR-INCH WAVY CRACK ON THE LEFT BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD; A WEEK LATER ANOTHER CRACK OF ABOUT 6 INCHES APPEARED. THE CRACKS OCCURRED WITH THE SUBARU CAR IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11413587

Incident

Apr 16, 2021

Mileage

67,000 mi