2016 Subaru Outback: windshield wiper failure

Filed Oct 23, 2025 · Visibility · WI

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.

Filed Feb 24, 2022 · Visibility · FL

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.

Filed Jan 10, 2022 · Visibility · 46,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Jul 13, 2021 · Visibility · MI

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

Filed Apr 9, 2021 · Visibility · 60,000 miles · KS

Windshield began cracking near the bottom (close to the windshield wipers) but there was no rock or damage to the windshield that prompted the crack. It just appeared and then has spread about 2 feet.

Filed Nov 28, 2020 · Electrical · TX

Car was purchased brand new from dealer. It rained within a couple days and discovered the wipers didn't work. Dealer fixed. Multiple times the battery has died. Dealer no help at all and blames it on battery. Replaced the battery in 2017. Still often have battery die and we always turn off the car entirely and lock it. Once it even died after my family spent all day at the beach and we were stranded.

Filed Sep 13, 2020 · Visibility · 56,210 miles · SC

We purchased a car brand new in savannah, ga and since have replaced windshield three times. It has a small crack again. All our replacements occurred against our insurance. Our coverage has increase in premiums. Previously, I never had an issue with windshield cracked on regular occurrence. Another issue - when it rains the visibility is extremely poor. Despite I buy the expensive wipers to replace them at least once in 12 months unable to adjust/increase the wiper speed for the heavy rain makes the driving extremely dangerous. Optional eyesight which was added as an option is shuts itself due to the heavy rain and is no help. Eyesight is also underperform what was promised by manufacturer. All above applies for vehicle in motion.

Filed Mar 17, 2020 · Visibility · 50,000 miles · CA

My windshield spontaneously cracked on the driver's side near the wiper blade, while driving with a factory windshield. The 6" crack from the corner almost immediately turned into a crack across the entire windshield - again no trauma or rocks. I was driving straight on a highway with no potholes or anything. I had the windshield replaced and it has again spontaneously cracked with no trauma (no rock or bug impact or other impacts/damages) on the passenger side by the wiper blade. I believe that the subaru windshield as well as the defrost system are defective. This will be my third windshield in under 3 months. Other subaru outback owners have complained about this and subaru continues to blame it on rocks. The second crack happened while my vehicle was stationary in the driveway!

Filed Oct 27, 2019 · Visibility · 45,000 miles · OH

Driving to work on the highway and the windshield just popped and cracked. Little shards of glass flew onto the dashboard. Happened under the drivers side wiper.

Filed Sep 5, 2019 · Visibility · 61,100 miles · GA

About a week a go I noticed a crack in the windshield on the passenger side. I can not attribute it to a rock our other road debris. Close inspection shows a very small chip directly under the wiper blade, which would protect the windshield from a rock etc. The crack extends vertically down under the plastic trim and up almost to the wiper blade sweep limit. This is the second windshield in my vehicle. In 2017 I thought I get hit by a rock. A large chip appeared on the drivers side and a crack immediately appeared. I paid for a repair by the dealer. It was not covered by warranty or insurance. I am now wondering if the first windshield was hit by a rock or not. Regardless, I cant believe I will be on third windshield in a vehicle I have not yet had to replace the brake pads.

Filed Feb 10, 2018 · Visibility · 19,500 miles · IL

Sudden 6" crack in windshield originating on the lower edge under the wipers. I had driven the car home for lunch and back to work at 1:15pm and the crack was not there. When I got off work at 4pm the crack was there. Drove car home and put it in the garage. The next morning at 7am the crack was approximately 12" long running at a diagonal towards the outer edge of the windshield.

Filed Sep 1, 2016 · 472 miles · FL

Have 2016 outback built on june 15,2016. Windshield cracked at 750 km. Mark. Traveling on paved road and no know stones hit windshield. Paid for through insurance company with a $300.00 deductible. Now read of all the other windshield problems. Crack started in black area just above passenger side wiper.