Came out to car on the morning of July 1, 2026 and found windshield had cracked from the very bottom of the windshield (no impacts). This is the third windshield I will be putting in this car. Original windshield was replaced by Subaru 4/25 2025 for the same exact problem. 2015 &16 Outbacks had a settlement filed as did the 20-23 subarus. This is a known problem.These cracks limit visibility, interfere with all other safety systems: Lane change, cruise control, visibility, auto brake for emergency and other related safety systems. I could not go with aftermarket windshields (Safelite) because Subaru said they would not cover any malfunctions with the eyesight system unless it was Subaru glass. I have contacted my Subaru dealer and they said Subaru will more than likely not cover it. Their glass was put in by them 15 months ago and this not the result of a chip or impact. Came out in the morning and it was cracked. Go to any Subaru owners web sites and you will see this is a reoccurring, KNOWN problem for almost ALL Subaru models. How can safety items LIKE WINDSHIELDS ( which affects ALL other safety systems) not fall under NTHB?? So class action lawsuits cover the two PRIOR years and the next three model years, but not 2017?? jSame glass, same manufacturer, same know problem.
2017 Subaru Outback: windshield cracks
204 of the 921 complaints about the 2017 Subaru Outback describe windshield cracks.
- owner complaints
- 204
- of this car's complaints
- 22%
- typical repair cost reported
- $960
- typical mileage
- 36,500
- recalls
- 0
Windshield cracks by model year
What owners say
Ongoing problem with Subaru. Spontaneous windshield crack. 74 degrees, parked in shade, no chips. Came out and has the crack completely across windshield just above drivers eyeline. This is has happened to many Subaru owners and Subaru does nothing. Now I want Safelite to do repair, but Subaru will not honor any work involving eyesight navigation unless it is Subaru glass,
When I drove on the highway 90 on Oct 5th, 2024, my windshield suddenly cracked.
windshield cracked 3 years in a row found it odd that we were needed yearly new windshields on line search lead to class action law suit due to defective glass
As I was driving my car today I saw a crack suddenly appear in the windshield -- running horizontally two and half to three feet from one side to the other. It's quite a crack -- about three inches from the bottom, just above the edge of the black band. This is the third time this has happened -- although the first in this particular pattern -- and it will be the third time I have had to replace the windshield. I have always been told that it is dangerous to drive with a cracked windshield. And here in Maine it is impossible to pass the annual safety inspection with even a small crack. This is a big one. I see quite a few other Outback owners have had to deal with this issue. It would be nice if Subaru would take responsibility. But it won't.
The windshield has cracked multiple times. I replaced in with the OEM Subaru glass before learning it is a known problem, initially on 2015-16 models but now 2017 to 2020. Subaru insists on recalibration of the ADAS system which has been done, at my expense. I was informed the aftermarket W/S has a slightly thicker W/S glass with a lifetime guarantee. If the W/S is critical in rollover, and air bag deployments, this known defect should be taken seriously.
Windshield cracked for no reason. Started at the bottom beneath hood and continued to grow. This will be the 4th windshield replacement on this car.
The windshield cracked for no reason. I went out to my vehicle in the morning to find the windshield severely cracked.
As I was driving on the highway, my windshield spontaneously cracked from the base where the windshield connects with the body of the car up in front of the drivers side. The crack is about 1.5 feet in length
Yesterday the windshield began to spontaneously crack. This is the THIRD windshield in this vehicle to do this. All three windshields cracked starting in an area below the hood line, so stone chips are highly improbable. We bought this vehicle new. That windshield we replaced in 2018. Then we put another new windshield in in 2020. I believe, as I did when I filed a previous complaint in 2020, that there's a structural issue with the car that causes this undue stress.
Hello, I am making a complaint about my 2017 Subaru Outback's windshield. I am frustrated that my windshield has cracked for the second time in just over 2 years. In early October 2020, I purchased the vehicle as a used car. Three weeks later a small rock hit the windshield on the driver's side and a small chip became a large crack that spread across my vision over 1 ft long. I brought it to the Subaru dealership I purchased the vehicle from to have it replaced, which cost over $500.00 for parts and labor which included recalibration of the eyesight technology installed with the vehicle. I recently (January 2023) replaced my windshield wipers and as I was doing so the passenger side wiper arm slipped from my hand and struck the windshield and immediately formed a 5 inch crack. The wiper arm was about 3 to 4 inches away from the windshield when this happened. I cannot believe this happened at all. In both cases the cracks traveled well over a foot across the windshield within 2 days. My vehicle is equipped with eyesight technology and I have come to understand that the windshields on these vehicles are made thinner than usual to accommodate it. I believe this is a defect in their windshield manufacturing and/or design. I find it unacceptable the windshield is that fragile. Subaru vehicles are touted as very dependable, rugged and capable of off road use. My confidence in this notion is low and everytime something strikes the windshield I pray it doesn't crack. I will be spending over $1000.00 for new windshields in the 2 plus years I've owned this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the windshield was cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed, inspected, nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a “popping” or...
- This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies developed to address the...
- This Service Information bulletin provides a guideline to use for placement of required or mandated...
- EyeSight Acceptable Windshield Repair Areas
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2017 Subaru Outback windshield crack
Is windshield cracks a common problem on the 2017 Subaru Outback?
204 of 921 owner complaints about the 2017 Subaru Outback (22%) mention windshield cracks. The model year with the most reports is 2020.
How much does it cost to fix windshield cracks on the 2017 Subaru Outback?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $960 (median of 13 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2017 Subaru Outback?
There are 0 recalls and 4 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2017 Subaru Outback
Battery drain 158Won't start 62Wipers 23Sudden acceleration 15Stalling 13Sunroof shattered 12Headlights 10Adaptive cruise 9Key fob 9No deployment 8Warning lights 8Fuel gauge 7Lane assist 7Loss of power 7Check engine light 6CVT failure 6Door locks 6Jerking 6Power steering loss 6Pulling 6Collision warning 5Hesitation 5
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