Vehicle is exhibiting signs of a possible design defect which causes windshields to prematurely crack, break, or shatter. My vehicle is a 22 Subaru Outback that when bought new, in the first week of ownership developed a windshield crack that the dealer ship refused to replace under warranty. We worked a deal out and were responsible for a percentage of the repair on our part, and they replaced the windshield. The 2nd Windshield cracked after a few months, no visible impact this incident either. We had it replaced, and this would be our 3rd windshield (we tried another brand of glass called FUYAO). Now this 3rd windshield suddenly cracked again, without a sign of impact. vehicle has about 38,000 miles and considering the driving conditions and care the vehicle experiences, i believe it to be some sort of design defect which will crack any new windshield within several months.
2022 Subaru Outback visibility problems
280 complaints (60% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 7,000.
- owner complaints
- 280
- of this car's complaints
- 60%
- typical mileage
- 7,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Windshield22
- Power window devices and controls1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Subaru Outback visibility problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2022 Subaru Outback visibility
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Visibility: windshield
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
- Risk
- An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-22.
Recall number 22V712000 · Recall details
What 2022 Subaru Outback owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was driving and I heard a crack on my windshield.
This car has had 3-5 windshield replacements since 2022. I bought the car new. It (a) cracks for no reason or (b) cracks if a tiny pebble size rock taps the windshield. Additionally, I took the car in to get an alignment as the steering wheel is pulling left. Guy tells me driver front strut is defective / blown / poorly mounted and that he has seen this issue with a lot of Subaru’s. Also that they are aware of the problem and replacing the struts in the 24 and 25’s. Also, I already had to replace the starter, as the started went out after having the car for 2.5 years. Subaru seems to be selling lemons and I hope to be getting rid of mine soon.
Windshield spontaneously cracked while parked in driveway. Have nest cam footage of crack.
A crack on my windshield has appeared overnight out of nowhere, with no indication of impact or external damage. The car was parked in a private driveway facing the house, not the road. It started from the bottom edge of the windshield under the cowling and has made its way to the center of the windshield, and has since spidered out, moving both east & west on the windshield. I took the 2022 Outback Wilderness to Hania Subaru in Orange Park, Jacksonville, FL, where they said the extended warranty would not cover the replacement because it only covers cracks that start on the east or west sides of the windshield. Hania Subaru sent photos to Subaru of America stating that they would not replace the glass. SOA said they would donate a $1000 gift towards the replacement of the windshield only if it was replaced through a Subaru dealership, which Subaru Hania quoted $2067.61, which is $900 more than the going rate in the area, so with the $1000 gift from SOA, I would be paying more than the average for a windshield replacement despite the "gifted $1000" from SOA and they would be using the same glass manufacturer that the original faulty cracked glass came from. SOA said they would only gift me the amount for the glass replacement if I used a Subaru dealership and not a 3rd party company, and when I asked why the dealerships charged double what the average cost was, they said that the service Subaru offers is superior despite there being no warranty on the new glass or service. When I called Subaru of Hania and Subaru of Jacksonville about glass replacement, they both said they do not offer glass replacement in-house, but they outsource to a 3rd party company called Ameri Pro, which is the glass dealership that Subaru uses as stock. Ameri Pro handles the full job and would charge me $1452 to include the "Subaru" stamp on the glass and stamped parts, or they would charge me $764.38 for all the same parts, excluding the Subaru stamp. This issue goes even deeper.
I have an 2022 Outback that has 29000 miles and have had 2 windshield replacements. And now on my third, from rock chips. I bought the extended warranty and they are denying my claim. I can’t imagine what the lifetime costs will be for this vehicle. They have offered an extended warranty because of the problem and are not honoring that either.
I bought my car in 2023 and it has less than 30,000 miles on it. Since purchase, I have had to replace the windshield THREE TIMES for massive cracks. Insurance does not cover the full cost. Nothing has hit the windshield as far as I know, but it keeps cracking. I have never had this issue with any other car.
Windshield requires replacement with slightest rock hit to it- (2) replacements in first six months of car ownership
I was outraged that my 2022 Subaru Outback on July 4, 2025 while the vehicle was parked and stationary in a secured garage, I discovered a significant crack across the windshield. There was no evidence of external impact or vandalism, indicating a likely **manufacturing defect or structural flaw** in the glass. This defect raises serious safety concerns and falls within Subaru’s responsibility under the vehicle’s warranty and applicable consumer protection laws.
The front windshield spontaneously cracked during use of windshield wipers. Resulted in multiple cracks from top center of windshield.
Questions about the 2022 Subaru Outback visibility
Does the 2022 Subaru Outback have visibility problems?
Owners have filed 280 complaints about the visibility of the 2022 Subaru Outback, 60% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2022 Subaru Outback visibility problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 7,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2022 Subaru Outback visibility?
Yes, 1 recall: 22V712000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Subaru Outback have the most visibility problems?
The Subaru Outback model years with the most visibility complaints are 2019 (387 complaints), 2020 (383 complaints) and 2022 (280 complaints).
Other 2022 Subaru Outback problems
Electrical 54Driver assistance 27Engine 24Transmission 18Brakes 11Airbags 7Body 7Fuel system 6Acceleration 4Steering 4Lights 3Seat belts 3Suspension 3Locks 1Seats 1Tires 1
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