2020 Subaru Ascent · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 60owner reports
- 8,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Nov 14, 2024 · checked Oct 2, 2026
68 of the 322 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 60 of those describe windshield. Only dead battery is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 60 reports
Windshield on other Ascent years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021.
What this problem usually is
Many windshield complaints are about cracks owners can't explain: a line that starts at the edge of the glass, or a small chip that spreads. Nearly one in five of these complaints mentions it happening again or a second windshield.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (60 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,340 and 14,000 miles, from the 41 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Subaru Ascent that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This bulletin announces availability of new door window regulator assemblies and door glass run channel seals in response to limited concerns of erratic operation of the anti-entrapment feature and / or the door glass either not closing or closing very slowly.
This announcement is in regard to settlement in a class action lawsuit for vehicles that will receive a limited warranty extension for original equipment Subaru windshields experiencing a qualifying crack.
This bulletin announces the design change made to the rear gate glass, it is intended to address cases of rust build up along the edge of the rear gate opening of the rear quarter panel.
What owners wrote
“Front windshield has cracked for a second time. The initial windshield purchased with the vehicle cracked, and was replaced in 2020. The second windshield has now cracked, and is pending repair.”
Filed Dec 13, 2022
“We've had this car for a little over 2 years and have had 3 cracked windshields, seems like anything that hits it causes a crack. I've been driving for over 45 years and multiple cars and have had cracked windshields 2 or 3 times. This doesn't make any sense. Thank you.”
Filed Oct 25, 2022
“While parked, I adjusted the rear view mirror to my driving position. I heard a cracking noise and saw a crack go about three inches down from the rear view mirror on the windshield. Over night it spread from the mirror all the way down to the base of the windshield. I inspected the windshield for impact damage and found none.”
Filed Oct 10, 2022
“The windshield cracked on its own at the top of the windshield in the middle of the sights.”
Filed Feb 9, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 60 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Battery dies or the car will not start 90 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports