2016 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet

Windshield cracks or distorts

84owner reports
40,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Dec 21, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026

108 of the 643 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 84 of those describe windshield. Only dead battery is reported more often on this car.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

No crash reportedin 84 reports

Tick what matches of 84 reports

cracked with no impact

a crack spread from the edge

distortion or a wavy view

replaced more than once

insurance or I paid

Windshield on other Outback years

2015137 reports 201684 reports 2017229 reports 2018264 reports 2019384 reports 2020375 reports 2021105 reports 2022277 reports

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: 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

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.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (84 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 7,500 and 56,210 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Subaru Outback 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.

Service bulletin12-192-15RFeb 1, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) Quality Assurance has identified an increase in the number of cracked windshields on some 2015 and 2016MY Legacy and Outback models. SOA has now further extended the warranty to 8 years / unlimited miles.
Service bulletin12-246-18RJul 23, 2019
This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a âpoppingâ or âsnappingâ -type sound heard when opening the sunroof.
Service bulletinWEOct 26, 2015
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. WILL BE ISSUING A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO ADDRESS CRACKS OR BREAKAGE IN THE DEICER AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD ON 2015 AND EARLY PRODUCTION 2016 LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE ALL WEATHER PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED A WINDSHIELD WIPER ...
Service bulletin12-176-14ROct 16, 2015
THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A SERVICE PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF A WIND RUSHING-TYPE SOUND WHICH SEEMS TO COME FROM THE FRONT DOOR GLASS SASH AREA. CUSTOMERS MAY REPORT A CONCERN WITH ONE OR BOTH FRONT DOORS.

What owners wrote

“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.”
Filed Mar 24, 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.”
Filed Jan 24, 2023

“Two windshields cracked in 6 years - this is a safety issue that should not happen.”
Filed Mar 5, 2022

“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".”
Filed Dec 29, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 84 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