2017 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 229owner reports
- 37,000median miles
- $788median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Dec 10, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
255 of the 917 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 229 of those describe windshield. Only dead battery is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 229 reports
Windshield on other Outback 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: 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.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (229 reports) and the camera recalibration (9 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
19 of the 229 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 22,500 and 56,000 miles, from the 168 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 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.
This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosing and repairing customer concerns of a âpoppingâ or âsnappingâ -type sound heard when opening the sunroof.
This Service Information bulletin provides a guideline to use for placement of required or mandated windshield stickers (inside and / or outside) on vehicles equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and High Beam Assist (HBA) features.
What owners wrote
“Driving on highway, noticed a chip on windshield, has run approx 12" since then. In 35 years of driving, I have not experienced a windshield crack run like this.”
Filed Dec 20, 2021
“My battery has died seven times. I have received three battery replacements. Never a full solution. Windshield wipers never work properly either, despite changing brands.”
Filed Dec 14, 2021
“Windshield just started cracking across from drivers side to center. Windshield would craxk further just sitting in garage overnight. Looks like a river running across Windshield. No apparent rock or chips as cause.”
Filed Sep 28, 2021
“The windshield cracked while driving on the freeway in the winter. I had been driving for approximately half an hour when the front windshield cracked from the rearview mirror location downward. I didn't notice a rock or other object hitting the windshield that would have initiated the crack. The crack has continued to spread since then and is to the point where I am having to replace my windshield.”
Filed Sep 18, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 229 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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 336 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 44 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 43 reports