2020 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 375owner reports
- 6,800median miles
- $979median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report May 8, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
400 of the 899 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 375 of those describe windshield, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Outback.
Tick what matches of 375 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 (374 reports) and the camera recalibration (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
14 of the 375 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,200 and 15,000 miles, from the 235 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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 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 availability of new front door window regulator assemblies 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.
What owners wrote
“Windshield developed excessive pitting at 16,500 miles with little highway driving. When driving into any light source there are thousands of tiny pits that light up across the entire windshield. Needed to get it replaced because of the distraction.”
Filed Jan 24, 2023 · 16,500 miles
“Drove vehicle over a small bump in the road while driving less than 5 mph and a crack appeared on right center edge of windshield of approximately 3 inches ... Within 15 minutes the crack extended to across almost half the windshield. Vehicle has 11500 miles. When we notified Subaru, they stated it would not be covered under warranty.”
Filed Sep 27, 2021 · 11,500 miles
“2020 Subaru Outback purchased in January 2020 has had to have windshield replaced twice. I have owned dozens of vehicles and never had to replace a windshield more than once even on vehicles I owned for 10 - 15 years. The windshields clearly are defective as evidenced by the many complaints regarding windshields for multiple Subaru models over several years.”
Filed Jul 1, 2021
“Windshield cracked without any incident. The crack is approximately 12 inches long and located on the drivers side of the vehicle. With no incident causing this crack, I am concerned that this crack may cause severe injuries and is an obvious safety concern.”
Filed Jun 28, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 375 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