2021 Subaru Outback · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 105owner reports
- 3,600median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Oct 2, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
112 of the 296 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 105 of those describe windshield, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Outback.
Tick what matches of 105 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 (105 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,000 and 9,200 miles, from the 34 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 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.
What owners wrote
“Windshield spontaneously cracked on passenger side at eye level after 5 months, 5,700 miles”
Filed Oct 24, 2021 · 5,700 miles
“After less than 3,000 miles and 6 months, the windshield spontaneously cracked from about 1/3 the way up the driver-side post horizontally about 12â toward the center of the car, then up vertically about 10â and then horizontally about 24â further toward the center of the car. This was reported to Subaru of America with Case # 1-73126830225 on 2021-08-18.”
Filed Aug 24, 2021 · 3,000 miles
“While driving on residential street, I heard a pop and saw my windshield crack. My speed at the time of this incident was 30mph. There was no impact with a foreign object. Crack is in front of the Eyesight camera and is affecting the functionality of vehicle's safety features. This is a 2021 Outback with approximately 3200 miles.”
Filed Jul 29, 2021 · 3,200 miles
“The windshield cracked shortly after purchase. We had the windshield replaced and within 4 months the windshield is now chipped in three places. This is a safety issue because a cracked windshield impairs visibility while driving.”
Filed Jul 19, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 105 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 43 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 27 reports