Why does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have so many windshield complaints?

NHTSA lists 123 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2019 Crosstrek, 43% of all complaints filed for that year. Most describe windshields cracking or chipping spontaneously, often at low mileage.

Is there a recall for windshield or window glass on the 2019 Crosstrek?

Yes. Recall campaign 19V404000 covers improperly tempered driver-side rear-door window glass on 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.

At what mileage do windshield problems usually appear?

The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2019 Crosstrek is 12,000 miles, though several owners reported cracks appearing at much lower mileage.

Were there any injuries or crashes tied to these complaints?

NHTSA records one injury and zero crashes or fires among the 123 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2019 Crosstrek.

How does 2019 compare to other Crosstrek model years for this problem?

The 2019 Crosstrek's 43% share of complaints tied to Visibility & Wipers is higher than every other model year listed, including 2018 (37%) and 2020 (49% of a smaller total).

2019 Subaru Crosstrek Visibility & Wipers Problems

Visibility & Wipers complaints account for 123 of 284 total complaints (43%) filed on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, the highest share of any model year in this area. Most reports describe windshields cracking spontaneously at a median mileage of 12,000, with one related recall for rear-door window glass.

Visibility & Wipers complaints: 123; 43% of 284
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 12,000 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

Windshields develop spontaneous cracks or chips with no rock strike or visible impact, often starting near the defroster or wiper heating element at the base of the glass.
Cracks appear after minor temperature changes, such as warming up the car in cold weather, and spread quickly across the full windshield.
Some owners report the windshield chips or cracks easily from very small debris impacts that would not normally damage a windshield.
One owner reported a rear passenger window shattering while being rolled up at low speed, causing a minor injury.
Owners note visual distortion or spotting on the windshield that is not removable and can affect visibility in certain light.
A related recall covers improperly tempered driver-side rear-door window glass on 2019 Crosstrek models.

When 2019 Subaru Crosstrek visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 2, 2019, latest Apr 21, 2025.

123 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Apr 2025; peak Oct 2019 (12).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek

NHTSA 19V404000May 30, 2019Visibility & Wipers256 vehicles
Visibility:glass, side/rear
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The driver's side rear-door window glass may be improperly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Risk: Improperly tempered glass can shatter into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side rear-door window glass, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUG-92.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Crosstrek model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20120 (0%)
20131 (4%)
20140 (0%)
20150 (0%)
20166 (5%)
201725 (27%)
201872 (37%)
2019123 (43%)
202034 (49%)
202133 (29%)
20226 (19%)
20237 (21%)
202422 (19%)
202512 (28%)

Frequently asked questions

Why does the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek have so many windshield complaints?: NHTSA lists 123 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2019 Crosstrek, 43% of all complaints filed for that year. Most describe windshields cracking or chipping spontaneously, often at low mileage.
Is there a recall for windshield or window glass on the 2019 Crosstrek?: Yes. Recall campaign 19V404000 covers improperly tempered driver-side rear-door window glass on 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
At what mileage do windshield problems usually appear?: The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2019 Crosstrek is 12,000 miles, though several owners reported cracks appearing at much lower mileage.
Were there any injuries or crashes tied to these complaints?: NHTSA records one injury and zero crashes or fires among the 123 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2019 Crosstrek.
How does 2019 compare to other Crosstrek model years for this problem?: The 2019 Crosstrek's 43% share of complaints tied to Visibility & Wipers is higher than every other model year listed, including 2018 (37%) and 2020 (49% of a smaller total).