YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru Impreza Visibility & Wipers Problems

Visibility & Wipers issues account for 40 of 151 complaints (26%) on the 2018 Subaru Impreza, mostly windshield cracking reported at a median 25,250 miles. NHTSA lists no related recall for this problem area on this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
40
26% of 151
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
25,250 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Windshield develops a spontaneous crack or spider-web pattern with no known impact, often noticed after the car sat parked overnight.
  • Small stone or debris strikes cause a chip that rapidly spreads into a large crack within a day or two.
  • Cracking recurs even after dealer replacement, with a second replacement windshield cracking the same way.
  • Cracks appear near the base of the windshield under the plastic trim or extend from the edge toward the center.
  • Some owners report chips developing across the glass with no apparent cause even at lower mileage.
  • Cracking sometimes follows use of the wiper/washer fluid function shortly after starting the car.

When 2018 Subaru Impreza visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 5, 2018, latest Sep 19, 2026.

2018 Subaru Impreza visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2018Feb 2020Jul 2020Nov 2020Apr 2021Jan 2022Oct 2022Jun 2023
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2018 (2).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2018 Subaru Impreza

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Impreza model year

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

  1. 20106 (13%)
  2. 20118 (14%)
  3. 20125 (2%)
  4. 20133 (1%)
  5. 20141 (1%)
  6. 20154 (5%)
  7. 20165 (7%)
  8. 201725 (20%)
  9. 201840 (26%)
  10. 201960 (31%)
  11. 202056 (66%)
  12. 20213 (21%)
  13. 20223 (23%)
  14. 20230 (0%)
  15. 20248 (25%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are windshield and wiper complaints on the 2018 Subaru Impreza?
NHTSA lists 40 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2018 Impreza, which is 26% of the 151 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Subaru Impreza windshield?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this problem area for the 2018 Impreza.
At what mileage do windshield problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2018 Impreza is 25,250 miles, though several owners reported cracks appearing much earlier.
Did these windshield issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries linked to the 40 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2018 Impreza.
How does 2018 compare to other Impreza model years for this issue?
The 2018 Impreza's 26% share is higher than most earlier years like 2012-2016, but lower than 2019 (31%) and well below 2020 (66%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.