YearToAvoid

2016 Subaru Legacy Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2016 Subaru Legacy, 12% of its 147 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 40,000. No related recalls exist for this area. Most reports describe spontaneous windshield cracking rather than wiper malfunctions.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
18
12% of 147
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
40,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Windshields develop cracks that start small and spread across the glass while the vehicle is parked and stationary, with no impact or debris found nearby.
  • Owners report windshields cracking from road debris and then having replacement windshields crack again in the same spot within weeks or months.
  • Some drivers describe a reflective glare problem where the glossy navigation screen or chrome-trimmed air vents bounce sunlight or interior light into the driver's eyes or side mirrors, blocking their view of the road.
  • Cracks are frequently noted starting near the bottom center or passenger-side edge of the windshield, sometimes near the wiper or defroster area, then extending a foot or more.

When 2016 Subaru Legacy visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 20, 2015, latest Jul 25, 2024.

2016 Subaru Legacy visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month1Dec 2015May 2017Dec 2017Aug 2019Jun 2020Jul 2021
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2015 to Jul 2024; peak Dec 2015 (1).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2016 Subaru Legacy

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Legacy model year

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

  1. 20104 (3%)
  2. 20112 (1%)
  3. 20124 (4%)
  4. 20131 (2%)
  5. 20146 (11%)
  6. 201541 (26%)
  7. 201618 (12%)
  8. 201735 (29%)
  9. 201832 (27%)
  10. 201951 (41%)
  11. 202066 (55%)
  12. 20216 (19%)
  13. 202217 (53%)
  14. 20232 (20%)
  15. 20244 (24%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Visibility & Wipers complaints does the 2016 Subaru Legacy have?
NHTSA lists 18 complaints in this area for the 2016 Legacy, which is 12% of the 147 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for windshield cracking on the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls for the Visibility & Wipers area on the 2016 Legacy.
At what mileage do windshield problems typically show up on the 2016 Legacy?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 40,000 miles.
What is the main visibility complaint on the 2016 Subaru Legacy?
Most sample complaints describe windshields cracking spontaneously or from minor road debris, with some drivers also reporting glare from glossy interior trim reflecting into their eyes or mirrors.
Did these visibility issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries tied to these 18 complaints.

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.