YearToAvoid

2015 Subaru Outback Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 142 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2015 Subaru Outback, 28% of its 510 total complaints for the year. Most describe windshields cracking spontaneously with no impact, at a median 10,475 miles. No related recalls are listed, and one injury was reported.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
142
28% of 510
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
10,475 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Windshields develop cracks, often 8 to 20 inches long, with no rock strike or visible impact point.
  • Cracks frequently start near the top edge where the heating element sits, sometimes on replacement windshields as well as the original.
  • Some owners report cracking within the first two to four months of ownership, occasionally on vehicles that had been parked and not driven.
  • One owner reported a moonroof shattering outward while driving on the interstate with no object striking the vehicle.
  • Repeat cracking was reported on the same vehicle after windshield replacement, in some cases a second or third time within months.

When 2015 Subaru Outback visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 11, 2014, latest Mar 26, 2026.

2015 Subaru Outback visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per quarter342014 Q42016 Q12017 Q22019 Q12020 Q32022 Q12023 Q3
142 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q1; peak 2015 Q3 (34).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2015 Subaru Outback

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Outback model year

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

  1. 20108 (2%)
  2. 201123 (4%)
  3. 20128 (3%)
  4. 201314 (5%)
  5. 201410 (5%)
  6. 2015142 (28%)
  7. 201691 (14%)
  8. 2017233 (25%)
  9. 2018272 (34%)
  10. 2019386 (37%)
  11. 2020383 (43%)
  12. 2021107 (36%)
  13. 2022280 (60%)
  14. 202319 (21%)
  15. 202422 (22%)
  16. 20256 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Visibility & Wipers complaints does NHTSA list for the 2015 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA lists 142 complaints in the Visibility & Wipers area for the 2015 Outback, which is 28% of the 510 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Subaru Outback windshield?
No related recalls are listed in the data for this problem area on the 2015 Outback.
What is the most common visibility issue owners report on the 2015 Outback?
The dominant pattern is windshields cracking with no apparent impact, often starting near the top edge heating element, at a median mileage of 10,475.
Did the windshield cracking cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 1 injury tied to this problem area for the 2015 Outback.

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.