2021 Subaru Outback Visibility & Wipers Problems
NHTSA lists 107 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2021 Subaru Outback, 36% of all complaints for that model year. Nearly all describe spontaneous windshield cracking with a median failure mileage of 3,000. No related recall exists for this issue.
- Visibility & Wipers complaints
- 107
- 36% of 296 complaints
- All complaints this year
- 296
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 3,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report
- Windshield develops a horizontal or vertical crack from the bottom edge without any impact, often accompanied by a loud pop or crack sound.
- Cracks appear overnight while the car is parked in a driveway, sometimes within days of taking delivery.
- Owners report the same vehicle cracking a second time after windshield replacement, suggesting a recurring issue rather than isolated damage.
- Cracking occurs both during highway driving and while the vehicle sits idle or parked.
- Some owners noticed a bubble or embedded debris in the glass before a crack formed.
- Failures happen very early in ownership, with several reports between 400 and 3,600 miles.
When 2021 Subaru Outback visibility and wiper complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 23, 2020, latest Nov 26, 2024.
Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2021 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.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the 2021 Subaru Outback have a windshield cracking problem?
- NHTSA received 107 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2021 Outback, 36% of all complaints filed for that model year, and most describe the windshield cracking with no impact, often at low mileage.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Subaru Outback windshield?
- No. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this issue on the 2021 Outback.
- At what mileage does the windshield usually crack on the 2021 Outback?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 3,000 miles.
- Has the windshield cracking caused any crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and no fires or injuries linked to Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2021 Outback.
- How does 2021 compare to other Outback model years for this issue?
- The 36% share for 2021 is lower than several nearby years, including 2020 at 43% and 2022 at 60%, though 2021 still shows a substantial share of complaints in this area.