Wiper Problems of Subaru Legacy - part 1

I have the touring model with defrosters under the windshield. This is the second time I have had my windshield cracked vertically in a year. Both scenarios include a cold snap to about 20 degrees. First one broke in the parking lot after warming up the car (windshield heat and defrosters on) this time was a similar case. Warmed up my car, started driving, and two min later heard a pop and saw the windshield split at the same spot,(windshield defroster element). So basically when it gets cold I can’t use advertised features without causing damage to my car.

See all problems of the 2022 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

The windshield is extremely fragile, I have under 3,000 miles and already 4 rock chips on the windshield. This is all from highways and paved roads, no gravel or dirt roads have been driven on. The rock chips have happened on different occasions and never was their a loud bang from a large rock which makes me think small rocks are causing the damage. Rock chips lead to cracks that will impair visibility without costly repairs.

See all problems of the 2024 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Under Subaru campaign wqk47, which supersedes an earlier campaign, 05-09 Legacy/outback and other models are known to undergo accelerated brake line corrosion due to sub-par materials and design. Subaru of America's "fix" for this issue is to inspect the lines: if the lines are compromised, they replace them. If the lines are corroded but not yet compromised, the lines are coated with an anti-corrosion wax. This wax washes off the car and is ineffective. Subaru performed this recall work insufficiently on my vehicle, failing to identify the severity of the corrosion. They coated the lines, called it "fixed", and the brake lines later ruptured under normal driving conditions. This caused a highway near-miss at speed that could have impacted everyone on the road. Multiple Subaru dealerships in connecticut have refused to re-inspect and repair the vehicle under the recall campaign, despite it being a known critical safety concern, and despite knowledge that the original parts and anti-corrosion application are sub-par. They insist that because the ineffective recall campaign was already "completed", they bear no further responsibility for the design compromises and sub-par materials that are the root cause of this issue. Additionally: under Subaru bulletin 12-197-16r the dashboard of 05-09 Subaru Legacy/outback models is known to become sticky and melt. While this might initially be considered a cosmetic issue, the melted surface is dramatically reflective. The hump over the gauge cluster melts first, causing a huge, intense sun glare reflection in the windscreen directly ahead of the driver. I own two 05-09 Subaru legacies; this issue is present in both. Subaru of America has rejected my replacement claims on both cars because the cutoff date for their open recall has expired. This is a major and constantly worsening safety issue that severely limits driver visibility. Because it developed slowly, it was not a safety concern until after closure of the recall.

See all problems of the 2009 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

My windshield cracked when I wasn’t even driving, it cracked all the way up almost to the top of the windshield. I have heard of other Subaru owners having this same issue with the windshield cracking easily. This should not have cracked like this. It is cheaply made obviously and unsafe.

I went to the store with an intact and unblemished windshield. After returning to the vehicle, a crack in the passenger side of the windshield appeared with no chip or damage visible. After only a day, this cracked had tripled in length with weekly crackling sounds. This is a known issue with Subarus and the manufacturer is trying to be selective with repairs. My vehicle has the eyesight system and will cost me $1100. 00 to repair because it's $700. 00 to calibrate the system after glass repair. .

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

We had to replace the car’s original windshield due to a stone hitting it on the highway- just bad luck and something that happens from time to time. Since then, we’ve had two replacement windshields spontaneously crack without any impacts in the span of 3 weeks. Subaru has a major problem. These windshields are not supposed to be disposable, and no one has time or money enough to replace windshields on a weekly basis. There is clearly a defect in the windshields, their mounting, or something that needs to be corrected. This represents a major safety issue for drivers.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Front windshield cracks easily. Vehicle is only 7 months old and the front windshield has been cracked four separate times due to small rock impact. I just had the windshield replaced with a new Subaru oem front windshield and three days later it was hit by a small pebble and cracked again.

I have had two spontaneous window cracks within 6 to 9 months apart. I had a full windshield replacement and the windshield has just cracked again. The second incident, the vehicle was parked overnight so it wasn't caused by a rock or from following a car.

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

In April 2024 a small rock hit my windshield and it immediately cracked. I’ve had rocks hit the windshield on other vehicles but usually nothing is visible or worse case it was a chip. The 3-4 inch crack grew to over a foot by the next day. I had it repaired at safelite and had to pay the $500 deductible. The cost was even greater due to the need to recalibrate the safety cameras. My son just had a similar experience yesterday with his 2021 Subaru Legacy. From researching this, it appears this is a too common occurrence with Subarus.

On 3/1/24, I had my original windshield replaced with Subaru dealership due to a crack. I paid out of pocket. On 4/21/24, the windshield cracked again for no reason. I don't recall anything hitting it. I took it to the Subaru dealership on 4/22/24, and they took no responsibility even though it was still under warranty. They claimed it was due to something hitting the windshield, but they did replace it for free because we were "loyal customers". On 4/30/24, it developed a substantial crack again. I remember some small pebble hitting the windshield but not hard enough to cause it to crack. I was done with Subaru so I took it to safelite to get it replaced on 5/10/24. Again paying out of pocket. This is my third windshield replacement in less than two months. I feel that the Subaru brand windshield is defective. It cracks easily for no reason. I've never had this happen so frequently with any of my other cars I've owned.

In 2022, a piece of small gravel fell off the back of a dump truck, bounced off the road, and struck the windshield of my 2022 Subaru Legacy. Based on past experience with other vehicles, this should have resulted in a round or star-shaped crack to the glass but this caused cracks that continue to grow and branch off. In 2024, I replaced the windshield at flow Subaru in charlottesville, va at a cost of over $1000 and within 3-4 weeks there was a linear crack halfway across the windshield directly in front of the driver's seat, which somewhat interferes with the driver's view. Online research suggests this is a known problem with Subaru cars with their "eyesight" system. Supposedly, Subaru has settled class-action lawsuits related to their windshields cracking. This is a safety hazard from the standpoint of driver's vision and windshield integrity. These windshields are fragile and inherently defective.

Vehicles windshield appears to be defective. Small rock hit windshield I. 2/18, got replaced immediately after for around 1000 dollars. Not even three weeks later on 3/14 a semi kick up a rock and my windshield has a crack that can not be patched up, it has to be repaired. I went immediately to safelite after second rock hit and it had spread so much that it had to be replaced.

Mar 2024: 2018 Subaru Legacy, 36,000-miles. (1) front windshield had crack in it randomly one day. Coming up from bottom heating element. Easily able to find similar crack shape online. Find lots of windshield crack issues online for Subarus. Zero action from Subaru on this. (2) broke again 11 months later [Feb 2025] in similar fashion, randomly one day.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Unknown. A very small pebble flew up from the road onto the lower passenger's side windshield, creating a small chip, approximately 2 mm, in the glass. Within 10 minutes, the glass started to hairline crack leftward by about 4 inches. I parked the car and checked a few hours later, and the crack was deeper and over a foot in length. It continued to grow with the car was parked, and was about 18 inches when I left work several hours later. I marked the end point of the crack on the inside glass when I arrived home to see if the crack would stabilize in size. The car was parked overnight and the crack has continued to grow in length and appears deeper this morning. What should have been a small chip, that would have been easy to repair, has become a major crack in the glass, one that continues to grow and is obscuring visibility as a result. My cost estimate to replace the windshield is over $1,000. It's my opinion the glass is as weak in my model car as in other Subarus that have this known glass issue where the repairs were covered under warranty.

Highway travel , approximately 70 mph , small object struck windshield and cracked it . Cracked far too easily . Less than 3000 miles on vehicle.

The windshield immediately chips and cracks upon any rock/pebble impact. My safety is affected because the cracks spread into my line of sight. This has happened 3 times on my car on three different windshields in 2 years, unknown if it’s been inspected by manufacturers.

This past Sunday evening, I drove to the convenience store 4 blocks away. As I returned, I noticed a crack in the windshield starting in the middle from the left edge and was about 12 inches long. No gravel marks were found, it had cracked for no apparent reason. Sitting the next night in the garage, the crack increased about 6 more inches by the next morning. Filed claim with my insurance and was subsequently replaced by safelite here in knoxville TN. This cost me $100 out of pocket and no telling how much my insurance had paid. I just found the class action today.

Accorn fell on windshield. At 14,000 miles windshield cracked. Was driving approximately 35mph.

See all problems of the 2023 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Vehicle windshield developed a crack unknown reasons. Crack developed at the very bottom of the windshield below the trim. Nothing has impacted the windshield whatsoever.

The windshield of my vehicle randomly cracked from the driver’s side at the base of the windshield to about halfway across. Nothing hit the windshield whatsoever. I just heard a low sounding pop and discovered the crack.

After a small pebble hit my windshield, an extremely large crack appeared and grew within moments of the impact. It has spiderwebbed all over the windshield and obstructed the vehicle's eyesight cameras. A second impact within a few days has done the same right in front of the driver's seat. The spiderwebbing of the cracks was near immediate and grew faster than 3 inches per minute.

Windshield cracked for no reason . There has been nothing that has hit the windshield or any kind of puck or impact mark of it being hit . Car was in the garage overnight and in the morning , there’s a big crack in the windshield. The crack starts at the bottom where the heating grids are and then worked its way up the windshield . This can cause visibility issues . Also have seen this has been an issues with previous years and models .

Horizontal stress crack on lower middle section of windshield. There has been a recall due to stress cracks on prior years, but no recall yet for the 2022 Subaru Legacy. I got in my car to go to work one morning and there was a crack in the windshield.

2020 Subaru Legacy touring xt - windshield cracked for no apparent reason. No stone or rock chips visible. Had same issue on previously owned 2015 Subaru Legacy. The crack starts at the base of the passenger side where heat strips are located to keep the wiper blades from freezing. The cracked windshield may cause the Subaru eyesight safety system to malfunction, putting all passengers at risk for a potential accident. I had it inspected at a Subaru dealership. The service technician confirmed that this was a know problem. He suggested I call Subaru of America for assistance. I'm still within the 3 year warranty period but windshields are not covered. He said Subaru dealerships do not repair windshields. They will engage a 3rd party repair shop if needed. My vehicle is included in a pending class action lawsuit against Subaru for this issue. Safelite autoglass estimated my windshield replacement at $1,035. 00 (without insurance).

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. May cause the Subaru eyesight safety system to malfunction. Crack started at the bottom of passenger side windshield where the heat strips are located for wiper blades not to freeze.

My Legacy had been parked for 2 days in above freezing conditions 40-60 degrees. When I had parked the vehicle there was no cracks on my front windshield, however, when I got into the vehicle today I noticed a large crack starting from my a pillar about 1/2 way up to about 1-2 feet long extending towards the middle of my windshield. The crack has no chips or impact marks, based upon other complaints this is a common issue, I have contacted Subaru and have an appointment to take the vehicle into the dealer for an inspection and we will see their response hopefully soon.

A crack in the windshield appeared that was spontaneous - there was no impact to cause this crack. It started in the lower half of the passenger side and quickly proceeded across the windshield in an s figure. It is exactly like other spontaneous Subaru windshield cracks that I have seen online. My car has only 8700 miles on it but it is not covered by warranty.

A crack appeared in the windshield overnight while parked in the driveway with no sign of impact or other causes. This seems to be an ongoing problem with Subaru since they changed to acoustic glass for their windshields.

Windshield spontaneously cracked at top. I came outside in the morning after a temperature fluctuation and there was a crack at the top with one piece of the glass sitting lower… it has since grown. I have been forced to drive with the crack as Subaru will do anything to not honor a warranty, ever. The eyesight I am learning is necessary for the vehicle to avoid front end collisions and to properly deploy the airbag. The crack started in November, it’s almost August, and I cannot get it replaced under the warranty I paid. I see many people have the same problem. You can even see where the windshield cracked where an ipass was mounted from a temperature change. The wipers also cannot keep up with moderate rain, causing rain blindness in moderate precipitation and the lightest rain will turn off the eyesight causing a malfunction that will not assist in avoiding a collision. In addition, I will be complaining with the cftc for the warranty issues. I cannot even get records of my warranty or service. Example: window regulator was a problem off the log, and salesman used it as an example, service won’t repair. I regret buying a Subaru, they claim to be safe and reliable with great service, I am only having problems that affect the safe operation of the vehicle and I paid all this extra for full bumper to bumper and they tell me that it doesn’t exist. In addition, that vehicle claims to get close to 30mpg, I am being completely honest when I say I had about the same mileage in a 1995 Cadillac deville, and the mileage I got in a 2009 BMW twin-turbo far exceeded the mpg. I tried to get it repaired today under warranty. I was yelled at that it was an impact, and I wish I knew… would have said, “is it more likely that I’m lying or the company that’s been successfully sued 4 times for this exact problem is at fault?” perhaps there was a light impact in the months after it broke parked in a unheated garage.

The front window delamined on the edge and per the Subaru glass expert it started on the edge, and now covers the window. Subaru is denying the claim.

On 17jul2022 a long crack appeared in the windshield(front). This can be dangerous as the windshield can break and impact my safety in the car as well as the safety of others around the car.

My windshield cracked when I used the washer fluid. It cracked from the bottom where the VIN number is and continued across the windshield. I went to the Subaru dealer in portage indiana, to have it fixed under the extended warranty I received from Subaru for faulty windshields the dealer told me that it cracked in the wrong spot, and would not be covered. The dealer agreed that the windshield crack was not from any type of impact.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Legacy 🔎.

Front windshield has broken last year without any sign of impact. This year front windshield has broken after very light impact. Front windshield is very weak and is not reliable even after replacement.

I used my windshield washer fluid to wash my windshield and a crack appeared from the bottom driver side of my windshield. I took the car to a Subaru dealership to have the windshield replaced under the Subaru extended windshield warranty program since there was no impact. My claim was denied because the crack was too far towards the driver side of the car.

Driving on the highway all of a sudden my windshield cracked. It was due to stress nothing hit the window.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Legacy 🔎.