Window & Wiper complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 25% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 21% | — |
| 2021 | 3 | 21% | — |
| 2020 | 56 | 66% | 7,000 miles |
| 2019 | 60 | 31% | 10,000 miles |
| 2018 | 40 | 26% | 26,000 miles |
| 2017 | 25 | 20% | 32,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 7% | 5,000 miles |
| 2015 | 4 | 5% | 24,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% | 49,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% | 75,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 2% | 42,000 miles |
| 2011 | 8 | 14% | 45,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 13% | 42,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 4% | 37,000 miles |
| 2008 | 23 | 13% | 12,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% | 141,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 4% | 6,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 4% | 3,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 4% | 12,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 3% | 25,000 miles |
| 2002 | 17 | 6% | 45,000 miles |
| 2000 | 3 | 7% | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 1997 | 2 | 7% | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 1995 | 3 | 7% | 180,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have not had an accident yet. I bought this vehicle in May and recently drove it at night. This vehicle is a nighmare!!!! The LED steering responsive headlights are absolutely horrible and you cannot drive this vehicle at night using the low beams. If you are on a completely level road, you'll be ok. If you are on a road with at least a slight dip in the road, these headlights face downward in front of you about 30 yards out max. That means you cannot see anything beyond where the beam hits the road. You would have to drive with high beams on constantly and this is an absolute safety hazard to my family and other vehicles and pedestrians. This problem goes back to 2017 and has been recalled up to 2019. There is not a fix for it and why they still installed these lights till today is beyond comprehension. I literally purchased a vehicle that my wife or I cannot drive. …
Driver side mirror shaking, blurry, vibrating on new 2024 Impreza. Makes one motion sick due to vibration while driving. The driver side mirror is shaking/vibrating and blurring out license plates, took it to dealer and while they do notice some shaking while increasing speed they don't see any reason to fix it even though it mashes driving rather unsafe on highway. It is a little blurry/shakes around 20 mph and gets worse as speed goes up. When I hit 40-60 mph, it is constantly blurred or shaking.
Windshield suddenly cracked on the freeway not due to rocks or anything, and has since spread dramatically. Visibility is affected as the sun will glisten throughout driving and all of the cracks almost to the point it's shattered obstruct view and cause objects to appear the a slightly different area. Subaru has apparently known about this for years and they haven't remedied it, in addition the offer a protection plan for windshield when you buy it new, but they'll only replace 2 of them, and every subsequent windshield is subject to the same problem
Windshield cracked spontaneously at the middle base of the windshield in a perfect arch. Crack appears to be on the inside of the glass. No impacts or anything hit the windshield, no reason for this to happen. My car is parked in a garage. Called Subaru, they insist there is no recall.
Front windshield spontaneous cracking from defroster area in a "J" shape. This is the second windshield since new to do this (2021 model). Available for inspection. The first windshield was inspected and replaced by Subaru at their cost minus eyesight recalibration (ADAS). First windshield was inspected by insurance and no impact point was found and was notified to contact dealer before filing a claim with insurance. The second cracked windshield is in the same area as the first with exactly the same shape and abruptness. Cracked while car was sitting over night. Temps at 6 am were 37 degress. Temps at time of crack were 60 degrees. Car is equipped with eyesight that is affected by the crack once it grows into the eyesight camera view.
Plastic parts of side mirror melt easily by heat and sunlight. (Not only side mirror, but also other components with the same plastic parts) It bothers driver visibility and safety when driving highway. The problem was reviewed by subaru service center, and they said it is not their problems. Subaru service center said they saw few cases but they said it is customers fault. Service center said customer needs to park in the shade or safe place.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound and became aware that the windshield had cracked. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the windshield was replaced. The failure had reoccurred, and a crack appeared on the windshield in the same area. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, it was later discovered that a crack had developed on the front windshield. The crack measured approximately 10-inches and extended from the bottom of the windshield. The contact indicated that no rock or object had impacted the windshield to cause the crack. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.
Related recalls (1)
Visibility › Windshield
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle.
Remedy: Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Impreza years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2019 (60), 2020 (56), 2018 (40), 2017 (25) and 2008 (23) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 31% of all complaints for the 2019.
Is there a recall for Subaru Impreza window & wiper problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 22V-712 (windshield, Sep 22, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Impreza window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 23,000 miles; 85% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the windshield (38 mentions), followed by the sun/moon roof assembly (10).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.