2020 Subaru Outback Window & Wiper Problems

383 owners have reported windows, wipers & sunroof problems with the 2020 Subaru Outback to NHTSA — 43% of all 901 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 6,000 miles. That ranks #2 of 30 Outback model years for window & wiper complaints (a typical year has 8). No window & wiper recall has been issued for this model year.

383complaints
6ktypical miles
0related recalls
1crashes
0fires
0injuries

Which parts fail

  • Windshield
    64
  • Rearview mirrors/devices
    1
  • Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
    1

Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    20787%
  • 25k–50k
    2410%
  • 50k–75k
    52%
  • 75k–100k
    10%
  • 100k–150k
    00%
  • 150k+
    21%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the contact heard a minor ding on the windshield. The ding was a small pebble that hit the windshield which caused a crack to form from the driver's side to the passenger's side of the windshield. The crack obstructed his vision while driving. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the windshield was replaced out of pocket. Eight months later, the same failure occurred again while driving, at the exact spot on the replacement windshield. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied knowing any information about failures with windshields in similar vehicles. The contact also stated that several electrical failures had occurred in the vehicle such as the infotainment screen and eyesight system not operating as designed. …

Windshield · 2,000 miles · Oct 2020

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a pebble hit the middle of her driver's side windshield creating a crack which overtime spread horizontally across the windshield. Due to the failure, the crack would obstruct the contact's vision while driving. She then took the vehicle to a dealer where she had the windshield replaced out of pocket. A few months after the replacement, the contact experienced two separate windshield cracks within a week. Both cracks had spread horizontally across the windshield and were within inches of meeting in the middle. The contact stated that both cracks had formed after minor road debris had hit the windshield. The contact also stated that the most recent crack obstructed her vision while driving. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the issue. The windshield was not replaced. …

Windshield · 18,000 miles · Feb 2020

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while seated in the vehicle in the driveway of the residence, the front windshield cracked without impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the failure was not caused by a manufacturing defect. The windshield was replaced. The contact stated that the windshield had been replaced three times and was in the process of a fourth replacement. The contact stated that the first three windshield replacements were due to a small gravel striking the windshield. The contact stated that failures had occurred while driving, and it was very scary, she was very nervous when she heard the loud popping sound from the windshield. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 500.

Windshield · 1,000 miles · Jan 2020

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a pebble hit the bottom passenger's side of the windshield and formed a horizontal crack. Within minutes, the crack expanded to almost 3 feet. The contact was referred to the dealer by his insurance provider. Upon taking the vehicle to the dealer, the contact had the windshield replaced out of pocket. A few weeks later while driving at 45 MPH, the windshield was impacted by an object and cracked. The contact stated that the failure obstructed his vision while driving. The contact parked the vehicle after the failure and had not driven the vehicle since. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000. The VIN was not available.

Windshield · 6,000 miles · Aug 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound on the front windshield. The contact continued to drive but within an hour a crack had formed in the middle of the windshield. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer where a glass company replaced the windshield. The contact stated several months later a small stone struck the base of the front shield and a huge crack developed from the bass to the center of the windshield. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer where the windshield was previously replaced, and the windshield was replaced a second time. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

Windshield · 10,000 miles · Jul 2020

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback Premium. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact noticed the front windshield was fractured. The contact stated that the crack was in the middle of the windshield which was the same area that the previous windshield fracture had occurred. The contact stated that the front windshield had been replaced two times previously due to the same failure and this incident is the third occurrence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was due to the windshield glass being too thin. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000

39,000 miles · Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that there was a crack in the windshield. There was no impact to the windshield that could have caused the crack. The contact stated that this was the third time that the windshield cracked and needed to be replaced. The first failure occurred in a parking garage when the contact heard a loud pop and noticed there was a crack while leaving the parking garage. The second failure occurred when a rock came off another vehicle and struck the windshield. The dealer replaced the windshield twice. The dealer was not made aware of the third failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 14,501.

Windshield · 15,000 miles · Oct 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that two months after purchasing the vehicle new, the windshield cracked upon sustaining a light impact. Additionally, the contact stated that the windshield had also cracked from cold air inside the vehicle and the hot air outside the vehicle. The contact also stated that a tiny crack on the windshield would significantly expand within hours. The contact stated that the windshield had been replaced three times by the dealer, and the repair was covered by the insurance; however, the failure kept recurring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 35,500.

Windshield · 36,000 miles · Jun 2020

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, a tiny rock struck the windshield. The contact stated that later that day while the vehicle was parked, she noticed that the windshield was cracked. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not repair the windshield. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair facility and the windshield was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken back to an independent glass repair facility who replaced the windshield. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Windshield · 20,000 miles · Mar 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after coming outside to start the vehicle it was discovered that the front glass windshield had cracked. The crack was located on the passenger side of the front windshield and extended between 18 to 30 inches long. The cause of crack was not determined. The contact indicated that no object had made contact with the windshield to cause the failure. The contact also indicated that the windshield had previously been replaced for the same failure in February. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 42,000.

42,000 miles · Nov 2021

Window & Wiper complaints in other Outback years

’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’2617546363584289823814101429123327338638310728019236
Window & Wiper complaints per model year, Subaru Outback.

Frequently asked questions

How common are window & wiper problems on the 2020 Subaru Outback?

NHTSA has 383 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2020 Subaru Outback, 43% of the model year's 901 complaints. The component named most often is windshield (64 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2020 Subaru Outback window & wiper problems?

No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2020 Subaru Outback, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.

At what mileage do 2020 Subaru Outback window & wiper problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 87% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

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.