Subaru Crosstrek visibility and wiper problems, 2016–2027
343 of the 1,130 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Subaru Crosstrek 2016–2027 name the wipers, glass and mirrors (NHTSA’s “Visibility/Wiper” heading — windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters). The loudest years: 2019 (124), 2018 (73), 2020 (34). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 recall campaign. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Subaru Crosstrek visibility and wiper problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the wipers, glass and mirrors | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 12 | 27% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 22 | 19% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 7 | 21% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 6 | 19% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 33 | 28% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 34 | 49% | 5k | — | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 124 | 44% | 12k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2018 | 73 | 38% | 22k | — | the year → |
| 2017 | 26 | 27% | 26k | — | the year → |
| 2016 | 6 | 4% | — | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the wipers, glass and mirrors. Nothing here is a rate.
When the visibility and wiper complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 45 · 2020: 115 · 2021: 64 · 2022: 48 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 27 · 2026: 8
Across the model years, half of the 210 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the visibility and wiper problem between 7,000 and 27,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the wipers, glass and mirrors, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Small rock hit windshield and the windshield had a large rock chip due to this. Seemed odd to have such a large rock chip with the small size of rock that hit
While driving at approximately 65mph on the 55 freeway south, my windshield 'popped' and developed a chip, which looks as though it was hit by a rock, but it was not. The windshield has also developed myriad imperfections, which appear as water spots, but are not removable.
Did not notice anything wrong with the front windshield yesterday and car was parked in garage overnight. Drove out this morning and noticed a roughly 6" long crack in front windshield in bottom left corner. No apparent cause for the new crack
The windshield developed 2 large cracks that hinder the visibility on both the driver and passenger side. The cracks developed over approximately 4 months while parked
Windshield cracked from a tiny rock while traveling approximately forty miles per hour on a freeway
What is on file about the wipers, glass and mirrors, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 19V404000 ModerateMay 30, 2019 · 256 vehicles
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek vehicles. The driver's side rear-door window glass may be improperly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Other systems with a record on the Subaru Crosstrek
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Subaru Crosstrek problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Subaru Crosstrek years have the most visibility and wiper complaints?
2019, 124; 2018, 73; 2020, 34. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2020 (49%).
Is there a recall for the wipers, glass and mirrors on the Subaru Crosstrek?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 19V404000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do visibility and wiper problems show up on the Subaru Crosstrek?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 14,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 7,000 and 27,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Visibility/Wiper" heading cover?
Windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.