2018 Subaru Crosstrek Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 72about this part
- Share
- 37%of 195 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 22,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 72 complaints about the visibility of the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 37% of the 195 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 22,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car sat in my driveway for about three days without being driven. In that time, the windshield formed a crack starting at the bottom near the heat vent and going up into the main part of the windshield. There was no impact from a foreign object, the crack seemed to form spontaneously at some point during the three days I didn't drive the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11323446, filed 2020-05, 52,000 miles“A small piece of pebble hit my windshield on the highway. Normally, a small pebble should not make such a big damage, but it created such a big crack in the window. Interestingly, in my neighborhood, there is the same make/model car with the same window crack. It is very disappointing to see Subaru to have low quality windshield in their latest model.”
NHTSA complaint #11330476, filed 2020-06, 30,000 miles“A long (10-12 inch) crack in the windshield. I can only imagine that a small pepple his the windshield wihile driving on the freeway. No noticable damanage until a few days later when I noticed a long (10-12) inch crack in the windsheild near the dash (bottom of the windshield) and traveling up and to the right of the windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #11385126, filed 2020-12, 20,000 miles“1) vehicle was delivered new with rear power windows not working. 2) LED brake light stopped working at 15000 miles , noticed when I was backing up in front of glass doors. I was told by dealer wire was shorting out and entire light assembly needed to be replaced. Dealer did not stock part so I was sent off with non working brake light under warranty until they could get part.”
NHTSA complaint #11241027, filed 2019-08, 15,000 miles“With the crack covering the eyesight system, the warning signal was always flashing and causing my steering to pull to one side. Since it was doing this it was causing the car to pull to one side or bring my tires costing me an additional $800 to replace the tires balance and alignment for my Crosstrek, plus the downtime that I had to takeoff from work to get my car worked on at the Subaru dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11376640, filed 2020-11, 60,000 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 26% |
| 2024 | 22 | 18% |
| 2023 | 7 | 20% |
| 2022 | 6 | 19% |
| 2021 | 33 | 29% |
| 2020 | 34 | 48% |
| 2019 | 123 | 43% |
| 2018 | 72 | 37% |
| 2017 | 25 | 27% |
| 2016 | 6 | 5% |
| 2013 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
42 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsEngine
32 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsForward collision avoidance
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology