2020 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 600 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 26 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
252 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON (I.E. WE DID NOT WITNESS ANY PEBBLES, ROCKS OR OTHER DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD)
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 4, 2021
ON 12/25/20 WE FOUND A CRACK ON OUR WINDSHIELD FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WE ARE CURRENTLY VACATIONING IN WESTERN NC AND THE WEATHER HAS BEEN VERY COLD. WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND NO OBJECT HAS HIT THE VEHICLE. WE WERE REASSURED BY THE SUBARU DEALER IT WAS NOT DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. WE CALLED OUR AAA AUTO INSURANCE TO SCHEDULE A REPLACEMENT/RECALIBRATION AT NO COST. CLAIM # CLM00560639. WE ALSO NOTIFIED TRONCALLI SUBARU IN CUMMING, GA FOR REPAIRS THEY ARE CHARGING >$1100. THE NEAREST SAFELITE AUTO GLASS IS 2.5 HRS AWAY IN UNION CITY, GA. WE HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT ON 1/8/21. WE ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD AND ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. WE DID NOT EXPECT THE GLASS TO CRACK ON ITS OWN. AS OF TODAY 1/3/21 THE CRACK HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. THE SUBARU WAS PURCHASED ON 3/13/2020 AT DON MEALEY SPORT AT ORLANDO, FLA. WE WOULD APPRECIATE A QUICK RESPONSE TO OUR CLAIM.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 3, 2021
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, I EXITING MY WORK AND GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY THERE. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME, AFTER PARKING IN THE GARAGE THE WINDSHIELD THEN BEGAN TO CRACK AND SPIDER OUT
Visibility/wiper, Jan 2, 2021
BETWEEN THE TIME AT WHICH I PARKED MY VEHICLE (WITH A FULLY INTACT, UN-CHIPPED WINDSHIELD) IN THE SMALL, PRIVATE PARKING LOT AT MY RURAL PLACE OF WORK, APPROXIMATELY 9:00AM EST ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, AND THE TIME AT WHICH I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER AT 10:45AM EST ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, A LARGE CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK'S LENGTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 8.5 INCHES IN WIDTH, BEGINNING ON THE EDGE OF THE GLASS APPROXIMATELY 12" FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CONTINUING LATERALLY. THE VEHICLE, WHICH I PURCHASED LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY FORMING, IS BRAND NEW AND HAS JUST UNDER 6,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO BEEN THE SOLE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW, AND CAN ATTEST THAT NO ROCKS OR PEBBLES HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 2, 2021
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING NEXT TO AN RV ON THE FREEWAY. RV KICKED UP SMALL DEBRIS ONTO WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD IMMEDIATELY HAD ABOUT 16 INCH CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 1, 2021
2020 FORESTER WITH 2800 MILES ON ODOMETER. STARTED CAR IN 26 DEGREE WEATHER AND SAW A CRACK APPEAR ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHICH THEN CREPT ACROSS HORIZONTALLY TO A LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES AS THE VEHICLE WARMED UP WITH DEFROSTER ON. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURPOSELY PURCHASED FOR IT'S VISIBILITY AND ELECTRONIC VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES (EYESIGHT). A WINDSHIELD THAT CRACKS SEEMINGLY ON IT'S OWN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS THE FUNCTIONALITY, SAFETY AND THE MANUFACTURER'S STATED VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 25, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKS EASILY ON A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2020
I'VE HAD MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER FOR UNDER 3 MONTHS AND I'VE PUT LESS THAN 900 MILES ON IT, AND YET I'VE SOMEHOW STILL HIT 3 SMALL ROCKS RESULTING IN 3 CHIPS TO THE WINDSHIELD IMPACTING VISIBILITY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SAFELITE FILLED THE CHIPS BUT THEY ARE STILL VISIBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RESULT OF THE ACOUSTIC GLASS BEING MORE FRAGILE OR PRONE TO CHIPS AND CRACKS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 17, 2020
DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON TEXAS STATE ROUTE 249 VERY SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM BOTTOM NEAR CENTER CREATING A STAR LESS THAN 1/4 INCH DIAMETER WITH NO DEPTH. EYESIGHT SYSTEM STILL WORKING. NEXT MORNING AFTER BEING IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT, FOUND A CRACK 14 INCH LONG HAD EXTENDED FROM IMPACT. WILL BE REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AT A SUBARU QUALIFIED GLASS REPAIR FACILITY.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 12, 2020
WE HAVE HAD OUR 2020 FORESTER FOR 5 MONTHS. COMING HOME FROM A DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, WE NOTICED A TINY CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN WE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WHERE A TINY CRACK DEVELOPS FROM A ROCK OR OTHER SMALL DEBRIS AND THEN WITHIN A DAY OR TWO THERE IS A TWO TO THREE FOOT CRACK ACROSS THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE DRIVEN OTHER VEHICLES FOR YEARS WITHOUT A TINY PIECE OF DEBRIS CAUSING SO MUCH DAMAGE. THERE IS CLEARLY A FLAW IN HOW THE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEVELOPED (PROBABLY TO SELL THEIR EXPENSIVE WINDSHIELD WARRANTY PLANS). AS THERE IS A POINT OF IMPACT I'M SURE IT WON'T BE COVERED BY ANY OF OUR MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES. THE WHOLE ISSUE THOUGH IS THE LACK OF VISIBLE DEBRIS DURING OUR DRIVE--LITERALLY IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN SOMETHING SMALLER THAN A PEA. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT SUCH A SMALL IMPACT WOULD CAUSE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. AGAIN, WE HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH DEBRIS WITH OTHER BRANDS IN THE PAST, AND A SMALL IMPACT DID NOT CRACK THE WINDSHIELD AT ALL. WE DID NOT NOTICE THE CRACK UNTIL WE GOT HOME, BUT IT LIKELY OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION. WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY, BUT NOT A HIGH MPH STRETCH. WE WERE ONLY COMING BACK FROM A COUPLE MILES AWAY FROM OUR HOME, WHERE THE VEHICLE SITS IN THE GARAGE 100% OF THE TIME IT IS NOT BEING DRIVEN.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2020
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITHIN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AND AN OBJECT WE COULD NOT IDENTIFY HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON A SUNDAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL ROCK, BUT TWO DAYS LATER ON TUESDAY WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT CRACK THAT DEVELOPED FROM A SMALL CHIP. I LATER LEARNED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT SUBARU HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2020
MY CAR DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CRACK WASN'T THERE IN THE NIGHT, AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN LOCALLY FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS TO GO TO WORK AND BACK. I AM GENERALLY KNOWN TO MY FRIENDS AS ONE OF THE SAFEST DRIVERS AROUND AND I TRY TO DRIVE AS DEFENSIVELY AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT RECALL ANY DEBRIS OR STONES HITTING MY CAR. THE CRACK IS BIG AND IT CANNOT BE MASKED BY OTHER MEASURES. I DID NOT EXPECT A CAR WHICH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING JUST FOR 2 MONTHS TO DEVELOP SUCH AN ISSUE. ON THE CONTRARY I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 SINCE PAST 5 YEARS BUT NEVER DID I HAVE A SIMILAR DAMAGE LIKE IN 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE SAFETY PRACTICES OF THIS COMPANY. THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR IS INCOMMUNICADO. I HOPE SOMEONE PICKS THIS UP AND HELPS ME FOOT THE BILL WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE MY INSURANCE RATE AND TAKE A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF MONEY FROM MY POCKET WHICH I COULDN'T HAVE FORESEEN.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 9, 2020
I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WAS DARK AND RAINING. SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I WOKE UP ON SATURDAY I SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
Visibility/wiper, Dec 2, 2020
THE CAR WAS PARKED AS I WAS WALKING UP TO IT THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS WALKING TO MY CAR AND NOTICED A GLARE WALKING UP AND LOOKED CLOSER AND THERE WAS A CRACKING MY WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2020
A 12 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE, STARTING AT THE EDGE, AND GOING HORIZONTALLY TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD JUST LEFT A SHOP'S PARKING LOT. IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE PARKING. I DID NOT SPOT IT IMMEDIATELY BUT ONLY AFTER 3 MINUTES DRIVING. THERE WAS NO NOISE OF A HIT OR BREAKAGE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE CRACK WOULD SPREAD TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE - OR ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
SPONTANEOUS CHIPPING AND CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. DID NOT HEAR ANY ROCK OR PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD DURING DRIVING. ONCE I STOPPED IN THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP THE TANK I NOTICED A CRACKED STARTING FROM THE MIDDLE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE I'M CLEANING IT.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY ALONE AROUND 60 MPH AND WINDSHIELD RANDOMLY CRACKED
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
I HAVE 2,500 MILES ON THE NEW 2020 SUBARU FORESTER AND A LARGE CRACK APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT (STATIONARY). NOTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD. CRACK GOES FROM MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD DOWN TO THE LOWER RIGHT PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT'S HEATED.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
LITERALLY ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THERE WAS NO REAL SIGN OF IMPACT. I WAITED A FEW MONTHS AND EVENTUALLY THE CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD AND IMPAIRED MY VISION SO I PID MY DEDUCTIBLE AND GOT IT REPLACED WITH SAFELIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 24, 2020
I PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU FORRESTER ON 4-1-2020. 90% OF MY DRIVING IS ON SLOWING MOVING STREET TRAFFIC. ON 11-22-2020SIVER DOLLAR SIZED CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD, LOCATED ON THE VERY CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AND 3" ABOVE THE TOP OF THE ENGINE HOOD. I NEVER HEARD ANY ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND ON EXAMINATION OF THE CRACK, I COULD FIND FIND ANY INDENTATION OR CHIP THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE CRACK. ON 11-24-2020, I WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE REP, NAMED CORY, LOOKED AT IT AND COULD NOT FEEL OR ANY CRACK THAT WOULD HAVE A STARTED THE CRACK. CORY THEN WENT TO GET HIS SERVICE MANAGER. THE SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY GOT A PEN AND PUSHED AROUND ON THE CRACK UNTIL HE PUSHED HARD ENOUGH TO SHOW A LESS THAN A 1 MM INDENTATION. HE THEN INDICATED TO ME THAT THIS A OBVIOUS CRACK FROM A ROCK AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE AGENT AND PUT IN A CLAIM ON IT. WHEN I SHOWED HIM THE SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE CLASS ACTION SUIT ON WINDSHIELD FAILURES, HE IMMEDIATELY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND SAID THAT THE BULLETIN CLEARLY SHOWED CRACKS WE A RESULT OF ROCK DAMAGE AND HAD NO APPARENT RELATIONSHIP TO A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. ALTHOUGH, HE SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDSHIELDS WITHIN THE 2020 YTD. IF A OBJECT THAT WOULD ONLY INFLICT A LESS THAN 1MM INDENTATION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE WINDSHIELD AND OTHER SAFETY DEVICES, IF THIS VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A TRUE ACCIDENT OR HAD A SIZABLE PROJECTILE HIT THE VEHICLE. LASTLY, THIS ISN'T THE ON SUBARU I OWN. IN MY FAMILY WE HAVE AN 2015 OUTBACK, A 2017 LEGACY, 2019, CROSSTREK AND THE 2020 FORRESTER. SUBARU HAS ALWAYS JUMPED TO ACTION TO REPLACE OR REPAIR ANY SAFETY ITEMS. THIS REBUTTAL BY SUBARU ON THIS WINDSHIELD CRACK COMES AS A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING SUBARU'S CLAIM TO SAFETY.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 16, 2020
A CRACK APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD WITH NO CAUSE. NO DEBRIS FLEW UP AND HIT IT TO CAUSE A CRACK OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF DAMAGE.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Nov 12, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKING: I HAVE 7K MILES ON MY 2020 FORESTER AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE ALREADY WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST TIME I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF I WAS HIT BY ANYTHING. I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND I PARKED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I CAME OUT AN HOUR LATER THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED LEFT TO RIGHT. THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS HIT BY A VERY SMALL PEBBLE THAT LEFT THE TINIEST OF NICKS - INITIALLY BARELY EVEN VISIBLE. WITHIN AN HOUR IT STRETCHED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. I LIVE IN AZ - IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY. BUT ALL MY OTHER CARS OVER THE YEARS HAD LOTS OF TINY AND NOT-SO-TINY NICKS FROM SMALL ROCKS THAT NEVER SPREAD OUT AT ALL. THE WINDSHIELD ON MY PRIOR 2014 FORESTER WITH 90K MILES ON IT ONLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN 6 YEARS. IN BOTH CASES I WAS HIT BY LARGER PEPPLES THAT LEFT SIGNIFICANT (LIKE 1/2 INCH) SPIDER NICKS. I AM CONVINCED THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE 2020 FORESTER WINDSHIELD - MAYBE THE PITCH OR A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN ISSUE. BUT THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND A REAL INCONVENIENCE. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN SOON, I WILL TRADE IT IN. IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE I LOVE THIS VEHICLE OTHERWISE. MY COUSIN IN CA BTW HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN HIS 2019 FORESTER FOUR TIMES IN 17K MILES.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 11, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2020 SUBARU FORESTER WITH NOTHING IMPACTING IT. I WAS DRIVING WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON A WELL PAVED ROAD ON A ROUTE I HAVE DRIVEN FOR YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. NOW THERE IS A LARGE BREAK IN GLASS RUNNING ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD. I EVEN TOOK IT TO SUBARU AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE COULD NOT FIND A PLACE OF IMPACT. WHEN I MAKE A TURN NOW I CAN HEAR THE GLASS BEING STRESSED FROM THE TURN.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 10, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HEARD A SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE GLASS SNAPPING. A TICK SOUND. WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW TWIST LOOKED LIKE A BEAD OF WATER GOING ACROSS THE WINDOW. IT WASN'T WATER, BUT A CRACK. NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW.