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
301 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2020
WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, A ROCK FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD IN WHAT NORMAL IS A SMALL ROCK CHIP WAS AN IMMEDIATE 10' CRACK TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE ORIGINAL ROCK IMPACT IS NOT DEEP AND EXTREMELY TINY BUT IT CAUSED A CRACK THAT ENDED UP BEING A FULL WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WITH EYESIGHT. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A ROCK CHIP REPAIR. VERY UPSET SINCE SUBARU OF AMERICA DID NOT DO AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD FOR A 9 YEAR SUBARU OWNER AND FOUR SUBARU'S LATER. THIS WINDSHIELD (LOANER) ADDED TO MY ENGINE REPLACEMENT COST FROM MY CURRENT SUBARU. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2020
VEHICLE WAS ENTERING ONTO HIGHWAY AND A SMALL PEBBLE STRUCK TOP MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSED A L SHAPED CRACK TO FORM BEHIND REAR VIEW MIRROR AND EXTENDING TO THE LEFT(INSIDE VIEW), ABOUT 10 - 15 IN LONG. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A MONTH OLD, AND I HAVE NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH SUBARU WINDSHIELDS EASILY CRACKING ON NEW FORESTER MODELS. SAFETY RISK, WINDSHIELD GLASS NOT BEING DURABLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS WITH NO CRACK OR ROCK CHIP. THERE IS LESS THAN 5K MILES ON IT.
Visibility, Jun 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SAW THE WINDSHIELD START TO CRACK FROM PASSENGER SIDE INTO THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,706.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 15, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS WHILE STATIONARY, PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE IN ANY CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. I NEEDED TO CALL MY INSURANCE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2020
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 2019. 3 WEEKS LATER, A VERTICAL CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER-BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD THIS OCCURRED AFTER A COLLECTION OF SUNNY DAYS WITH NO VISIBLE INITIATION POINT (ROCK, CHIP, ETC.). THE CRACK BEGAN BELOW THE CENTER POINT OF THE STATIONARY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CRACK APPEARED AFTER 4 DAYS OF BEING IDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE IS A LARGER LAWSUIT AROUND SUBARU WINDSHIELDS THAT I BELIEVE FITS THIS ISSUE PRETTY WELL. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 29, 2020
NO ROCK HAD HIT THAT SIDE OF THE WINDOW. I PARK AT A BBQ ON THE SIDE OF A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, NO CARS DRIVE PAST, AND THREE HOURS LATER I HAVE A TWO FOOT CRACK IN MY WINDOW. BEST PART, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE USED HIS PHONE CAMERA TO ZOOM IN AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO SAY IT WAS A ROCK CHIP AND THEN PICKED AT IT TO MAKE IT LOOK EVEN MORE SO. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 26, 2020
SITTING AT STOP LIGHT . LIGHT TURNED GREEN I STARTED THRU THE INTERSECTION AND HEARD A SNAP. WIFE MADE COMMENT THAT A STAR HAD FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BELOW FIELD OF VISION. NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME AND CARS WERE AT LEAST 10 FEET AWAY FROM ME GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. SPEED HAD NOT RESUMED TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH (ABOUT 20 MPH). *TR
Visibility, May 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PUENTE HILL SUBARU LOCATED AT 17801 GALE AVE, CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91748, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,417.
Visibility/wiper, May 12, 2020
MY WIFE AND I WENT ON A RIDE (SUBURBAN DRIVING, SLOW SPEEDS). IT WAS < THAN A 20-MINUTE TRIP. WHEN WE GOT BACK WE NOTICED A SMALL DING AT THAT BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE HOOD. IT SPREAD VERY QUICKLY. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 1600 MILES ON IT SINCE THE END OF DECEMBER 2019. IT NOW MID-MAY AND THIS ALREADY HAPPENED WITH LIMITED USE. THE CAR IS STORED IN A GARAGE WHEN IT IS NOT IN USE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE NEED TO PAY $1300 FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 28, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 27, 2020
I WAS DRIVING, NO CAR OR ANYTHING WAS IN FRONT OF ME, HEARD A POP THEN NOTICED AT LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD IS SMOOTH, NOTHING HIT IT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 16, 2020
PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN LATE OCTOBER 2019. WINDSHIELD CRACKED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IN MID-DECEMBER 2019. IN OTHER WORDS, NOTHING STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 15, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A SMALL OBJECT HIT THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK IN THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT CONTACTED SUBARU OF EL CAJON (900 ARNELE AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 440-0404) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, IT WAS STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A THINNER GLASS AND IT WAS COMMON FOR FRACTURE TO OCCUR WITH LITTLE TO NO IMPACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 4,000.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 14, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, AN UNKNOWN INSECT HIT THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. AN HOUR LATER, A 14'' CRACK BEGAN TO FORM AT THE EXACT SPOT WHERE THE INSECT MADE IMPACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU OF ONTARIO (1195 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE QUALITY OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS UNSAFE AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,200.*BF*JB
Visibility/wiper, Apr 11, 2020
STRESS CRACK STARTING UNDER THE SEAL OF THE WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS GOING 15 MPH IN A HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 2, 2020
I NOTICED A CHIP IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT SEEMED TO APPEAR OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT SOMEONE TO FILL IT THE NEXT DAY. WHEN HE CAME TO FILL THE CHIP, HE SAID THAT IT CRACKED AND SPREAD AFTER HE FILLED IT. I THEN NOTICED THERE ARE LITERALLY OVER 10 CHIPS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD NOT INCLUDING THAT ONE. I BOUGHT THIS FORESTER ON OCTOBER 31, 2019 BRAND NEW AND AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. THERE IS NO WAY THERE SHOULD BE THIS MANY CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD AND FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK FROM A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN FILLING A VERY SMALL CHIP.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2020
GOT INTO VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, TURNED ON AC, WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 28, 2020
WALKED OUT TO GARAGE THIS MORNING, AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2020.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
WINDSHIELD BROKE FOR NO REASON OUR CAR IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2020
DRIVING ON A ROAD GOING ABOUT 30, WET AROUND A CORNER A TRUCK PASSED ME GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY. KICKING UP A ROCK THAT HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED INSTANTLY, MORE THAN HALFWAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020
THERE IS A APPROXIMATELY 2 FT LONG WINDSHIELD CRACK EMANATING FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING BUT TIME OF ORIGIN IS UNKNOWN. A TINY ROCK CHIP IS LOCATED A FEW INCHES FROM THE START OF THE CRACK AND SEEMS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LENGTH OF THE CRACK, BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE WITH ROCK CHIPS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY SMALL PEBBLE ON 3RD DAY OF LEASE OF CAR. DRIVING APPROX. 30MPH WHEN CAR GOING ONLY A LITTLE FASTER CHANGED LANES AND THREW PEBBLE. ON A PAVED ROAD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 13, 2020
FRONT WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE, UPPER PORTION, CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON AN ON-RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 13, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BY INSURANCE ROUGHLY 5 WEEKS FROM PURCHASE. DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A LITTLE SNAP, THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK START TO FORM. GREW TO A LITTLE LARGER THAN THE DIAMETER OF A QUARTER BEFORE MY INSURANCE HAD SOMEONE REPAIR IT 6 DAYS LATER