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, Jul 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that there was a chip on the front windshield that was not caused by an impact. The front windshield was cracked. The contact called the local dealer and was referred to an auto glass shop. The vehicle was taken to the auto glass shop that replaced the front windshield, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that while her son was occupying the vehicle, he noticed that the front windshield was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 25,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 29, 2023
Windshield randomly cracked while parked. There was no hit to the windshield that was detected. Crack runs down middle of windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 24, 2023
(06/22) - Small pebble hits windshield and creates a "star-pattern" crack measuring 2.25 inches in diameter. Booked earliest appointment for windshield replacement on Tuesday 06/27. Have not touched windshield and have not driven vehicle as of this day. (06/24) - Waiting for windshield replacement appointment; star-pattern crack has extended aggressively overnight while parked under shaded carport (average temp 64 degrees), far beyond what is typical. As of 06/24 there are 2 long cracks extending in opposite directions measuring 9 inches above and 13 inches below original impact diameter. Please note that Subaru has had prior class action lawsuits filed for similar issues regarding brittle/unsafe windshields for Subaru Outback and Forester 2016-2020 models.
Visibility, Jun 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 2 MPH down her driveway, she heard an abnormal popping sound coming from the dashboard. The contact observed that a crack had appeared in the center of her windshield that formed at the bottom of the windshield. The contact stated that the crack extended more to the passenger’s side of the windshield. The contact called the local dealer and was advised by the dealer to contact the insurance provider for assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 3, 2023
While driving, I heard a loud POP. I thought something hit the car, but I was not close behind another vehicle or road hazard. For about 15 minutes I thought no harm, no foul. Then suddenly, I saw a long, mostly horizontal crack from the bottom left and extending about 18" toward the center of the windshield. I called the Subaru dealer [where I bought the car] and was quoted $910 parts and $590 labor, but they were unable to give me a service appointment date at that time. I don't feel the car is safe to drive, so I am looking for a quicker repair from an independent windshield replacement shop. At the same time, I researched Subaru windshield cracks and found numerous reports of easily cracking Subaru windshields. It appears that if I replace one Subaru windshield with another Subaru windshield, I may just be waiting for another Subaru windshield crack in the future.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 3, 2023
Windshield cracked in the bottom black area. This is a known problem for other model years. Subaru should issue a recall / fix for the 2020 Forester also.
Visibility/wiper, May 24, 2023
Driving down the highway and the windshield cracks and the cracks keeps getting longer.
Visibility/wiper, May 22, 2023
The vehicle was parked in our driveway in Lafayette, CA on 5/16/2023. Outside temperature reached approximately 75 degrees. The windshield developed a spontaneous crack, horizontally spanning the driver's side edge to nearly the middle. No impact point can be observed along the crack line. The vehicle is available for inspection but has not yet been inspected by any authority. Vision may be blurred or compromised along the crack line, which should be deemed a safety issue. Numerous reports of windshield faults for 2019+ Subaru Foresters have been reported online, though Subaru continues to deny these claims.
Visibility/wiper, May 18, 2023
My windshield has cracked - huge lines running across the windshield including the driver's side - three times in 2.5 years necessitating I pay out of pocket to replace the windshield each time. I will now need to get my fourth windshield in less than 3 years of having a brand new car. Though I have been told that it was "outside influence" such as a rock, I did not see or hear a rock hit the windshield. Not to mention I have owned many other cars and have never had to replace the windshield so many times. The latest windshield I replaced was less than a month ago and now I have to replace it again. There was a recall/class action lawsuit on previous years of the Subaru Forester and it is not clear or apparent that they have changed the windshield substantially enough that this issue has been resolved. It is dangerous and defective to have a windshield that has long cracks in it so frequently and consistently. My and my family's safety is at risk when it is difficult to see because of the huge cracks in the windshield, particularly at night or in inclement weather (i.e., rain storms). The problem has happened now 3 times in less than 3 years. A product that warrants so much replacement is defective in nature. I have called both the dealership and Subaru USA - who said that they did know that I was not the only one having these issues. The vehicle has been expected by experts at Safelite and I am taking it to the dealership for an inspection with this latest crack. But because they claim a rock hit it then I have to pay for the replacement - but when this happens with such frequency then how can the windshield not be defective? When this is not the standard for all other cars! And it is dangerous to have an unreliable windshield! No there were no warning messages.
Visibility, May 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that she observed that a crack had started at the bottom of the passenger’s side windshield. The contact stated that the crack had begun to spread and had gone in an arc upwards and stopped at middle of the windshield. The contact had the windshield replaced. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local glass shop and not a dealer to replace the windshield. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Visibility/wiper, May 17, 2023
The windshield cracked for no apparent reason. It’s a 2 foot long crack, low on driver side. The crack appeared while the car sat parked in a garage. It wasn’t there when the car was parked and was visible when we returned to drive the car. The windshield is so widely cracked, the risk is s sheet of glass will hurt the driver or passenger. We have not taken it to the dealer for repair yet The windshield cracked without warning or sufficient cause.
Visibility, May 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact became aware of a crack on the windshield. The contact stated that there was no impact to windshield to cause the crack. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Visibility/wiper, May 8, 2023
Windshield cracked and split to the middle unexpectedly
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2023
Noticed a crack in the windshield glass today in the parking lot at work. This crack starts at the bottom of the windshield and goes upward about 8 inches. There are no signs of the windshield being hit. I looked this issue up and there is a class action lawsuit going on about defective windshields on certain Subaru models. Mine is included.
Visibility, Apr 3, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the garage, it was later discovered that a small crack had formed on the upper passenger’s side of the windshield. The contact stated neither a rock nor another object had impacted the windshield to cause the crack to form. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Visibility, Mar 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that upon entering her vehicle, she noticed that a vertical crack had formed at the middle base of the windshield. The contact stated that the crack obstructed her vision while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a manager inspected the windshield with a ballpoint pen and determined that the failure was caused by the contact. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 26,000.
Visibility, Feb 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the front windshield cracked without impact. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 29,500.
Visibility, Feb 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, she noticed an abnormal crack on the front windshield. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the windshield was not covered; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 26, 2023
Windshield cracked in J shape starting at the center of the bottom. The crack appeared overnight; there was no crack when the car was parked the night before, and the crack was observed when entering the car the next morning. No impacts observed. Approximately 12k miles.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 20, 2023
The headlights produces little to no lighting when driving at night. I almost got into an accident last night because I had extremely low visibility, even with the high beams on.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 17, 2023
Driving car in my town to grocery store. As I was driving, I looked in rearview mirror and noticed the windshield had spontaneously developed a 6 inch crack running straight down from the middle of the top edge, directly over the rearview mirror. The crack was not there when I'd started driving approximately 30 minutes prior. No impacts, not using wipers, temperatures have been moderate. There is no glass chip or other indication of impact at the edge of the windshield or on the adjacent edge of the car roof. There is no other visible damage to the windshield. The car is 2 months out of standard warranty. I will be filing an insurance claim.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2022
Windshield cracked while parked during the day. No visible reason for the crack - no chips, divots, or impact marks on windshield. Crack runs from bottom corner of driver's side windshield up to mid windshield right in the line of vision for driver.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2022
The windshield cracked while I was stopped at a light. It creates a visibility issue. The windshield was repaired previously and has cracked again. The vehicle has not been inspected the manufacturer, police, insurance or others. There were no warnings prior to the incidents.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 2, 2022
I bought this vehicle new. In the past three years, I have needed three windshield repairs. The first two were chips that could be filled and repaired. Most recently, a small chip has begun cracking and will require replacing the entire windshield at substantial cost. This vehicle is more prone to windshield damage from normal interstate use than any other I have driven in four decades.
Visibility, Nov 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact became aware of a crack on the windshield on the far-left driver's side about three inches above where the VIN was located. The contact had taken the vehicle to a glass shop where it was diagnosed that there were several cracks and determined that the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the new windshield had developed a crack and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,500.