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, Apr 6, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE EIGHT SEPARATE FRACTURES ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT WERE NOT CAUSED BY IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP WHERE ONE FRACTURE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SEVERAL OTHER FRACTURES OCCURRED AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU OF PUEBLO (2125 US-50, PUEBLO, CO 81008, (719) 545-9955) WHO WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE FRACTURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 5, 2021
WINDSHIELD LITERALLY CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE MIDDLE FROM A SMALL PEBBLE (THE FIRST PEBBLE I'VE HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD). I JUST GOT THIS CAR, BARELY EVEN BROKEN IN AT 7,000 MILES. THE SAFETY FEATURES FROM EYESIGHT DON'T WORK PROPERLY AFTER THIS WHICH POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
Visibility, Mar 31, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,300.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2021
A SMALL, APPROXIMATELY 3" CRACK APPEARED ON LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT IMPACT AT THAT TIME. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CRACKED WAS NOTICED IN THE EVENING. CONTACTED SUBARU WHO DIRECTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR EVALUATION. WHILE WAITING FOR EVALUATION (SEVERAL WEEKS), THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW TO APPROXIMATELY 18". SUBARU DETERMINED AN IMPACT CAUSED THE CRACK, THOUGH THE ONLY POSSIBLE IMPACT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/16" IN DIAMETER. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONE MONTH PRIOR.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 30, 2021
VERY SMALL OBJECT HIT WINDSHIELD NEAR EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHERE BLACK COAT AND CLEAR GLASS MEET. A ROUGHLY 12" CRACK IMMEDIATELY APPEARED. I WAS DRIVING ON A TOLLWAY WHEN THE OBJECT HIT THE GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2021
I RECEIVED A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER ON OCTOBER 8, 2020. IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT APPEARED SUDDENLY IN MY FIELD OF VIEW BUT I DIDN'T SEE OR EXPERIENCE ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD OR CAUSED THE CHIP. A PROFESSIONAL WINDSHIELD REPAIR COMPANY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE CHIP THE NEXT DAY, BUT IN THE PROCESS, CAUSED A LARGE CRACK TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS THEN REPLACED AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON 10/28/20. I HAVE ATTACHED A DOCUMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WORK DONE. ON 12/22/20 A CHIP APPEARED ON THE NEW WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THEN ON 3/7/20 A LARGE CRACK IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION APPEARED AND SPREAD ACROSS MY FIELD OF VIEW. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE CHIP AND THE LARGE CRACK ON THE NEWLY REPLACED WINDSHIELD. I WILL NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD A SECOND TIME. THIS WILL BE MY 3RD WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. EVEN WITH A NEW WINDSHIELD, FROM MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR, THE CHANCES OF MY FIELD OF VIEW BEING IMPACTED SUDDENLY BY CHIPS AND CRACKS WHILE DRIVING IS VERY HIGH. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKS APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE GLASS USED BY SUBARU FOR THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 26, 2021
WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE OUT OF THE BLUE. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING AN ON COMING LIGHT REFLECTED OF MY WINDSHIELD ODDLY. I LOOKED AT IT CLOSER AT A STOP TO SEE A CRACK STARTING FROM THE TOP OF THE GLASS GOING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 25, 2021
CHIPS/CRACKS IN WINDOW. MULTIPLE SMALL CHIPS FROM PEBBLES/DEBRIS/SALT FROM SALT TRUCKS. A DIME SIZED CRACK THAT HAD TO BE SEALED AND FIXED. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE ON HAND BUT IT WAS COVERED THROUGH GEICO INSURANCE AND FIXED THROUGH AUTO SAFE GLASS REPAIRS
Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2021
WINDSHIELD EXPERIENCED A VERY MINOR IMPACT FROM A SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL, IMMEDIATELY RESULTING IN A SMALL CHIP. WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE CHIP HAD BECOME A LARGE CRACK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD GLASS ON SUBARU FORESTER IS THIN AND BRITTLE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 17, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH JUST A SMALL ROCK HITTING IT. THERE IS NOW ANOTHER CRACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT GOT THERE. THE WINDSHIELD SOUNDS VERY BRITTLE WHEN THE SMALLEST THING HITS IT. THE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE, I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE THE EYESIGHT TECHNOLOGY, SO REPLACEENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
Visibility, Mar 5, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED ON THE UPPER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A 12 INCHES LONG CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED THE CRACK HAPPENED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER LESTER GLENN SUBARU (1501 NJ-37 W, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755, (888) 785-0675) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 3, 2021
I BOUGHT THIS CAR 2 WEEKS AGO WITH 1,950 MILES AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO REASON. I DON'T KNOW WHY OR HOW THAT HAPPENED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FIRST BECAUSE I HAVE A BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND SECOND BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT WINDSHIELD IS WEAK OR LACKING OF SAFETY.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 3, 2021
6 MONTH OLD VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAVE CRACK ON WINDSHIELD. REPORTED THE ISSUE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT IS DUE TO IMPACT - CAR IS PARKED UNDER A CARPORT, DID NOT AND/OR GOT HIT BY ANYTHING THE DAY BEFORE, AND HAVE 12 INCHES CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD THE DAY AFTER.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 2, 2021
I CAME OUT TO THE CAR AND THERE IS A LARGE FOOT LONG PLUS CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT DEVELOPED OUT OF NOWHERE.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 28, 2021
A CRACK GREATER THAN 12 INCHES ON THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOTED . THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 28, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY - PARKED, WHEN THIS OCCURRED, AND WILL BE EXPENSIVE ($1000+) TO FIX
Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 26, 2021
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK. NO KNOWN EVEN SUCH AS A DEBRIS STRIKE WAS OCCURRED. CRACK WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2021
RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER OVERNIGHT SITTING IN DRIVE WAY AND A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. IT STARTED AT THE BASE, RAN UP ABOUT 5", TURNED TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE CAR AND SO FAR HAS RUN ABOUT 15" AND IS ADVANCING. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE HAS 5069 MILES ON IT AS OF 02-26-21.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2021
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY WINDSHIELD MADE A POP NOISE AND A FOOT LONG CRACK APPEARED A FEW MINUTES LATER. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD NOR ANY VISIBLE DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. SEE DASH CAM AT THE 9:26:11 MARK. HERE'S A LINK FOR THE VIDEO: HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/1SEGZLHZPFQDE4BKXEEFA8G91NVKRS1DW/VIEW?USP=SHARING IMAGES: HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/18O4P7W30SOPFFZM4Z4AMBEHMG5R8FDJ6/VIEW?USP=SHARING HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/1DPF2PZ0NEVRGJNXXBOL2ADYRYLMA_XFB/VIEW?USP=SHARING
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2021
CAME OUTSIDE, TURNED THE CAR ON AND NOTICED A HUGE DOUBLE CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2021
LAST NIGHT ON 02/19/2021 I PARKED MY VEHICLE AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS FINE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, NOTHING HIT MY CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT. THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO GO TO WORK, I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK THAT APPEARED, APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES IN LENGTH. THE CRACK HAD DEVELOPED APPARENTLY ON ITS OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO SPREAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK OVER THE COURSE OF 30 MINUTES, AND IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 24 INCHES IN LENGTH.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 11, 2021
CAME OUT ONE MORNING AND WINDSHIELD HAD A LARGE CRACK AND IT KEEPS GETTING LARGER.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2021
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. NO APPARENT REASON. HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $1825.
Visibility, Feb 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERTICAL CRACK IN THE MIDDLE THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 2, 2021
A LARGE FRACTURE ON THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED (ROUGHLY 16 INCHES LONG) WITH, IN MY OPINION, NO OBVIOUS IMPACT. I ONLY NOTICED THE FRACTURE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO GET THE FRACTURE INSPECTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER RAN A BALL-POINT PEN ALONG THE FRACTURE AND FOUND A SMALL INDENTATION (LESS THAN 1/32 INCH DEEP) NEAR THE A PILLAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THIS INDICATED THE FRACTURE WAS DUE TO AN IMPACT AND NOT A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SINCE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED.