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, Feb 1, 2021
PURCHASED A NEW SUBARU FORESTER SPORT MAY 25 2020, THE MORNING OF 1/22/2020 WE WOKE UP TO A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM PASSENGER SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE GLASS. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE WEATHER WAS CERTAINLY NOT AN ISSUE AS IT DOES NOT GET BELOW FREEZING OFTEN (ESPCIALLY IN OUR GARAGE) IN THE SOUTHEAST THIS TIME OF YEAR. I WALKED OUT TO START THE CAR TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE DRIVING AS I ALWAYS DO, WALKED BACK INSIDE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEN WALK OUT TO FIND A HUGE CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I DONT USE THE DEFROST OR HEAT, JUST THE HEATED SEATS, SO GLASS HEATING UP TO FAST COULDNT HAVE BEEN THE ISSUE; NOT THAT IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE. HOWEVER I DID NOTICE A SMALL PIN PRICK OF A CHIP IN THE GLASS UPON FURTHER INSPECTION. THAT SAID, THIS GLASS IS FAR TOO FRAGILE AND IM ALREADY EXPECTING TO BE REPLACING IT AGAIN AS THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SUBARU FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. $1500 TO REPLACE THE GLASS AND RE CALIBRATE EYESIGHT. EXPECTING INSURANCE PREMIUMS TO GO UP AT SOME POINT. THIS GLASS IS BEYOND DEFECTIVE, WEAK, AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN SOMETHING SLIGHTLY BIGGER HITS IT? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ONE OF THE SAFEST CARS ON THE MARKET...
Visibility/wiper, Feb 1, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON-FOUND TODAY WHEN CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 31, 2021
WINDSHIELD CHIP AND BREAK REALLY EASY I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN A BODYSHOP FOR 20 YEARS AND EVER NEW SUBARU OWN I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE BAD TO SAY ABOUT THE CARS
Visibility/wiper, Jan 30, 2021
CAR PURCHASED ON 1/25/21 FROM DEALER WITH 8700 MILES ON IT IN GOOD CONDITION. BY 1/30/21, ONE CRACK AND 3 CHIPS WERE DEVELOPING ON WINDSHIELD. DID NOT HAPPEN DURING DRIVING. WE HAVE PUT ABOUT 200 MILES ON IT. HAILED ON 1/29/21 BUT NO DAMAGE TO GLASS SUNROOF OR OTHER WINDOWS.CAR SPENDS MOST TIME PARKED IN LOT, NOT ON STREET.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 27, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITHIN MONTHS OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW CAR. THE CRACK SEEMED TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE OVER NIGHT, AND GRADUALLY GREW MUCH BIGGER OVER TIME.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 21, 2021
COMPLAINT NUMBER 11386410 WINDSHIELD REPLACED NOTED ON RECEIPT 'BROKEN DUE TO STRESS CRACK/DEFECT IN GLASS. NOTHING FROM THE ROAF HIT THE GLASS'
Visibility/wiper, Jan 20, 2021
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW LAST YEAR, 2020 FORESTER SPORT. WOKE UP ONE DAY TO HAVING A CRACK OUT OF NOWHERE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, NO IMPACT SIGN. CRACKED ALL THE WAY UP AND NOW WORKING TO THE SIDE. JUST A WEEK AGO WE HAD A LITTLE ROCK KICK UP FROM A TRUCK ON THE ROAD, NOT VERY BIG NOR GOING VERY FAST, YET IT CRACKED THE GLASS INSTANTLY & DRAMATICALLY YET AGAIN. THE WINDOW SEEMS TO BE EXTRA SENSITIVE AND NOT AS DURABLE AS NORMAL WINDSHIELD GLASS. THIS BECOMES A LARGE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR OWNERS AS REPLACING THE GLASS COST $1000 DUE TO EYESIGHT CALIBRATION. WHEN IT'S BREAKING EVERY FEW MONTHS ON THE SLIGHTEST THINGS, IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT AND QUITE DANGEROUS. WE ARE DRIVING IT WITH BROKEN GLASS UNTIL SUBARU WILL FIX IT, AS THE REPAIR COSTS ARE JUST TOO HIGH AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!!
Visibility/wiper, Jan 16, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD ON THE 2020 SUBARU FORESTER IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND FRAGILE. ROCK IMPACTS THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT NO MARK ON OTHER WINDSHIELDS LEAVE CHIPS. THIS MORNING, WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, WITHOUT A ROCK IMPACT, THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED; AN 18-INCH CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, STARTING WHERE THE GLASS MEETS THE VEHICLE, ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE GLASS. I HEARD A [POP] NOISE AND NOTICED THE CRACK SUDDENLY DEVELOPED; MY WIFE DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE UNTIL I POINTED IT OUT TO HER. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THAT THE GLASS IS CONSTRUCTED DIFFERENTLY IN ORDER FOR SUBARU'S MOTION SENSING SYSTEM "EYESIGHT" TO WORK PROPERLY. IF SUBARU CAN'T DEVELOP A MOTION SENSING SYSTEM WITHOUT SERIOUSLY COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD, THEY SHOULD NOT SELL CARS WITH THAT SYSTEM.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2021
FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD CRACK WHICH COMES BY ITSELF
Visibility/wiper, Jan 8, 2021
MY 2020 FORESTER DEVELOPED 2 CRACKS VERY SUDDENLY. NO IMPACTS, JUST 2 BIG CRACKS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM. I WALKED OUT FROM WORK AND FOUND ONE, AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE SECOND ONE HAD MAGICALLY APPEARED. I HAD TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED ENTIRELY. SUBARU INSISTED IT WAS BECAUSE OF IMPACTS TO THE GLASS AND WOULDN'T DO IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WANTED $1500 OUT OF POCKET AND FOR ME TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT VIA MY INSURANCE ON MY OWN. I WENT WITH OEM GLASS FROM SAFELITE, HOPING THAT PERFORMANCE WOULD BE BETTER THAN THE SUBARU GLASS. THE PEOPLE AT SAFELITE WARNED ME THIS LIKELY WOULDN'T BE THE CASE; THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ANGLE/DESIGN OF THE SUBARU FORESTER GLASS WAS FAULTY AND THAT THEY SEE A LOT OF FORESTERS IN THEIR SHOPS FOR WINDSHIELD CHIPS AND CRACKS EVERY WEEK. SURE ENOUGH, 5 MONTHS LATER A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE I WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT INSTANTLY TURNED INTO A 5" CRACK THAT REACHED THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM NOW HAVING MY SECOND FULL WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WITHIN 6 MONTHS. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE WINDSHIELD ON MY FORESTER. I KNOW THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME I'M IN FOR A WINDSHIELD REPAIR, AS I LIVE IN A CITY AND DRIVE ON INTERSTATES WITH SEMI-TRUCKS; GETTING THE OCCASIONAL ROCK THROWN UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD IS INEVITABLE. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE WITH SUCH FRAGILE GLASS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 6, 2021
PURCHASED NEW 2020 FORRESTER WITH 25 MILES ON IT MAY 19, 2020. ON JULY 14 I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO VEHICLES CLOSE BY, WHEN WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY POPPED AND CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES ACROSS DRIVER VIEW. NO VISUAL CHIP OR OTHER DAMAGE, BUT CRACK MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN SUNLIGHT. CALLED SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THIS IS OFTEN A PROBLEM WITH THE "SMART" WINDSHIELD, AND WAS NOT FAULTY OR COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDSHIELD CONTINUED TO CRACK. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED WINDSHIELD AND CALIBRATED EYE SIGHT ON JULY 23 AT THE COST OF $1416.27. WE HAD GLASS COVERAGE WITH SAFECO INSURANCE, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FILE INSURANCE CLAIM SO WE PAID FOR COST AND SUBMITTED CLAIM TO SAFECO. SAFECO EVENTUALLY PAID US IN SEPTEMBER AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHETHER THE WINDSHIELD COULD HAVE BEEN FAULTY WHEN PURCHASED.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 6, 2021
FOR THE 2ND TIME IN A 30 DAY PERIOD I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD DUE TO A CRACK. THE CRACK HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 1) ON LOCAL ROADS WHEN A VERY SMALL PEBBLE STRUCK THE DRIVER-SIDE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED IT. IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD CRACK SO EASILY LIKE THIS WITH SUCH A SMALL PEBBLE HIT, AND IT HAPPENED 2X IN A 30 DAY PERIOD (DEC. 09, 2020 1ST REPAIR, AND JAN. 05, 2021 2ND CRACK). SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF THIS MFG WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2021
I PURCHASED A 2019 SUBARU FORRESTER IN 2019. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALONE ON A COUNTRY HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WAY THERE WAS ANY IMPACT, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE AND I HAD THE HEAT ON - MAYBE THE MIXING OF TEMPERATURES CAUSED IT TO CRACK. I HAD GEICO COVER THE NEW WINDSHIELD. I PURCHASED A 2020 FORRESTER IN JULY 2020, AND HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT. THE CAR WAS SITTING, ALONE, IN A PARKING RAMP THAT WAS COVERED AT MY HOUSE, WITH NOTHING AROUND IT. I WAS OUT OF MY CAR FOR MAYBE AN HOUR AND CAME BACK AND THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED AGAIN.
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)
Visibility, Jan 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, HE NOTICED A STONE CHIP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A DEPOSIT WAS PLACED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Visibility, Jan 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLASS REPAIR SHOP AND HAD INJECTED A RESIN ON THE GLASS CRACK TO STOP FURTHER CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBARU OF GLENDALE - AMERICA'S #1 SUBARU RETAILER (1308 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204; (818) 396-3900) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,800.
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.