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
600 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Engine, May 17, 2021
purchased new vehicle 10/23/19, 1st battery failure 6/15/2 jumped and ok 2nd battery failure 12/4/20 jumped, Subaru replaced battery 3rd battery failure 2/16/21, Subaru said battery was "fine" 4th battery failure 3/31/21 Subaru replaced battery 5th battery failure 5/14/21, appt with Subaru on 5/21/21
Electrical system, May 15, 2021
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE OUR HOME DRIVEWAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2021 (APPROXIMATELY 4PM LOCAL TIME), THE IGNITION BUTTON FAILED TO START THE CAR. INITIALLY, POWER WAS RUNNING TO THE DASH. I CALLED THE SUBARU EASTSIDE DEALERSHIP IN KIRKLAND, WA WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHICH I DID THE FOLLOWING MORNING. WHEN MY WIFE AND I MOVED OUR CAR SEAT AND BELONGINGS TO THE OTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR LIFT GATE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND WOULD NOT OPEN (RESULTING IN A REPEATED 3 BEEP SOUND), BLOCKING ACCESS TO MY JUMPER CABLES, WHICH WERE IN THE TRUNK. EVENTUALLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOPPED RESPONDING ALL TOGETHER. WHEN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (SENT OUT BY SUBARU ROADSIDE) EVENTUALLY SHOWED UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING, A JUMP START BY THE TECHNICIAN STARTED THE VEHICLE.
Electrical system, May 15, 2021
BATTERY WAS DRAINED FOR NO REASON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN TRIED TO START DASH LIGHTS ETC., WENT CRAZY. GAUGE FOR TACHOMETER AND SPEED WHIPPED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE STARTER GAVE THE CLICKING NOISE YOU HEAR WHEN BATTERY IS DEAD. CALLED AAA TO JUMP AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO START. I CHARGED BATTERY OVERNIGHT AND THE ENGINE STARTED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY OR CHARGING SYSTEM. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED. I PURCHASED A BATTERY TENDER TO MAINTAIN CHARGE IN BATTERY. I ONLY HAVE 1 CAR AND IT NEEDS TO START WHEN I NEED IT. THIS HAPPENED ON DAY I NEEDED TO TAKE WIFE FOR COVID VACCINE SHOT.
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSE. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO CARS AHEAD.
Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2021
I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. I FIRST NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE UPPER DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE NOW SEEN MULTIPLE CRACKS THAT DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE AN ORIGINATION POINT OF IMPACT FROM AN OBJECT. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE A CRACK THAT IT FORMING IN THE AREA OF THE CAMERAS FOR THE EYESIGHT WHICH MAY LEAD TO DEGRADATION OR FAILURE OF THE EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE EVENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACKS IS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 12, 2021
MULTIPLE DEAD BATTERIES OVER PAST YEAR. WHEN REAR LIFT GATE IS LEFT OPEN FOR LESS THEN AN HOUR WITH ALL LIGHTS INCLUDING INTERIOR OFF IT DRAINS BATTERY. 2019 LIFT GATE MODULE RECALLED DUE TO 'DARK DRAW' BUT DIDN'T INCLUDE EARLIER 2020 MODELS WHICH DID NOT HAVE NEW MODULE INCORPORATED YET. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO INCLUDE THE EARLY 2020 MODELS IN RECALL. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE AND IS A HAZARD TO BE LEFT STRANDED OVER SUCH AN EASY FIX THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE 2019 MODELS WITH THE RECALL ... MY CAR IS IN THAT 'GREY AREA' ONLY CAUSE IT IS NOT A 2019 BUT BEFORE THE FIX WAS ADDRESSED ON THE 2020 YEAR.
Visibility/wiper, May 10, 2021
1IN TO 2FT LONG CRACKS ARE BEING CREATED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AT THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT OF ANY SMALL PEBBLES. WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY EASILY COMPROMISED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD, INSTANTLY CREATING A 2FT LONG CRACK ACROSS IT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION, WHEN ANOTHER SMALL PEBBLE IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD, INSTANTLY CREATING A 1 INCH CRACK.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 10, 2021
BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT. THE LOW GAS INDICATOR IS LIMITED TO A BRIEF WARNING IN THE SCREEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. WE BOTH FIND THIS VERY EASY TO MISS AND THERE IS NO PERSISTENT VISUAL OR AUDITORY WARNING. RUNNING OUT OF GAS UNEXPECTEDLY IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, WE WERE LUCKY TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED, BUT HAD TO PARK AT SOME RISK. NEITHER OF US CAN RECALL RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN OUR OTHER VEHICLES FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
Visibility/wiper, May 7, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKING FROM THE TOP DOWN BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR NO APPARENT REASON, NO ROCK DENT , NO IMPACT , THE VEHICLE WAS IN MY WORK PARKING LOT AND I NOTICED THE CRACK UPON LEAVING WORK AT 4 PM, DROVE TO WORK AT 8 AM WAS DAYLIGHT AND NO VISIBLE CRACK NOTICED
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, May 2, 2021
I JUST WALKED OUT TO MY CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY THERE WAS A HUGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD I HAVEN'T HIT OR BEEN HIT BY ANYTHING THIS IS A NEW CAR HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A A YEAR YET DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WINDSHIELD WOULD CRACK SO BAD GOES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, May 2, 2021
GIANT CRACK HAS APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD LESS THAT 12K MILES OF DRIVING. THERE IS A SMALL CHIP FROM A FEW DAYS AGO THAT HAS FORMED INTO A LARGER CRACK.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 26, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED, STARTED BELOW WIPER IN THE MIDDLE OF GLASS, CRACK ABOUT 8 INCHES PERPENDICULAR TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR IN THE RAIN TURNED ON DEFROSTER AND SAW THE CRACK.
Seats, Apr 26, 2021
I HAVE PHYSICAL BIPOLAR KNEE AND LEGS CROSS I M 5FT 11 AND WEIGHT 290LLBS. I BEEN CONTACT MOBILITYWORKS AND CAN THEY PUT SEAT JACKERS ANC EXTENSION SEAT BACK THEY CAN'T DO I M SO FRUSTRATING SEARCH SOMEONE HANDLE WELDING TO PUT MORE SEAT JACKERS AND I CANNOT TRADE BECAUSE LOST VALUE I M SO [XXX] ANGRY PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other or unspecified, Apr 19, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO APPARENT CHIPS, OR DINGS. SEEMS TO COME FROM THE DEFROST AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD UNDER THE RUBBER GASKET.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 18, 2021
I TRAVELLED TO WORK AND THE WINDSHIELD FORMED A CRACK ON THE UPPER LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD (DRIVER'S SIDE). IT STARTS AT THE CORNER AND PROCEEDS (SO FAR) TO BE 1.5 FEET LONG. THERE WERE NO ONCOMING VEHICLES OR VEHICLES THAT I WAS FOLLOWING. IT WAS A LEFT HAND TURN, LOW SPEED.
Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2021
ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2020, MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY SOME VERY SMALL OBJECT THAT HARDLY MADE A SOUND WHEN IT STRUCK. THE RESULT WAS A VERY SMALL CRACK ABOUT AN INCH LONG. I HAD THIS REPAIRED BY SAFELITE MOBILE SERVICE ON SEPT. 30 ON APRIL 6, 2021 AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TOWN, AN APPROXIMATELY 15 INCH CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK RUNS FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD UP THROUGH THE REPAIRED "CHIP" MENTIONED ABOVE AND ON FOR ANOTHER 12 INCHES OR SO. THERE WAS NOTHING TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD THIS DAY. I CONTACTED THE RAMSEY SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THERE WAS THAT INITIAL CHIP, THE SUBARU WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED THE SAFELITE OFFICE NEAREST ME THAT HAD REPAIRED THE CHIP IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY SCHEDULED ME TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON MONDAY, APRIL 12 AT 12:30 PM. I DID PHONE THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, APRIL 9 TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH NO ONE ANSWERING THE PHONE, I LEFT A MESSAGE TO CONTACT ME. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE OF ANY KIND. I PLAN TO VISIT THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING APRIL 12 TO APPEAL MY ORAL DECISION. IF I AM SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, I WILL AMEND THIS REPORT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 9, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO NO APPARENT CAUSE - NO COLLISION, NO ROCK HITTING IT. IT SIMPLY APPEARED OVERNIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 7, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED
Visibility/wiper, Apr 7, 2021
A SMALL CHIP ON THE BLACK EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD OCCURRED THE END OF FEBRUARY, THEN IT TURNED INTO AN 18' LONG CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN A FEW HOURS ON A ROAD TRIP.
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.
Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2021
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO AND WITHIN THE FIRST 4,000 MILES OR SO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, I HEARD A LIGHT CRACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. UPON OBSERVATION OF THE WINDSHIELD, I OBSERVED A VERY SMALL CHIP. WITHIN ONE DAY AFTER, THE CHIP BEGAN TO "SPIDER" CRACK IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, GURLEY LEEP SUBARU IN THE SOUTH BEND/MISHAWAKA, INDIANA AREA, THEY LOOKED AT THE WINDSHIELD AND GAVE A PROPOSAL OF ESTIMATED COST OF $1,500 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I THEN CONTACTED MY STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENT WHO ADVISED SUBARU HAD A CURRENT "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT" AGAINST THEM FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS THAT CHIP OR CRACK EASILY. STATE FARM ALSO ADVISED THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SUBARU VEHICLE CUSTOMERS MAKING CLAIMS OF CRACKED WINDSHIELDS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE OF DEFECTIVE SUBARU WINDSHIELDS, THEN SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD.
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.