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.
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.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 27, 2021
I WAS DRIVING UP AN EMPTY SUBURBAN ROAD AT 25 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SUDDENLY WENT OFF, CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID TO A STOP. THE DASHBOARD SCREEN SAID THE PRE-COLLISION EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD AND NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO STOP SUDDENLY. THANK GOD I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY - THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
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.
Other or unspecified, Mar 21, 2021
I SEEN THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU REGARDING THE VEHICLES EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND THE WINDSHIELD. WE NOTICED A CRACK THAT HAD SEEMINGLY COME OUT OF NOWHERE. IT HAS TO OF HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS LOOKING INTO REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD MYSELF WHEN I STUMBLED ON THE ARTICLE. APPARENTLY MANY SUBARU OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH SPONTANEOUS CRACKING AND MY CRACK STARTED RIGHT IN THE AREA PERTAINING TO THE LAWSUIT.
Structure, Mar 19, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE HOOD STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832, (888) 428-2419) HOWEVER, WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,874. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A STRONG INTERMITTENT WIND WHILE DRIVING.
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.
Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2021
I HAD MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED UP BY SMALL IMPACT OF FLYING ROCK OFF A TRUCK IN 2020. I GOT IT REPLACED AND CALIBRATED IN JULY 2020 THE PRICE WAS $1456. LUCKILYI BOUGHT A WINDSHIELD PROTECTION POLICY TO COVER IT. AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED UP(30 CM LONG) AGAIN YESTERDAY(MARCH,2021) DUE TO THE SAME REASON. I REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD( MY POLICY CAN ONLY PAY ABOUT $300).
Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2021
OUT OF NOWHERE, THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE TOP AND IS SPREADING DOWN. THERE IS NO CHIP THAT STARTED THIS. WE HAVE 2 NEWER SUBARUS AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH CARS WITHIN A MONTH. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE KNOW OF THAT CAUSED THIS. ONLINE WE ARE SEEING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH NEWER SUBARUS AND WINDSHIELDS CRACKING.
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 7, 2021, crash
2/17/2021 - HONDA ACCORD GOING NORTH ON LYNCHBURG TURNPIKE RAN A STOPLIGHT (GOING ABOUT 30 IN A 25 MPG ZONE) TRYING TO TURN WEST ONTO EAST MAIN ST. IN SALEM, VA ... BOUNCED OPPOSITE CURB, CUT WEST AND SWERVED (OVERSTEER) AND CAME HEAD ON INTO MY STATIONARY 2020 FORESTER. OUR LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN AND WE WERE ABOUT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE HONDA CAME OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND I WAS A PASSENGER. I WAS TAKEN TO ER AND SEEN BY SEVERAL DOCTORS AND AM UNDERGOING PT FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2021
I PURCHASED MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER IN 6/2020, AND BY 2/2021 THE WINDSHIELD HAD CHIPPED. I WENT TO GET IT FIXED, AND IT JUST CRACKED EVEN MORE, ACCORDING TO THE GLASS TECH AT SAFELITE. I WAS TOLD THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY WITH MODERN SUBARUS AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE INITIAL DAMAGE UNTIL THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
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.
Forward collision avoidance, Mar 4, 2021
DRIVING ON STRAIGHT MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY ~2:00 PM IN THE DAYTIME AT ~55 MPH; CLEAR, DRY WEATHER, DRY ROAD. NO VEHICLES OR OBSTRUCTIONS OF ANY KIND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES BEHIND. AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM TRIGGERED FULLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING, BRINGING CAR TO SUDDEN STOP IN HIGH SPEED TRAVEL LANE; COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE REAR END COLLISION HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE BEHIND. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE. SUBARU COULD FIND NO REASON FOR ERRONEOUS SUDDEN STOP FUNCTION.
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.
Other or unspecified, Mar 2, 2021
THE FUEL FILL UP ARROW POINTS TO THE WRONG SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, IT POINTS LEFT, THE FILL UP IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE
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.
Air bags, Feb 26, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AS ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATION, BRUSHING ON BOTH LEGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED AND HAD TAKEN THE CONTACTS HUSBAND TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS TREATED FOR HIS INJURIES. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT TOWING COMPANY TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS WAITING RESULTS FOR DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500.
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.
Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2021
MY CAR WAS A COUPLE MONTHS OLD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND A ROCK GLANCED OFF MY WINDSHIELD. IT CRACKED IT. BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE ROCK, IT WAS SMALL, THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING. MY PREVIOUS CAR THAT I HAD FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS ENCOUNTERED MUCH LARGER STONES AND I NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK ON ME. THE REPAIR WAS OVER $1,500. IT SEEMS LIKE QUITE THE MONEY GRAB BY SUBARU.
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