2021 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 207 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 16 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
76 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jul 3, 2022
Windshield started cracking for no reason from bottom left, spreading to about 22inches across to the driver side
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2022
Windshield developed large L or J shaped crack from very top near roof line, down center of windshield and turns toward the Drivers side. This car was PARKED in our driveway at home when it cracked. No stone chips, nothing dropped on it as you can see in attached pictures. We will schedule a visit to Subaru dealer here in Knoxville, TN. for inspection. No warnings because vehicle was parked in our driveway.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2022
a crack developed at the base of the windshield and spread across the windshield
Visibility/wiper, Jun 8, 2022
The windshield was parked in my driveway and was fine when I parked it. When I went to start the car the windshield had cracked. It was not hit with a rock or anything - just spontaneously cracked while sitting in my driveway. Vehicle is just over a year old and very low miles.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2022
I was driving down the interstate using the IQ cruise feature. There was no road construction and a car was in front of me. A small pebble hit the bottom part of the windshield, passenger side. This was not a large rock. It was "normal" gravel that often hits the windshield during highway driving. After hearing the "ting" from the small rock, we then heard a cracking sound. Immediately a 12 inch crack appeared in the windshield. Within hours, the crack doubled in size. Two days later, two new cracks appear. These cracks are on the bottom, driver side and intersect with one another. One crack is approximately 18 inches long, the other is less than 12 inches. I now have two sets of cracks that almost span the entire width of the windshield. I have already paid to repair a chip in the middle of the windshield that occurred several months ago. I was stopped at a red light. There was a car in front of me. When the light turned green, the car in front of me threw a rock on my windshield as we began to accelerate. We were not moving fast at all, since the light had just changed to green. I was shocked to see a chip in my windshield from that incident. Prior to owning my 2021 Subaru Forester, I drove a 2010 Mazda CX-9. My Mazda had 160,000 miles when I traded it in. The Mazda's windshield was NEVER damaged in over 10 years and 160,000 miles. In contrast, I have owned my Subaru Forester for 18 months and have driven less than 19,000 miles. I have already paid to repair one chip and now need to replace the entire windshield due to cracks across both the driver and passenger sides. There appears to be a defect with the Subaru Forester windshield that makes it excessively prone to damage. There have been Subaru windshield issues in the past (unknown to me until recently). Based on my experiences, I do not believe the windshield problem has been completely resolved.
Visibility/wiper, May 22, 2022
A small rock hit the top driver’s corner of the windshield and led to 2 continuous cracks which extended to the middle of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 25, 2022
Used the car on Saturday, didn't get hit with a rock or a branch. When I parked the car there wasn't a crack. Woke up Sunday morning and the Windshield was cracked, it started from the bottom passenger corner up to the middle of windshield about 10-12". No trees nearby or rock damage. Taking it to Subaru today.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 19, 2022
Windshield was cracked and was repaired successfully by Safelite. Then a new crack started about 18 inches long. Then a 3rd crack just happened. There was no major things hitting Windshield . 3 cracks to a brand new 1yr windshield seems to be very faulty material. Online comments have noted this is a major problem with subaru who don't seem interested in rectifying the situation. This seems to be a major safety issue.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 12, 2022
Having the car less than a year already have several chips on the windshield. In doing research it seems that there are a lot of issues with new Subaru windshields with chipping and cracking.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 25, 2022
Purchased brand new from dealer. Less than 3 months later a tiny pebble came up and hit the center of the windshield, immediately you could see an indentation and a spider web. Now the whole windshield has multiple spider web cracks. The splits go from edge of driver's side all the way to edge of passenger side of the car. As well as 3 separate rings going around center indentation. Only had the car 3 months when this occured. Have had 3 instances that I could not start the car. Now the cigarette lighter charge port will not work. Moon roof malfunctioning and will not close sometimes when fully opened. Now I am having issues with the brakes sticking. It's 1 year old and this is way too many issues for a brand new car! Never again!
Visibility/wiper, Mar 19, 2022
There was a small rock kicked up by another car, and there immediately was a 6 inch curved crack in the windshield from the bottom-most part of the windshield. It quickly spread to 10+ inches and is still growing. The car is only at 9.8k miles
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2022
I heard a ping from a small rock kicked up by another driver, and I immediately noticed a 6 inch crack in the windshield. It quickly spread to 10+ inches and is still growing. The car is only at 7k miles…and I already had to replace the left rear quarter panel glass which shattered a month after buying new. I’ve never had vehicle glass crack so easily on any other vehicle!!
Visibility/wiper, Jan 25, 2022
While driving home 1/21/2022 I heard a rock hit the hood of my car, when I arrived home I checked for damage...nothing I could see. When I went out the next morning I had a 14 inch crack in my windshield. I took my car to have inspected at the dealership repair and they said it was due to a chip the size of a pinhead. I have contacted my insurance and filed a claim so the windshield will be repaired but I have to pay a $500 deductible. There's got to be some kind of fault with the windshield that it would sustain this kind of damage from such a small chip in the glass. I have included pictures magnified at 10X
Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2022
There was a tiny pebble hit the windshield on Friday Jan 21st 2022. There was a minor chip in the windshield due to that and later in an hour or so it expanded into a 8-10 inches one. This is while I was driving, I still haven't got home.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 20, 2022
With no impact from flying debris the windshield developed a bubble/crack potentially in the interlayer. There crack/bubble cannot be felt on the inside or outside parts of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 28, 2021
Today I replaced my windshield for the second time in less than 6 months of owning the vehicle. The first crack happened a few months after I bought the car with no impact while driving. The second one also happened a couple weeks ago with no impact while driving. After seeing the other complaints, I'm shocked that there isn't a recall on these windshields. It's very dangerous to have windshields constantly cracking, especially without impact while driving.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 24, 2021
Windshield cracked with no impact. Started at top center and is expanding down the center of the windshield. I reached out to Subaru but no response.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 19, 2021
Crack in the windshield in line of sight. There is no entry point and upon research I’m seeing a lot of people complain about the 2021 models of the Subaru Forester with cracks. Living in the cold this is highly dangerous.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 16, 2021
I purchased this vehicle one week ago and the first four miles I was on the interstate a small rock cracked my windshield. The issues with the Forester windshields extend to the 2021 models.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 7, 2021
Windshield cracked at passenger side wiper arm area. There was no impact and no other vehicles in the immediate area. Crack quickly spread in a J shape to the driver's side.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2021
Windshield easily cracks, without an impact site. I will be putting my 3rd windshield in and have owned the car for 7 months. 1st windshield cracked while parked at work. Not driving. May 5th, 2021. Had 1805 miles. 2nd windshield cracked while parked at home last night. Not driving. Have approx 9k miles now
Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2021
Intermittently, wipers do not function, even after 2 repairs. The first time, (3 weeks after vehicle purchase) after driving approximately 5-10 minutes in the rain, the wipers (front and rear) stopped working. After approximately 10 minutes, function resumed. The second time (later the same day), after driving approximately 5-10 minutes in the rain, the wipers (front and rear) stopped working. After approximately 17 minutes, function resumed. Wiper motor replaced by dealer. (3.5 weeks after vehicle purchase) The third time (9 weeks after purchase), after a heavy dew, the wipers (front and rear) did not function. After approximately 10 minutes, wipers began to function. The fourth time (12 weeks after purchase), rain began after driving 1.5-2 hours and wipers (front and rear) did not function at all. Dealer located and fixed a loose connection. (12.5 weeks after vehicle purchase) The fifth time (13 weeks after purchase), rain began after driving 1.5-2 hours and wipers (front and rear) did not function. After approximately 15 minutes, wipers began to function. The sixth time (15 weeks after purchase), rain began after driving 15 minutes and wipers (front and rear) stopped functioning after approximately 5-10 minutes of use. After approximately 30 minutes, wipers began to function.
Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 25, 2021
Rock damage to windshield. Subaru advises to replace with OEM glass to guarantee safety systems operate correctly making this a safety issue. The problem is that Subaru windshields are back ordered. There are two problems here. First, Subaru windshields are very susceptible to damage, perhaps more than others. Second, Subaru fails to maintain critical safety system parts.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 21, 2021
1100 miles on vehicle.Went inside business came out and 18 inch crack on windshield across my vision.No apparent reason.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2021
I bought my vehicle and less than 24 hours later I was driving in the middle lane of the highway when my ears popped, and my windshield cracked down the middle. No rock seen or heard. Bought 8/26. Windshield cracks over 12 inches 8/27.