IllustrationWINDSHIELD 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.
2020 Subaru Forester
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Forester years
Owner complaints for the 2020 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
2400–25K
2325–50K
750–75K
275–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
272 reports with mileage · 328 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 252 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports8 fire reports13 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
252 reportsCHIPS/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
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.
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, S…
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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.
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.
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.
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.
A CRACK GREATER THAN 12 INCHES ON THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOTED . THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS CRACK.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY - PARKED, WHEN THIS OCCURRED, AND WILL BE EXPENSIVE ($1000+) TO FIX
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK. NO KNOWN EVEN SUCH AS A DEBRIS STRIKE WAS OCCURRED. CRACK WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.