← New search

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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2023
Visibility/wiper

(06/22) - Small pebble hits windshield and creates a "star-pattern" crack measuring 2.25 inches in diameter. Booked earliest appointment for windshield replacement on Tuesday 06/27. Have not touched windshield and have not driven vehicle as of this day. (06/24) - Waiting for windshield replacement appointment; star-pattern cra…

Read full complaint

(06/22) - Small pebble hits windshield and creates a "star-pattern" crack measuring 2.25 inches in diameter. Booked earliest appointment for windshield replacement on Tuesday 06/27. Have not touched windshield and have not driven vehicle as of this day. (06/24) - Waiting for windshield replacement appointment; star-pattern crack has extended aggressively overnight while parked under shaded carport (average temp 64 degrees), far beyond what is typical. As of 06/24 there are 2 long cracks extending in opposite directions measuring 9 inches above and 13 inches below original impact diameter. Please note that Subaru has had prior class action lawsuits filed for similar issues regarding brittle/unsafe windshields for Subaru Outback and Forester 2016-2020 models.

NHTSA ODI #11528681

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2023
Visibility/wiper

While driving, I heard a loud POP. I thought something hit the car, but I was not close behind another vehicle or road hazard. For about 15 minutes I thought no harm, no foul. Then suddenly, I saw a long, mostly horizontal crack from the bottom left and extending about 18" toward the center of the windshield. I called the …

Read full complaint

While driving, I heard a loud POP. I thought something hit the car, but I was not close behind another vehicle or road hazard. For about 15 minutes I thought no harm, no foul. Then suddenly, I saw a long, mostly horizontal crack from the bottom left and extending about 18" toward the center of the windshield. I called the Subaru dealer [where I bought the car] and was quoted $910 parts and $590 labor, but they were unable to give me a service appointment date at that time. I don't feel the car is safe to drive, so I am looking for a quicker repair from an independent windshield replacement shop. At the same time, I researched Subaru windshield cracks and found numerous reports of easily cracking Subaru windshields. It appears that if I replace one Subaru windshield with another Subaru windshield, I may just be waiting for another Subaru windshield crack in the future.

NHTSA ODI #11525189

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Windshield cracked in the bottom black area. This is a known problem for other model years. Subaru should issue a recall / fix for the 2020 Forester also.

NHTSA ODI #11525164

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Driving down the highway and the windshield cracks and the cracks keeps getting longer.

NHTSA ODI #11523599

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2023
Visibility/wiper

The vehicle was parked in our driveway in Lafayette, CA on 5/16/2023. Outside temperature reached approximately 75 degrees. The windshield developed a spontaneous crack, horizontally spanning the driver's side edge to nearly the middle. No impact point can be observed along the crack line. The vehicle is available for inspectio…

Read full complaint

The vehicle was parked in our driveway in Lafayette, CA on 5/16/2023. Outside temperature reached approximately 75 degrees. The windshield developed a spontaneous crack, horizontally spanning the driver's side edge to nearly the middle. No impact point can be observed along the crack line. The vehicle is available for inspection but has not yet been inspected by any authority. Vision may be blurred or compromised along the crack line, which should be deemed a safety issue. Numerous reports of windshield faults for 2019+ Subaru Foresters have been reported online, though Subaru continues to deny these claims.

NHTSA ODI #11523296

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2023
Visibility/wiper

My windshield has cracked - huge lines running across the windshield including the driver's side - three times in 2.5 years necessitating I pay out of pocket to replace the windshield each time. I will now need to get my fourth windshield in less than 3 years of having a brand new car. Though I have been told that it was "outsid…

Read full complaint

My windshield has cracked - huge lines running across the windshield including the driver's side - three times in 2.5 years necessitating I pay out of pocket to replace the windshield each time. I will now need to get my fourth windshield in less than 3 years of having a brand new car. Though I have been told that it was "outside influence" such as a rock, I did not see or hear a rock hit the windshield. Not to mention I have owned many other cars and have never had to replace the windshield so many times. The latest windshield I replaced was less than a month ago and now I have to replace it again. There was a recall/class action lawsuit on previous years of the Subaru Forester and it is not clear or apparent that they have changed the windshield substantially enough that this issue has been resolved. It is dangerous and defective to have a windshield that has long cracks in it so frequently and consistently. My and my family's safety is at risk when it is difficult to see because of the huge cracks in the windshield, particularly at night or in inclement weather (i.e., rain storms). The problem has happened now 3 times in less than 3 years. A product that warrants so much replacement is defective in nature. I have called both the dealership and Subaru USA - who said that they did know that I was not the only one having these issues. The vehicle has been expected by experts at Safelite and I am taking it to the dealership for an inspection with this latest crack. But because they claim a rock hit it then I have to pay for the replacement - but when this happens with such frequency then how can the windshield not be defective? When this is not the standard for all other cars! And it is dangerous to have an unreliable windshield! No there were no warning messages.

NHTSA ODI #11522714

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2023
Visibility/wiper

The windshield cracked for no apparent reason. It’s a 2 foot long crack, low on driver side. The crack appeared while the car sat parked in a garage. It wasn’t there when the car was parked and was visible when we returned to drive the car. The windshield is so widely cracked, the risk is s sheet of glass will hurt the driver …

Read full complaint

The windshield cracked for no apparent reason. It’s a 2 foot long crack, low on driver side. The crack appeared while the car sat parked in a garage. It wasn’t there when the car was parked and was visible when we returned to drive the car. The windshield is so widely cracked, the risk is s sheet of glass will hurt the driver or passenger. We have not taken it to the dealer for repair yet The windshield cracked without warning or sufficient cause.

NHTSA ODI #11522457

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Windshield cracked and split to the middle unexpectedly

NHTSA ODI #11520992

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Noticed a crack in the windshield glass today in the parking lot at work. This crack starts at the bottom of the windshield and goes upward about 8 inches. There are no signs of the windshield being hit. I looked this issue up and there is a class action lawsuit going on about defective windshields on certain Subaru models. M…

Read full complaint

Noticed a crack in the windshield glass today in the parking lot at work. This crack starts at the bottom of the windshield and goes upward about 8 inches. There are no signs of the windshield being hit. I looked this issue up and there is a class action lawsuit going on about defective windshields on certain Subaru models. Mine is included.

NHTSA ODI #11520352

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2023
Visibility/wiper

Windshield cracked in J shape starting at the center of the bottom. The crack appeared overnight; there was no crack when the car was parked the night before, and the crack was observed when entering the car the next morning. No impacts observed. Approximately 12k miles.

NHTSA ODI #11503848

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems