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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

What owners actually said

600 reports
70 miles · Jan 3, 2021
Electrical SystemLane Departure

VEHICLE HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE TPMS THAT LESS THAN A YEAR IN, ONE OF THEM IS SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. THEE HEAD UNIT (INFOTAINMENT SYS) ALSO HAD CONNECTION ISSUE THAT WAS AWARE AND KNOWN BY SUBURA DEALER REP WHEN CALLED AND AS TO BRING IN FOR MAINTENANCE. BLINDS POT MONITOR ON THE RIGHT HAS TENDENCY TO NOT FLASH OR ALE…

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VEHICLE HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE TPMS THAT LESS THAN A YEAR IN, ONE OF THEM IS SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. THEE HEAD UNIT (INFOTAINMENT SYS) ALSO HAD CONNECTION ISSUE THAT WAS AWARE AND KNOWN BY SUBURA DEALER REP WHEN CALLED AND AS TO BRING IN FOR MAINTENANCE. BLINDS POT MONITOR ON THE RIGHT HAS TENDENCY TO NOT FLASH OR ALERT EVERY SO OFTEN.

NHTSA ODI #11386233

4,500 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

ONE DAY I LOOKED UP AT MY WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS A SCRATCH/CRACK VISIBLE ON THE INSIDE. NOTHING HIT IT.

NHTSA ODI #11386180

5,924 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Visibility/wiper

BETWEEN THE TIME AT WHICH I PARKED MY VEHICLE (WITH A FULLY INTACT, UN-CHIPPED WINDSHIELD) IN THE SMALL, PRIVATE PARKING LOT AT MY RURAL PLACE OF WORK, APPROXIMATELY 9:00AM EST ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, AND THE TIME AT WHICH I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER AT 10:45AM EST ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, A LARGE CRAC…

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BETWEEN THE TIME AT WHICH I PARKED MY VEHICLE (WITH A FULLY INTACT, UN-CHIPPED WINDSHIELD) IN THE SMALL, PRIVATE PARKING LOT AT MY RURAL PLACE OF WORK, APPROXIMATELY 9:00AM EST ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, AND THE TIME AT WHICH I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER AT 10:45AM EST ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2020, A LARGE CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK'S LENGTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 8.5 INCHES IN WIDTH, BEGINNING ON THE EDGE OF THE GLASS APPROXIMATELY 12" FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CONTINUING LATERALLY. THE VEHICLE, WHICH I PURCHASED LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY FORMING, IS BRAND NEW AND HAS JUST UNDER 6,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO BEEN THE SOLE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW, AND CAN ATTEST THAT NO ROCKS OR PEBBLES HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #11386176

6,000 miles · Jan 2, 2021
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING NEXT TO AN RV ON THE FREEWAY. RV KICKED UP SMALL DEBRIS ONTO WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD IMMEDIATELY HAD ABOUT 16 INCH CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #11386138

2,800 miles · Jan 1, 2021
Visibility/wiper

2020 FORESTER WITH 2800 MILES ON ODOMETER. STARTED CAR IN 26 DEGREE WEATHER AND SAW A CRACK APPEAR ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHICH THEN CREPT ACROSS HORIZONTALLY TO A LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES AS THE VEHICLE WARMED UP WITH DEFROSTER ON. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURPOSELY PURCHASED FOR IT'S VISIBILITY AND ELECTRONIC VEHICLE …

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2020 FORESTER WITH 2800 MILES ON ODOMETER. STARTED CAR IN 26 DEGREE WEATHER AND SAW A CRACK APPEAR ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHICH THEN CREPT ACROSS HORIZONTALLY TO A LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES AS THE VEHICLE WARMED UP WITH DEFROSTER ON. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURPOSELY PURCHASED FOR IT'S VISIBILITY AND ELECTRONIC VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES (EYESIGHT). A WINDSHIELD THAT CRACKS SEEMINGLY ON IT'S OWN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS THE FUNCTIONALITY, SAFETY AND THE MANUFACTURER'S STATED VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11386028

10,500 miles · Dec 25, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKS EASILY ON A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER

NHTSA ODI #11384951

800 miles · Dec 22, 2020
Visibility/wiper

I'VE HAD MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER FOR UNDER 3 MONTHS AND I'VE PUT LESS THAN 900 MILES ON IT, AND YET I'VE SOMEHOW STILL HIT 3 SMALL ROCKS RESULTING IN 3 CHIPS TO THE WINDSHIELD IMPACTING VISIBILITY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SAFELITE FILLED THE CHIPS BUT THEY ARE STILL VISIBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RESULT OF THE ACOUSTIC GLASS BEING MO…

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I'VE HAD MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER FOR UNDER 3 MONTHS AND I'VE PUT LESS THAN 900 MILES ON IT, AND YET I'VE SOMEHOW STILL HIT 3 SMALL ROCKS RESULTING IN 3 CHIPS TO THE WINDSHIELD IMPACTING VISIBILITY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SAFELITE FILLED THE CHIPS BUT THEY ARE STILL VISIBLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RESULT OF THE ACOUSTIC GLASS BEING MORE FRAGILE OR PRONE TO CHIPS AND CRACKS.

NHTSA ODI #11384544

3,650 miles · Dec 17, 2020
Visibility/wiper

DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON TEXAS STATE ROUTE 249 VERY SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM BOTTOM NEAR CENTER CREATING A STAR LESS THAN 1/4 INCH DIAMETER WITH NO DEPTH. EYESIGHT SYSTEM STILL WORKING. NEXT MORNING AFTER BEING IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT, FOUND A CRACK 14 INCH LONG HAD EXTENDED FROM IMPACT. WILL BE REPAIRED BY INSU…

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DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON TEXAS STATE ROUTE 249 VERY SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM BOTTOM NEAR CENTER CREATING A STAR LESS THAN 1/4 INCH DIAMETER WITH NO DEPTH. EYESIGHT SYSTEM STILL WORKING. NEXT MORNING AFTER BEING IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT, FOUND A CRACK 14 INCH LONG HAD EXTENDED FROM IMPACT. WILL BE REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AT A SUBARU QUALIFIED GLASS REPAIR FACILITY.

NHTSA ODI #11383929

4,000 miles · Dec 16, 2020
Forward Collision Avoidance

12/16/2020 DRIVING. 3:30 PM DAYTIME. CLEAR WEATHER. DIVIDED HIGHWAY. APPROX 50 MPH. NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CAR FOR AT LEAST A QUARTER MILE. CAR INITIATED SUDDEN STOP MODE NEARLY CAUSING A SEVERE REAR END COLLISION (AVOIDED BY APPROACHING DRIVER GOING INTO MEDIAN)

NHTSA ODI #11383803

10,000 miles · Dec 13, 2020
Service BrakesSteeringStructureCrash

ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 1, 2020, I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT,. THE CAR WAS PARKED FACING THE WALL, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR, AND I HAD TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. I THEN HAD TO TURN RIGHT, INTO MY DRIVEWAY LEADING TO THE STREET. AFTER…

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ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 1, 2020, I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT,. THE CAR WAS PARKED FACING THE WALL, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR, AND I HAD TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE INTO MY DRIVEWAY, PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. I THEN HAD TO TURN RIGHT, INTO MY DRIVEWAY LEADING TO THE STREET. AFTER I SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD SPONTANEOUSLY, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, NOR STEER THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT HARD AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. I FOUND THE CAR GOING FORWARDS TOWARDS THE GARAGE, BUT SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE OPEN GARAGE DOOR. I WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO TURN THE CAR WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WAS ALSO STIFF. I WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND MY INABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, WITH THE CAR GOING TOWARDS MY HOUSE, AND THE BRAKE NOT BEING EFFECTIVE. MY WIFE,[XXX]WHO WAS AT THE DOOR, WAS WATCHING AND HELPLESS. THE CAR THEN HIT THE PILLAR/ POST, BETWEEN MY GARAGE DOORS AND STOPPED, HITTING THE RIGHT SIDE, OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE POST. I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND DROVE THE CAR TO SUBARU'S SERVICE CENTER, AND HAS SINCE LEFT THE CAR THERE. I HAD MET EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION ABOUT 2-3 DAYS EARLIER. AT THAT TIME, I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. THE CAR IS WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF [XXX], SUBARU DEALER, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, CAN EXPLAIN THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR, AS IT HAS BEEN WITH THEM SINCE THE INCIDENT. MY WIFE WAS STANDING AT THE DOOR AND WITNESSED THE INCIDENT. THE INVESTIGATION WAS THEN HANDED OVER TO SUBARU AMERICA , WHO FURTHER FORWARDED IT TO BOSCH ENGINEERING. SUBARU AMERICA NOW WANTS TO ME TAKE THE CAR WITHOUT EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. I HAVE REQUESTED A COPY OF THE REPORT, WHICH SUBARU HAS DENIED . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11383225

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.

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