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
What owners actually said
600 reports
4,200 miles · Dec 12, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
WE HAVE HAD OUR 2020 FORESTER FOR 5 MONTHS. COMING HOME FROM A DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, WE NOTICED A TINY CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN WE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WHERE A TINY CRACK DEVELOPS FROM A ROCK OR OTHER SMALL DEBRIS AND T…
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WE HAVE HAD OUR 2020 FORESTER FOR 5 MONTHS. COMING HOME FROM A DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE, WE NOTICED A TINY CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN WE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WHERE A TINY CRACK DEVELOPS FROM A ROCK OR OTHER SMALL DEBRIS AND THEN WITHIN A DAY OR TWO THERE IS A TWO TO THREE FOOT CRACK ACROSS THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE DRIVEN OTHER VEHICLES FOR YEARS WITHOUT A TINY PIECE OF DEBRIS CAUSING SO MUCH DAMAGE. THERE IS CLEARLY A FLAW IN HOW THE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEVELOPED (PROBABLY TO SELL THEIR EXPENSIVE WINDSHIELD WARRANTY PLANS). AS THERE IS A POINT OF IMPACT I'M SURE IT WON'T BE COVERED BY ANY OF OUR MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES. THE WHOLE ISSUE THOUGH IS THE LACK OF VISIBLE DEBRIS DURING OUR DRIVE--LITERALLY IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN SOMETHING SMALLER THAN A PEA. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT SUCH A SMALL IMPACT WOULD CAUSE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. AGAIN, WE HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH DEBRIS WITH OTHER BRANDS IN THE PAST, AND A SMALL IMPACT DID NOT CRACK THE WINDSHIELD AT ALL. WE DID NOT NOTICE THE CRACK UNTIL WE GOT HOME, BUT IT LIKELY OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION. WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY, BUT NOT A HIGH MPH STRETCH. WE WERE ONLY COMING BACK FROM A COUPLE MILES AWAY FROM OUR HOME, WHERE THE VEHICLE SITS IN THE GARAGE 100% OF THE TIME IT IS NOT BEING DRIVEN.
NHTSA ODI #11383152
55,000 miles · Dec 11, 2020
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY SHE DISCOVERED A 13-14 INCH CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY SHE DISCOVERED A 13-14 INCH CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11382999
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2020
Visibility/wiper
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITHIN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AND AN OBJECT WE COULD NOT IDENTIFY HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON A SUNDAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL ROCK, BUT TWO DAYS LATER ON TUESDAY WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT CRACK THAT DEVELOPED FROM A SMALL CHIP. I LATER LEARNED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT SUBARU HAS HAD ISSUES WITH T…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITHIN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AND AN OBJECT WE COULD NOT IDENTIFY HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON A SUNDAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL ROCK, BUT TWO DAYS LATER ON TUESDAY WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT CRACK THAT DEVELOPED FROM A SMALL CHIP. I LATER LEARNED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT SUBARU HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS.
NHTSA ODI #11382744
7,100 miles · Dec 9, 2020
Visibility/wiper
MY CAR DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CRACK WASN'T THERE IN THE NIGHT, AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN LOCALLY FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS TO GO TO WORK AND BACK. I AM GENERALLY KNOWN TO MY FRIENDS AS ONE OF THE SAFEST DRIVERS AROUND AND I TRY TO DRIVE AS DEFENSIVELY AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT RE…
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MY CAR DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CRACK WASN'T THERE IN THE NIGHT, AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN LOCALLY FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS TO GO TO WORK AND BACK. I AM GENERALLY KNOWN TO MY FRIENDS AS ONE OF THE SAFEST DRIVERS AROUND AND I TRY TO DRIVE AS DEFENSIVELY AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT RECALL ANY DEBRIS OR STONES HITTING MY CAR. THE CRACK IS BIG AND IT CANNOT BE MASKED BY OTHER MEASURES. I DID NOT EXPECT A CAR WHICH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING JUST FOR 2 MONTHS TO DEVELOP SUCH AN ISSUE. ON THE CONTRARY I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 LEXUS ES330 SINCE PAST 5 YEARS BUT NEVER DID I HAVE A SIMILAR DAMAGE LIKE IN 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE SAFETY PRACTICES OF THIS COMPANY. THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR IS INCOMMUNICADO. I HOPE SOMEONE PICKS THIS UP AND HELPS ME FOOT THE BILL WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE MY INSURANCE RATE AND TAKE A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF MONEY FROM MY POCKET WHICH I COULDN'T HAVE FORESEEN.
I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WAS DARK AND RAINING. SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I WOKE UP ON SATURDAY I SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD
NHTSA ODI #11378625
1,000 miles · Dec 3, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WINDSHIELD ISSUE - ON 10/24/20 DISCOVERED APPROX. 2 FT. CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD OF OUR 2020 SUBARU FORRESTER. NO IDEA WHEN CRACK ACTUALLY HAPPENED. NO OBVIOUS DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD STUCK THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. CAR STAYS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE UNLESS IT'S BEING DRIVEN. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 9/26/20 A…
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WINDSHIELD ISSUE - ON 10/24/20 DISCOVERED APPROX. 2 FT. CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD OF OUR 2020 SUBARU FORRESTER. NO IDEA WHEN CRACK ACTUALLY HAPPENED. NO OBVIOUS DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD STUCK THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. CAR STAYS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE UNLESS IT'S BEING DRIVEN. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 9/26/20 AND HAD APPROX.1000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WE ASSUMED IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND TOOK TO DEALER LATER THAT WEEK. THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD US A ROCK MUST HAVE HIT IT AND WE HAD TO GET IT FIXED - NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY THE CRACK IS GETTING LARGER, SO WE HAVE APPT. TO GET WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND PAY $500 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE. CAN SCAN AND SEND INSURANCE/INVOICE PAPERWORK ONCE REPAIR IS COMPLETE IF NEEDED.
NHTSA ODI #11377834
2,800 miles · Dec 3, 2020
Visibility/wiper
FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
NHTSA ODI #11377620
7,000 miles · Dec 2, 2020
Visibility/wiper
THE CAR WAS PARKED AS I WAS WALKING UP TO IT THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS WALKING TO MY CAR AND NOTICED A GLARE WALKING UP AND LOOKED CLOSER AND THERE WAS A CRACKING MY WINDSHIELD
NHTSA ODI #11377588
10,000 miles · Dec 1, 2020
Visibility/wiper
A 12 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE, STARTING AT THE EDGE, AND GOING HORIZONTALLY TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD JUST LEFT A SHOP'S PARKING LOT. IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE PARKING. I DID NOT SPOT IT IMMEDIATELY BUT ONLY AFTER 3 MINUTES DRIVING. THERE WAS NO NOISE OF A HIT OR BREAKAGE WHILE I WA…
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A 12 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE, STARTING AT THE EDGE, AND GOING HORIZONTALLY TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD JUST LEFT A SHOP'S PARKING LOT. IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE PARKING. I DID NOT SPOT IT IMMEDIATELY BUT ONLY AFTER 3 MINUTES DRIVING. THERE WAS NO NOISE OF A HIT OR BREAKAGE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE CRACK WOULD SPREAD TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE - OR ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA ODI #11377356
4,500 miles · Nov 27, 2020
Visibility/wiper
SPONTANEOUS CHIPPING AND CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. DID NOT HEAR ANY ROCK OR PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD DURING DRIVING. ONCE I STOPPED IN THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP THE TANK I NOTICED A CRACKED STARTING FROM THE MIDDLE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE I'M CLEANING IT.
NHTSA ODI #11376760
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 ↗