IllustrationI received a small chip on my windshield that overnight has developed into several cracks that span the entire windshield. What should have been fixable by a professional windshield repair service will require the entire windshield to be replaced and eyesight system will need to be recalibrated.
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 reportsWindshield crack from unknown source, crack expanded while technician tried to repair. Required complete windshield replacement .
On June 4, 2021 me and my famliy went for a 3 days road trip from Cirlce Pines Minnesota going to Duluth MN . The drive was approximately 2hrs plus. 12 mins. before we reached our destination the windshield suddenly showed a crack about 12 inches out from no where and blocks my visibility while driving. I went to my car dealer o…
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On June 4, 2021 me and my famliy went for a 3 days road trip from Cirlce Pines Minnesota going to Duluth MN . The drive was approximately 2hrs plus. 12 mins. before we reached our destination the windshield suddenly showed a crack about 12 inches out from no where and blocks my visibility while driving. I went to my car dealer on 6/8/21 at Morries Subaru brooklyn park and asked for a replacement warranty but they denied it. 2020 forester windshields is so Dangerous because even a small rock will make it crack and blocks clear visibility while driving. This is happening to more and more subaru cars with eyesight technology. NHTSA should investigate if there is manufacturing defect or engineering defect with this windshield for a safer road and driving experience. I have a dashcam video of the said incident. I am more willing to submit it for your reference.
Windshield cracks spontaneously. Driving on well maintained roads and brand new car has windshield damage that shows abnormal cracks with no or unknown cause or normal road conditions.
Windshield cracked for no reason
Driving at low speed heard a slight noise. Didn’t see any damage but the windshield cracked. Within about 2 minutes the crack spread approximately 3 inches. Within another couple minutes the crack extended vertically and then turned horizontally running another 10 inches. I have never had a crack occur and extend in this matter…
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Driving at low speed heard a slight noise. Didn’t see any damage but the windshield cracked. Within about 2 minutes the crack spread approximately 3 inches. Within another couple minutes the crack extended vertically and then turned horizontally running another 10 inches. I have never had a crack occur and extend in this matter. Replacement and calibration of Isight technology according to satellite and the dealer costs are around 1900 dollars.
I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. I FIRST NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE UPPER DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE NOW SEEN MULTIPLE CRACKS THAT DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE AN ORIGINATION POINT OF IMPACT FROM AN OBJECT. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE A CRACK THAT IT FORMING IN THE AREA OF THE CAMERAS FOR THE EYESIGHT …
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I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. I FIRST NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE UPPER DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE NOW SEEN MULTIPLE CRACKS THAT DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE AN ORIGINATION POINT OF IMPACT FROM AN OBJECT. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE A CRACK THAT IT FORMING IN THE AREA OF THE CAMERAS FOR THE EYESIGHT WHICH MAY LEAD TO DEGRADATION OR FAILURE OF THE EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE EVENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACKS IS UNKNOWN.
1IN TO 2FT LONG CRACKS ARE BEING CREATED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AT THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT OF ANY SMALL PEBBLES. WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY EASILY COMPROMISED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD, INSTANTLY CREATING A 2FT LONG CRACK ACROSS IT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I…
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1IN TO 2FT LONG CRACKS ARE BEING CREATED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AT THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT OF ANY SMALL PEBBLES. WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY EASILY COMPROMISED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD, INSTANTLY CREATING A 2FT LONG CRACK ACROSS IT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION, WHEN ANOTHER SMALL PEBBLE IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD, INSTANTLY CREATING A 1 INCH CRACK.
MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKING FROM THE TOP DOWN BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR NO APPARENT REASON, NO ROCK DENT , NO IMPACT , THE VEHICLE WAS IN MY WORK PARKING LOT AND I NOTICED THE CRACK UPON LEAVING WORK AT 4 PM, DROVE TO WORK AT 8 AM WAS DAYLIGHT AND NO VISIBLE CRACK NOTICED
I JUST WALKED OUT TO MY CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY THERE WAS A HUGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD I HAVEN'T HIT OR BEEN HIT BY ANYTHING THIS IS A NEW CAR HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A A YEAR YET DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WINDSHIELD WOULD CRACK SO BAD GOES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD
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.