IllustrationFor no observed reason, the windshield cracked while the car was parked in the shade between the hours of 11:56 - 12:43 PM. The crack appeared to originate from the lower right corner and spread diagonally towards the center of the windshield.
2021 Subaru Forester
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2021 Subaru Forester do not stand out strongly from 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
Limited mileage data: 37 of 207 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
76 reportsCracked Front Windshield location is bottom passanger side by wiper up left to towards the rear view mirror. Car is a new 2021 Subaru Forester.
The windshield cracked at 1,700 miles, while parked. The car had no visible chips/cracks and is brand new. After researching, it is apparently a common defect with the Subaru windshield. Crack is comparable to photos of other Subaru Forester owners. Seems that Subaru should already be aware of this problem and issue a recall on …
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The windshield cracked at 1,700 miles, while parked. The car had no visible chips/cracks and is brand new. After researching, it is apparently a common defect with the Subaru windshield. Crack is comparable to photos of other Subaru Forester owners. Seems that Subaru should already be aware of this problem and issue a recall on the windshield
Windshield on the car has a 18" crack after no impact. It was brand new when we got it just over 2 months ago. Only 1500 miles on the car and already the windshield cracked so badly that it's beyond repair and needs to be replaced. This is a known issue with Subarus that they have not addressed
UNKNOWN the windshield began to crack from the top during drive and has continued to crack down the middle
This is for a car only 18 days driven. Windshield cracked from bottom, under retaining gasket, with no strike, impact, or previous ding. Car hood flexes up and down, more than 2-inches, when large trucks pass in opposite direction. Automatic fuel stop at pump did not work properly, causing fuel spill one time, and underfill anot…
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This is for a car only 18 days driven. Windshield cracked from bottom, under retaining gasket, with no strike, impact, or previous ding. Car hood flexes up and down, more than 2-inches, when large trucks pass in opposite direction. Automatic fuel stop at pump did not work properly, causing fuel spill one time, and underfill another time. Windshield visibility and possibility of total failure. Car hood could fly up and obscure visibility and break windshield. Have not contacted dealer or insurance company yet about issues. Windshield problem is a known defect for Subaru, and subject of many lawsuits. No warnings before problems.
The windshield on my Forester continues to chip and crack. I'm not understanding how and why. The first time it happened I repaired it. Now this is the 2nd time and there are multiple scratches and cracks in the center of the windshield. They are currently small. I am going to have to repair it AGAIN. I just bought my car in Dec…
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The windshield on my Forester continues to chip and crack. I'm not understanding how and why. The first time it happened I repaired it. Now this is the 2nd time and there are multiple scratches and cracks in the center of the windshield. They are currently small. I am going to have to repair it AGAIN. I just bought my car in December 2020. It has been 5 months with two windshield incidents. I've owned cars for years and never had this issue.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AT 9AM WHEN I WALKED IN TO MY OFFICE BUILDING, WHEN I CAME OUT AT 5:15 PM THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK STRETCHING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWARDS THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY, IN A VERY SLOW OFFICE BUILDING COMPLEX (THERE WERE 3 OF US AT WOR…
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WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AT 9AM WHEN I WALKED IN TO MY OFFICE BUILDING, WHEN I CAME OUT AT 5:15 PM THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK STRETCHING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWARDS THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY, IN A VERY SLOW OFFICE BUILDING COMPLEX (THERE WERE 3 OF US AT WORK) PARKED ALONG THE FRONT WALKWAY, THERE IS NO FOOT TRAFFIC AROUND OUR BUILDING.
MY WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED FOR A SECOND TIME WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF BUYING MY CAR. I HAD IT REPLACED WHEN IT CRACKED THE FIRST TIME LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT. IT JUST CRACKED FOR A SECOND TIME LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED PLACE.
A CRACK APPEARED FOR NO REASON ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DEALING WITH AN ISSUE WHERE THE CAR ALARM WOULD GO OFF AT RANDOM SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE SENSITIVITY TURNED DOWN. LAST NIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT IT WENT OFF FOR NO REASON AGAIN. THIS MORNING WHEN…
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A CRACK APPEARED FOR NO REASON ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DEALING WITH AN ISSUE WHERE THE CAR ALARM WOULD GO OFF AT RANDOM SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE SENSITIVITY TURNED DOWN. LAST NIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT IT WENT OFF FOR NO REASON AGAIN. THIS MORNING WHEN DRIVING MY CAR I NOTICED A ~12INCH CRACK ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT CURVES FROM THE EDGE AT THE MIDDLE OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE. PHOTO ATTACHED. THIS CRACK MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE SITTING STATIONARY PARKED OUTSIDE.
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.