Complaint volume
589 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Subaru Forester Complaints
589 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Subaru Forester, grouped by component category.
589 Total complaints
25 Crash reports
7 Fire reports
13 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are visibility/wiper, unknown or other, visibility. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 25 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 13 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 272 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 10,312 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to visibility/wiper, unknown or other, visibility?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Subaru Forester?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Subaru Forester
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Subaru Forester complaints?
25 Crash
7 Fire
13 Injury
0 Fatality
23 Towed
10 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Subaru Forester complaint categories?
VISIBILITY/WIPER 234
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 67
VISIBILITY 49
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 15
ENGINE 15
POWER TRAIN 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER 8
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 6
589 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED, STARTED BELOW WIPER IN THE MIDDLE OF GLASS, CRACK ABOUT 8 INCHES PERPENDICULAR TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR IN THE RAIN TURNED ON DEFROSTER AND SAW THE CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,000 |
| Apr 2021 | SEATS | I HAVE PHYSICAL BIPOLAR KNEE AND LEGS CROSS I M 5FT 11 AND WEIGHT 290LLBS. I BEEN CONTACT MOBILITYWORKS AND CAN THEY PUT SEAT JACKERS ANC EXTENSION SEAT BACK THEY CAN'T DO I M SO FRUSTRATING SEARCH SOMEONE HANDLE WELDING TO PUT MORE SEAT JACKERS AND I CANNOT TRADE BECAUSE LOST VALUE I M SO [XXX] ANGRY PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO APPARENT CHIPS, OR DINGS. SEEMS TO COME FROM THE DEFROST AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD UNDER THE RUBBER GASKET. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,984 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I TRAVELLED TO WORK AND THE WINDSHIELD FORMED A CRACK ON THE UPPER LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD (DRIVER'S SIDE). IT STARTS AT THE CORNER AND PROCEEDS (SO FAR) TO BE 1.5 FEET LONG. THERE WERE NO ONCOMING VEHICLES OR VEHICLES THAT I WAS FOLLOWING. IT WAS A LEFT HAND TURN, LOW SPEED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,085 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2020, MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY SOME VERY SMALL OBJECT THAT HARDLY MADE A SOUND WHEN IT STRUCK. THE RESULT WAS A VERY SMALL CRACK ABOUT AN INCH LONG. I HAD THIS REPAIRED BY SAFELITE MOBILE SERVICE ON SEPT. 30 ON APRIL 6, 2021 AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TOWN, AN APPROXIMATELY 15 INCH CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK RUNS FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD UP THROUGH THE REPAIRED "CHIP" MENTIONED ABOVE AND ON FOR ANOTHER 12 INCHES OR SO. THERE WAS NOTHING TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD THIS DAY. I CONTACTED THE RAMSEY SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THERE WAS THAT INITIAL CHIP, THE SUBARU WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED THE SAFELITE OFFICE NEAREST ME THAT HAD REPAIRED THE CHIP IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY SCHEDULED ME TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON MONDAY, APRIL 12 AT 12:30 PM. I DID PHONE THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, APRIL 9 TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH NO ONE ANSWERING THE PHONE, I LEFT A MESSAGE TO CONTACT ME. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE OF ANY KIND. I PLAN TO VISIT THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING APRIL 12 TO APPEAL MY ORAL DECISION. IF I AM SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, I WILL AMEND THIS REPORT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO NO APPARENT CAUSE - NO COLLISION, NO ROCK HITTING IT. IT SIMPLY APPEARED OVERNIGHT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A SMALL CHIP ON THE BLACK EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD OCCURRED THE END OF FEBRUARY, THEN IT TURNED INTO AN 18' LONG CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN A FEW HOURS ON A ROAD TRIP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE EIGHT SEPARATE FRACTURES ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT WERE NOT CAUSED BY IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP WHERE ONE FRACTURE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SEVERAL OTHER FRACTURES OCCURRED AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU OF PUEBLO (2125 US-50, PUEBLO, CO 81008, (719) 545-9955) WHO WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE FRACTURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD LITERALLY CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE MIDDLE FROM A SMALL PEBBLE (THE FIRST PEBBLE I'VE HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD). I JUST GOT THIS CAR, BARELY EVEN BROKEN IN AT 7,000 MILES. THE SAFETY FEATURES FROM EYESIGHT DON'T WORK PROPERLY AFTER THIS WHICH POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Apr 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO AND WITHIN THE FIRST 4,000 MILES OR SO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, I HEARD A LIGHT CRACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. UPON OBSERVATION OF THE WINDSHIELD, I OBSERVED A VERY SMALL CHIP. WITHIN ONE DAY AFTER, THE CHIP BEGAN TO "SPIDER" CRACK IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, GURLEY LEEP SUBARU IN THE SOUTH BEND/MISHAWAKA, INDIANA AREA, THEY LOOKED AT THE WINDSHIELD AND GAVE A PROPOSAL OF ESTIMATED COST OF $1,500 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I THEN CONTACTED MY STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENT WHO ADVISED SUBARU HAD A CURRENT "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT" AGAINST THEM FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS THAT CHIP OR CRACK EASILY. STATE FARM ALSO ADVISED THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SUBARU VEHICLE CUSTOMERS MAKING CLAIMS OF CRACKED WINDSHIELDS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE OF DEFECTIVE SUBARU WINDSHIELDS, THEN SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A SMALL, APPROXIMATELY 3" CRACK APPEARED ON LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT IMPACT AT THAT TIME. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CRACKED WAS NOTICED IN THE EVENING. CONTACTED SUBARU WHO DIRECTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR EVALUATION. WHILE WAITING FOR EVALUATION (SEVERAL WEEKS), THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW TO APPROXIMATELY 18". SUBARU DETERMINED AN IMPACT CAUSED THE CRACK, THOUGH THE ONLY POSSIBLE IMPACT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/16" IN DIAMETER. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONE MONTH PRIOR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,400 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,300. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,300 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | VERY SMALL OBJECT HIT WINDSHIELD NEAR EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHERE BLACK COAT AND CLEAR GLASS MEET. A ROUGHLY 12" CRACK IMMEDIATELY APPEARED. I WAS DRIVING ON A TOLLWAY WHEN THE OBJECT HIT THE GLASS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I RECEIVED A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER ON OCTOBER 8, 2020. IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT APPEARED SUDDENLY IN MY FIELD OF VIEW BUT I DIDN'T SEE OR EXPERIENCE ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD OR CAUSED THE CHIP. A PROFESSIONAL WINDSHIELD REPAIR COMPANY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE CHIP THE NEXT DAY, BUT IN THE PROCESS, CAUSED A LARGE CRACK TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS THEN REPLACED AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON 10/28/20. I HAVE ATTACHED A DOCUMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WORK DONE. ON 12/22/20 A CHIP APPEARED ON THE NEW WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THEN ON 3/7/20 A LARGE CRACK IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION APPEARED AND SPREAD ACROSS MY FIELD OF VIEW. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE CHIP AND THE LARGE CRACK ON THE NEWLY REPLACED WINDSHIELD. I WILL NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD A SECOND TIME. THIS WILL BE MY 3RD WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. EVEN WITH A NEW WINDSHIELD, FROM MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR, THE CHANCES OF MY FIELD OF VIEW BEING IMPACTED SUDDENLY BY CHIPS AND CRACKS WHILE DRIVING IS VERY HIGH. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKS APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE GLASS USED BY SUBARU FOR THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,929 |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I WAS DRIVING UP AN EMPTY SUBURBAN ROAD AT 25 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SUDDENLY WENT OFF, CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID TO A STOP. THE DASHBOARD SCREEN SAID THE PRE-COLLISION EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD AND NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO STOP SUDDENLY. THANK GOD I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY - THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE OUT OF THE BLUE. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING AN ON COMING LIGHT REFLECTED OF MY WINDSHIELD ODDLY. I LOOKED AT IT CLOSER AT A STOP TO SEE A CRACK STARTING FROM THE TOP OF THE GLASS GOING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,367 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CHIPS/CRACKS IN WINDOW. MULTIPLE SMALL CHIPS FROM PEBBLES/DEBRIS/SALT FROM SALT TRUCKS. A DIME SIZED CRACK THAT HAD TO BE SEALED AND FIXED. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE ON HAND BUT IT WAS COVERED THROUGH GEICO INSURANCE AND FIXED THROUGH AUTO SAFE GLASS REPAIRS | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD EXPERIENCED A VERY MINOR IMPACT FROM A SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL, IMMEDIATELY RESULTING IN A SMALL CHIP. WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE CHIP HAD BECOME A LARGE CRACK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD GLASS ON SUBARU FORESTER IS THIN AND BRITTLE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 17,000 |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I SEEN THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST SUBARU REGARDING THE VEHICLES EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND THE WINDSHIELD. WE NOTICED A CRACK THAT HAD SEEMINGLY COME OUT OF NOWHERE. IT HAS TO OF HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS LOOKING INTO REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD MYSELF WHEN I STUMBLED ON THE ARTICLE. APPARENTLY MANY SUBARU OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH SPONTANEOUS CRACKING AND MY CRACK STARTED RIGHT IN THE AREA PERTAINING TO THE LAWSUIT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Mar 2021 | STRUCTURE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE HOOD STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN SUBARU OF FULLERTON (1100 S EUCLID ST, FULLERTON, CA 92832, (888) 428-2419) HOWEVER, WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,874. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A STRONG INTERMITTENT WIND WHILE DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,874 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH JUST A SMALL ROCK HITTING IT. THERE IS NOW ANOTHER CRACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT GOT THERE. THE WINDSHIELD SOUNDS VERY BRITTLE WHEN THE SMALLEST THING HITS IT. THE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE, I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE THE EYESIGHT TECHNOLOGY, SO REPLACEENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I HAD MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED UP BY SMALL IMPACT OF FLYING ROCK OFF A TRUCK IN 2020. I GOT IT REPLACED AND CALIBRATED IN JULY 2020 THE PRICE WAS $1456. LUCKILYI BOUGHT A WINDSHIELD PROTECTION POLICY TO COVER IT. AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED UP(30 CM LONG) AGAIN YESTERDAY(MARCH,2021) DUE TO THE SAME REASON. I REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD( MY POLICY CAN ONLY PAY ABOUT $300). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | OUT OF NOWHERE, THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE TOP AND IS SPREADING DOWN. THERE IS NO CHIP THAT STARTED THIS. WE HAVE 2 NEWER SUBARUS AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH CARS WITHIN A MONTH. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE KNOW OF THAT CAUSED THIS. ONLINE WE ARE SEEING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH NEWER SUBARUS AND WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,400 |
| Mar 2021 | AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 2/17/2021 - HONDA ACCORD GOING NORTH ON LYNCHBURG TURNPIKE RAN A STOPLIGHT (GOING ABOUT 30 IN A 25 MPG ZONE) TRYING TO TURN WEST ONTO EAST MAIN ST. IN SALEM, VA ... BOUNCED OPPOSITE CURB, CUT WEST AND SWERVED (OVERSTEER) AND CAME HEAD ON INTO MY STATIONARY 2020 FORESTER. OUR LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN AND WE WERE ABOUT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE HONDA CAME OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND I WAS A PASSENGER. I WAS TAKEN TO ER AND SEEN BY SEVERAL DOCTORS AND AM UNDERGOING PT FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 5,200 |