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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2020 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SAW THE WINDSHIELD START TO CRACK FROM PASSENGER SIDE INTO THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,706. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 9,706 |
| Jun 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS WHILE STATIONARY, PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE IN ANY CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. I NEEDED TO CALL MY INSURANCE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | I LEASED MY 2020 FORESTER END OF MARCH AND MEMORIAL DAY DROVE TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE 20 MILES AWAY. IT RAINED AS SOON AS I LEFT MY HOUSE. WHEN IT WAS RAINING ON ME ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES STOPPED WORKING! LANE ASSIST/ LANE DEPARTURE. ISN'T THAT WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST. I COULD BEARLY SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME AND NO SAFETY FEATURES WORKING! AS SOON AS IT STOPPED THEY MAGICALLY CAME BACK ON. ALSO WHEN I USE THE CRUISE CONTROL THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE GOES INTO HIGH GEAR. IT PUSHES THE VEHICLE TO THE CENTER LINE EXTREMELY HARD. MORE SO THAN NORMAL. NOT AT ALL PLEASED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAD HEARD SO MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT SUBARU BUT AM NOT EXPERIENCING THEM FIRST HAND. I WILL DEFINITELY NOT BE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AT THE END OF MY LEASE AND WILL GET OUT OF THE LEASE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Jun 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 2019. 3 WEEKS LATER, A VERTICAL CRACK APPEARED IN THE CENTER-BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD THIS OCCURRED AFTER A COLLECTION OF SUNNY DAYS WITH NO VISIBLE INITIATION POINT (ROCK, CHIP, ETC.). THE CRACK BEGAN BELOW THE CENTER POINT OF THE STATIONARY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CRACK APPEARED AFTER 4 DAYS OF BEING IDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE IS A LARGER LAWSUIT AROUND SUBARU WINDSHIELDS THAT I BELIEVE FITS THIS ISSUE PRETTY WELL. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 400 |
| May 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | NO ROCK HAD HIT THAT SIDE OF THE WINDOW. I PARK AT A BBQ ON THE SIDE OF A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, NO CARS DRIVE PAST, AND THREE HOURS LATER I HAVE A TWO FOOT CRACK IN MY WINDOW. BEST PART, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE USED HIS PHONE CAMERA TO ZOOM IN AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO SAY IT WAS A ROCK CHIP AND THEN PICKED AT IT TO MAKE IT LOOK EVEN MORE SO. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,800 |
| May 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | IN THE MORNING, GOT INTO THE CAR AND FOUND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,900 |
| May 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SITTING AT STOP LIGHT . LIGHT TURNED GREEN I STARTED THRU THE INTERSECTION AND HEARD A SNAP. WIFE MADE COMMENT THAT A STAR HAD FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BELOW FIELD OF VISION. NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME AND CARS WERE AT LEAST 10 FEET AWAY FROM ME GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. SPEED HAD NOT RESUMED TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH (ABOUT 20 MPH). *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 750 |
| May 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY DIED 3 TIMES AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND USUALLY DRIVEN AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY ALSO, IT SEEMED LIKE IT JERKED FORWARD A FEW TIMES WHEN I STARTED IT. IT HAS A PUSH BUTTON START. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,748 |
| May 2020 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PUENTE HILL SUBARU LOCATED AT 17801 GALE AVE, CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91748, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,417. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,417 |
| May 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WIFE AND I WENT ON A RIDE (SUBURBAN DRIVING, SLOW SPEEDS). IT WAS < THAN A 20-MINUTE TRIP. WHEN WE GOT BACK WE NOTICED A SMALL DING AT THAT BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE HOOD. IT SPREAD VERY QUICKLY. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 1600 MILES ON IT SINCE THE END OF DECEMBER 2019. IT NOW MID-MAY AND THIS ALREADY HAPPENED WITH LIMITED USE. THE CAR IS STORED IN A GARAGE WHEN IT IS NOT IN USE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE NEED TO PAY $1300 FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,600 |
| May 2020 | STRUCTURE | THE LIFT GATE MOTOR ON MY 2020 FORESTER DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS OPEN, IT CONTINUES TO CYCLE UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DEAD. SUBARU DEALER SAYS THEY'RE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A SIMPLE COMPUTER SEARCH FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| May 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT IN DRIVEWAY. WAS STATIONARY. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,500 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING, NO CAR OR ANYTHING WAS IN FRONT OF ME, HEARD A POP THEN NOTICED AT LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD IS SMOOTH, NOTHING HIT IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 725 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN LATE OCTOBER 2019. WINDSHIELD CRACKED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IN MID-DECEMBER 2019. IN OTHER WORDS, NOTHING STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A SMALL OBJECT HIT THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK IN THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT CONTACTED SUBARU OF EL CAJON (900 ARNELE AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 440-0404) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, IT WAS STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A THINNER GLASS AND IT WAS COMMON FOR FRACTURE TO OCCUR WITH LITTLE TO NO IMPACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 4,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, AN UNKNOWN INSECT HIT THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. AN HOUR LATER, A 14'' CRACK BEGAN TO FORM AT THE EXACT SPOT WHERE THE INSECT MADE IMPACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU OF ONTARIO (1195 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE QUALITY OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS UNSAFE AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,200.*BF*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,200 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | STRESS CRACK STARTING UNDER THE SEAL OF THE WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS GOING 15 MPH IN A HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,300 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I NOTICED A CHIP IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT SEEMED TO APPEAR OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT SOMEONE TO FILL IT THE NEXT DAY. WHEN HE CAME TO FILL THE CHIP, HE SAID THAT IT CRACKED AND SPREAD AFTER HE FILLED IT. I THEN NOTICED THERE ARE LITERALLY OVER 10 CHIPS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD NOT INCLUDING THAT ONE. I BOUGHT THIS FORESTER ON OCTOBER 31, 2019 BRAND NEW AND AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. THERE IS NO WAY THERE SHOULD BE THIS MANY CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD AND FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK FROM A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN FILLING A VERY SMALL CHIP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,332 |
| Apr 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A CHANGE IN SOME 2019-2020 SUBARU MODELS CAUSES AN INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN OBD-II DEVICES AND THE SUBARU STARLINK SYSTEM (WHICH IS USED TO DISPATCH EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES). SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 15-257-19 11/11/2019 RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT OFFER A SOLUTION OTHER THAN TELL THE CUSTOMER NOT TO USE THE OBD-II DEVICE. SINCE THE STARLINK SYSTEM PRIOR TO MODEL YEAR 2019 WAS COMPATIBLE WITH OBD-II DEVICES, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT A SUBARU INITIATED CHANGE IS CAUSING THIS INCOMPATIBILITY. AS STATED IN THE BULLETIN, IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING THE CAR NOTIFY THE DEALER EVERY 3 DAYS OF THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE NOTIFICATIONS TO ONCE EVERY 10 DAYS. THIS IS NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM, BUT MERELY PUSHING IT DOWN THE ROAD. SOME CONSIDER STARLINK A SAFETY SYSTEM, AND PAY EXTRA TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE. COPY OF SERVICE BULLETIN ATTACHED. THIS IS A CONTINUING, REPEATED PROBLEM STARTING ON 3/11/2020 AND IS A CONTINUING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. FIRST DEALER SERVICE ON 3/17/2020 FOUND NO PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAD TEMPORARILY RESOLVED ITSELF. THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NOT FOUND BY THE OWNER UNTIL 4/2/2020 AFTER SEVERAL BACK AND FORTH EMAILS WITH SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE BEFORE THEN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | GOT INTO VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, TURNED ON AC, WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,303 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WALKED OUT TO GARAGE THIS MORNING, AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2020. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD BROKE FOR NO REASON OUR CAR IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING ON A ROAD GOING ABOUT 30, WET AROUND A CORNER A TRUCK PASSED ME GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY. KICKING UP A ROCK THAT HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED INSTANTLY, MORE THAN HALFWAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THERE IS A APPROXIMATELY 2 FT LONG WINDSHIELD CRACK EMANATING FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING BUT TIME OF ORIGIN IS UNKNOWN. A TINY ROCK CHIP IS LOCATED A FEW INCHES FROM THE START OF THE CRACK AND SEEMS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LENGTH OF THE CRACK, BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE WITH ROCK CHIPS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,310 |