Complaint volume
594 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
594 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Subaru Forester, grouped by component category.
594 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 68
VISIBILITY 49
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 16
ENGINE 16
POWER TRAIN 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER 8
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 6
594 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | PURCHASED CAR NEW, LAST WEEK OF JANUARY 2020. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK I FOUND NUMEROUS SMALL CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE WERE NO ROCKS THAT HAD STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING 45 MOH ON A TWO LANE ROAD A SMALL ROCK WAS KICKED FROM AN ONCOMIG CAR AND PUT A LARGE CHIP AND CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT THE CHIP AND CRACK REPAIRED FROM SAFELITE HOWEVER AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE NEW FORESTERS. MY PREVIOUS 08 SUBARUS WINDSHIELD NEVER HAD TO BE FIXED AND IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 180000 MILES. IT TOOK LARGE ROCKS AND JUST RECEIVED SMALL NICKS. I HAVE ONLY 1148 MILES ON THIS NEW CAR AND ALREADY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. SUBARU NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REVISE THE THICKNESS OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IS UNSAFE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,148 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON 2/13/2020 MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVER 12 INCHES LONG IN A MATTER OF SECONDS WHILE IN MOTION ON A STREET. THERE WAS NO HIT SOUND. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE CLAIM A VERY SMALL RICK HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE CRACK AND MANUFACTURER WARANTY WONT COVER. I CANT BELIEVE A TINY ROCK THAT BARELY HAS AN IMPACT POINT WILL HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND COURSE SUCH A BIG CRACK IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,200 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER |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| Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TWO DAYS AGO, AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, WE HAD A CRACK APPEAR AND GROW FROM THE TOP PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. ON OUR DRIVE YESTERDAY, THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT WHERE ICE CAME DOWN FROM A POWER LINE AND HIT THE CAR, BUT I'M POSITIVE WE WEREN'T HIT BY ANY ROCKS. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SKIN OF ICE OFF OF A POWER LINE, NOT A LARGE CHUNK OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT. I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND, AND EVERY VEHICLE ON THE ROADS HERE HAS TO DEAL WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS AFTER EVERY WINTER STORM. WE DIDN'T SEE ANY CRACK RIGHT AWAY, BUT ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER NOTICED A 4" CRACK THAT HAS NOW GROWN TO ROUGHLY 16", AND IS RIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW. I'VE DONE SOME GOOGLING AND READING, AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS (TONS AND TONS OF STORIES OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH MULTIPLE WINDSHIELDS, SPONTANEOUS CRACKS, CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS, ETC) I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I LEASED THE VEHICLE FROM, AND THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH WAS RUDE AND UNHELPFUL, BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN NEW ENGLAND AND THAT IT WOULD COST $900-1500 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND RE CALIBRATE EYESIGHT. HE SAID THAT ANYTIME SOMETHING IMPACTS THE WINDSHIELD THIS SHOULD BE EXPECTED, BUT I AM 100% CERTAIN THAT NO OTHER VEHICLE I'VE DRIVEN WOULD HAVE ENDED UP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT HOW BRITTLE THE GLASS MUST BE IF IT CRACKED SO SOON AND SO EASILY. SEEING AS THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE I'M VERY UNSATISFIED WITH HOW THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OUR LEASE HAVE GONE. WE HAVEN'T EVEN MADE OUR FIRST MONTHLY PAYMENT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY $1500/FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM?! | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,700 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | FEBRUARY 5, 2020, JUST GOT IN THE CAR TO START DRIVING IT AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON STARTING AT THE VERY BOTTOM CENTER AND IS ABOUT 8 INCHES LONG ALREADY. IT WAS NOT THERE EARLIER IN THE DAY. IT JUST APPEARED SUDDENLY AND COULD NOT SEE ANY ROCK CHIP IN THE AREA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| Jan 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAVE A BRAND NEW, 2020 FORESTER (TOURING) . WHEN I HAD IT FOR 21 DAYS, I PICKED UP A SMALL ROCK IN THE WINDSHIELD.THE ROCK WAS SMALL BUT IT RUINED MY WINDSHIELD. IT I IMMEDIATELY SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND IS NOW COVERS THREE AREAS AND MORE THAN 1/2 OF MY WINDSHIELD . I HAVE BEEN READING UP ON SUBARU ISSUES AND I UNDERSTAND THE WINDSHIELDS ARE A PROBLEM...BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS. THE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE ESTIMATE IS OVER $1400. TRAVELING FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TO SAN ANTONIO ON HWY 37 | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Jan 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING ON I-5 IN SEATTLE AREA, A ROCK FROM AN SUV HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE CHIP ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LINE OF VISION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,300 |
| Jan 2020 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFTER IS MOVED INTO EITHER THE REVERSE OR DRIVE POSITION THE SHIFTER SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS TO LIGHT UP AND STAY ON. THIS ACTION IS OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. THIS OCCURS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ETC. | Crash: No Fire: No | 400 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CAR IS BRAND NEW. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASING ALREADY 3 CHIPS IN WINDSHIELD WHEN NO ROCKS WERE OBSERVED HITTING. ONE OF THE CHIPS IS IN FRONT OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND IF IT GROWS IT WILL HAMPER THE SAFETY SYSTEMS OF THE CAR. IT WILL COST ME AROUND 1700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS | VEHICLE VIBRATE STARTING AT 50 MPH AND GETS EXCESSIVE AT 65MPH AND UP, WHILE CRUISING IN THE HIGHWAY. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DRIVER SEAT SEAT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS | WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT PUTS OUT LOW HEAT EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. AT 15 MINUTES SITTING, HEAT CAN BE FELT ON THE BUTTOCKS SKIN AND CAUSED MINOR SKIN BURN AT AROUND 30 MINUTES. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 30 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019. AS I BEGAN MY DRIVE TO WORK THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY (DECEMBER 6), I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE I PURCHASED WINDSHIELD REPAIR COVERAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE MY VEHICLE WASN'T IN THEIR SYSTEM YET. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK WITH ME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CRACK SPREAD TO MORE THAN 6 INCHES. I WAS TOLD THAT MY COVERAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS NOW REQUIRED DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE CRACK, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $859.19 TO DO SO. | Crash: No Fire: No | 223 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHEN THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE OPEN AND THEN CLOSED THEY ALWAYS COME UP FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR WET. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR HAS RECENTLY BEEN TO THE CARWASH/ ITS BEEN RAINING OUTSIDE/ OR NOT. CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT. FIVE DAYS LATER, WOKE UP TO FIND A 2-3 FOOT LONG CRACK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING AT THE VERY EDGE OF THE GLASS (THE BLACK PART). NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ROCKS, IMPACT, CHIPPING, ETC. - WHEN I TOOK IT TO BE REPLACED, THE DEALERSHIP AGREED BUT SAID 'UNFORTUNATELY SUBARU DOES NOT COVER GLASS'. I INFORMED THEM THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SUBARU, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF. I HAD TO PAY $500 FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD ON A CAR I BOUGHT 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH NOTHING CAUSING THE CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 250 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES | I WAS DRIVING MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT IN THE LEFT LANE ALONG AN ON-RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, WHICH CONSISTS OF A ROAD THAT CURVES TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. SUDDENLY AND IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR BEGAN TO BEEP CONTINUOUSLY WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT AND LOCKED, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN AS I TRIED TO CORRECT THE WHEEL AND BRAKE THE CAR. I WAS SUDDENLY COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR DROVE ME OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN INTO THE SNOWY MEDIAN, WHERE IT ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE LANDING UPRIGHT. I BELIEVE THE ERROR WITH THE CAR MAY HAVE OCCURRED WITH SUBARU'S BRAND-NEW LANE CENTERING TECHNOLOGY, RELEASED WITH THE 2020 EDITION VEHICLES. THE TECHNOLOGY WILL PHYSICALLY DIRECT THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE LANE IF IT DETECTS THE VEHICLE IS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO EITHER LANE LINE. LANE CENTERING IS A FEATURE OF THE SUBARU'S DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY, CALLED EYESIGHT. I'M UNSURE IF THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITH EYESIGHT OR WITH THE LANE CENTERING FUNCTION SPECIFICALLY. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 600 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WE VERY RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2020 FORESTER....LESS THAN 1000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN WE GOT IN IT THE NEXT MORNING THE WINDSHIELD HAD A SMALL CRACK IN IT! I HOPE THIS ISN'T A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THE POSTS ON HERE OF 2019 FORESTERS WITH WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO A WINDSHIELD REPAIR COMPANY AND HAD IT REPAIRED BEFORE THE CRACK GOT WORSE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Nov 2019 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENABLED WITH A PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT USING A SEAT BELT EXTENDER. THERE ARE FLAWS ON THE SOFTWARE THAT IDENTIFY THE PASSENGER ACTIONS ENTERING THE CAR, WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED AND WHETHER OR NOT A SEAT BELT EXTENDER HAS BEEN USED. IF A SEAT BELT EXTENDER IS ALREADY IN PLACE, THE CAR REFUSES TO ENABLE THE AIR BAGS AFTER A PERSON SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I OWNED MY 2020 FORESTER FOR LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AND I GOT A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING LESS THAN 30 MILES PER HOUR. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT HEARD A CRACK AND SAW THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 75 |