2017 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 114owner reports
- 35,000median miles
- $620median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 31, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
130 of the 587 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 114 of those describe windshield. Only airbag is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 114 reports
Windshield on other Forester years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Many windshield complaints are about cracks owners can't explain: a line that starts at the edge of the glass, or a small chip that spreads. Nearly one in five of these complaints mentions it happening again or a second windshield.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (114 reports) and the camera recalibration (11 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
8 of the 114 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $425 to $1,200.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 19,722 and 50,000 miles, from the 88 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Subaru Forester that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This bulletin provides a service procedure to address customer concerns of a rattling-type sound coming from the defroster vent grille area of the instrument panel (IP) near the base of the windshield.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the front door glass run channels. Water can enter the run channels and cause a stick-slip (judder) condition to occur as the door glass opens and closes.
This bulletin provides a repair procedure for replacing the foam cushion installed between the top front edge of the IP and the windshield glass.
This bulletin describes a design change to the center bracket component of the window regulator assembly. The change was made to address customer concerns of the front door glass shuddering while opening or closing.
1 more on the 2017 Subaru Forester page.
What owners wrote
“I was at an event for about 3 hours and was parked next to a trailer. When I started driving there was a crack in the lower right hand of my windshield. The event was private and the trailer was not used. I am unsure where this crack came from and am very confused.”
Filed Oct 20, 2023
“Windshield cracked without reason, and happened while vehicle was not being driven. Within the span on one day, the crack doubled in size, in my line of vision. There are other chips in the windshield that have occured, and I have filled them quickly as to not do damage like this. However, this crack occurred seemingly overnight, without time to schedule a repair at all.”
Filed Feb 11, 2023
“The windshield cracked without anything happening. It started at the bottom and moved it's way up.”
Filed Aug 30, 2022
“Windshield cracked while being parked on driveway over the week. Car has not been driven for a week and has not been hit by anything prior, normal outdoor temperature 50-85F.”
Filed Aug 26, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 114 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Airbag warning light or recall 164 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 46 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 39 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 25 reports