2020 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 301owner reports
- 6,100median miles
- $1,200median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 31, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
312 of the 601 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 301 of those describe windshield, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Forester.
Tick what matches of 301 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 (299 reports) and the camera recalibration (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
21 of the 301 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $900 to $1,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,800 and 11,000 miles, from the 193 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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 announcement is in regard to settlement in a class action lawsuit for vehicles that will receive a limited warranty extension for original equipment Subaru windshields experiencing a qualifying crack.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the rubber protector located between the top edge of the rear gate garnish and the glass.
What owners wrote
“There is a crack on the left lower part of the windshield. Itâs the 3rd crack requiring a windshield replacement and it only has 21,110 miles on it”
Filed Dec 28, 2023 · 21,110 miles
“Windshield cracked in J shape starting at the center of the bottom. The crack appeared overnight; there was no crack when the car was parked the night before, and the crack was observed when entering the car the next morning. No impacts observed. Approximately 12k miles.”
Filed Jan 26, 2023 · 12,000 miles
“The vehicle has 27000 miles and the windshield shows multiple small chips and voids. The windshield is really thin and canât take any wear and tear.”
Filed Jul 11, 2022 · 27,000 miles
“The vehicle is about 19 months old and has less than 15,000 miles. We were driving on the highway, passed a large truck, and a small rock got kicked up and hit the windshield near the top, just passenger-side of the eyesight camera. A 5 inch crack formed while we were driving and it grew another 2 inches before we made it to our destination. There is now a 7-in vertical crack in the windshield.”
Filed Apr 28, 2022 · 15,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 301 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
- Battery dies or the car will not start 54 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 47 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports