2021 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 86owner reports
- 4,650median miles
- $500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 12, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
92 of the 207 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 86 of those describe windshield, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Forester.
Tick what matches of 86 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 (85 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
8 of the 86 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 1,900 and 15,000 miles, from the 32 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2021 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.
What owners wrote
“Having repeat issues with the windshield cracking. My vehicle has around 32k miles, and I'm already on my 3rd windshield. I've never had this issue with any other vehicle. It's been extremely costly. Also the transmission failed and had to be replaced at 26,000 miles.”
Filed Nov 17, 2024 · 32,000 miles
“Windshield easily cracks, without an impact site. I will be putting my 3rd windshield in and have owned the car for 7 months. 1st windshield cracked while parked at work. Not driving. May 5th, 2021. Had 1805 miles. 2nd windshield cracked while parked at home last night. Not driving. Have approx 9k miles now”
Filed Nov 2, 2021 · 1,805 miles
“1100 miles on vehicle.Went inside business came out and 18 inch crack on windshield across my vision.No apparent reason.”
Filed Sep 21, 2021 · 1,100 miles
“Windshield cracked without impact. This is on a new forester, less than 1000 miles.”
Filed Aug 13, 2021 · 1,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 86 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