Subaru Forester Visibility/wiper Problems
Owners have filed 1,061 complaints with NHTSA about visibility/wiper problems on the Subaru Forester across 20 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (370). The words owners use most often: “windshield cracked” (28% of reports).
- 1,061visibility/wiper complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 63%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Windshield cracked: mentioned in 294 of 1,061 complaints (28%)
- Small rock: mentioned in 58 of 1,061 complaints (5%)
- Large crack: mentioned in 58 of 1,061 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility/wiper repair on the Subaru Forester at $1,300, and half of them between $980 and $1,750.
Based on 53 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility/wiper problems happen?
Based on 647 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 1,061 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Subaru Forester visibility/wiper complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility/wiper complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 5 | 18% | — |
| 2025 Forester | 13 | 13% | 1,000 |
| 2024 Forester | 5 | 17% | — |
| 2023 Forester | 11 | 15% | — |
| 2022 Forester | 20 | 20% | — |
| 2021 Forester | 76 | 36% | 2,000 |
| 2020 Forester | 252 | 42% | 5,000 |
| 2019 Forester | 370 | 44% | 8,000 |
| 2018 Forester | 135 | 27% | 18,000 |
| 2017 Forester | 104 | 18% | 31,000 |
| 2016 Forester | 20 | 5% | 36,350 |
| 2015 Forester | 23 | 4% | 26,000 |
| 2014 Forester | 9 | 2% | 25,000 |
| 2013 Forester | 1 | 1% | 27,000 |
| 2012 Forester | 2 | 2% | 40,496 |
| 2011 Forester | 3 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2010 Forester | 5 | 2% | 30,385 |
| 2009 Forester | 4 | 2% | 119,400 |
| 2008 Forester | 1 | 2% | 50,000 |
| 2003 Forester | 2 | 1% | 90,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists visibility/wiper for the Subaru Forester. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I am experiencing a serious visibility defect in my 2026 Subaru Forester. When driving at night with headlights on, a dark curtain or shadow drops down over more than half of the windshield. This occurs consistently and severely reduces forward visibility. It is dangerous and makes it difficult to…
While the vehicle was stationary and off, the rear windshield shattered and fell in the vehicle for the second time in just over 3 weeks.
I was leaving home and driving in the neighborhood when I noticed that it was a crack on my windshield and there was no damaged or debris at the time. I didnât hear anything nor there any trees or cars that will kick up rocks or bad weather It was strange to have happened and I thought it had to…
I closed the driver's door, and the rear windshield shattered and collapsed into the vehicle. No known defects were known prior to the incident. Animals or contents in the rear compartment could have been cut by the shattered glass. The vehicle is only 4 months old. The rear windshield will be…
Two occurences of rear hatch window shattering spontaneously while vehicle was parked, powered off. No symptoms, warning lamps, or messages were present. First incident, six months after production/purchase, factory-installed window shattered spontaneously while owner was seated in the car, parked…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Subaru Foresters have visibility/wiper problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,061 owner complaints about visibility/wiper for the Subaru Forester. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Subaru Forester visibility/wiper?
No recall currently lists visibility/wiper for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix visibility/wiper problems on the Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $980 and $1,750), from 53 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility/wiper problems on the Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield cracked”, in 294 of 1,061 complaints, followed by “small rock” (58).
Other Subaru Forester problems
- Engine problems (827)
- Air Bags problems (817)
- Electrical System problems (797)
- Power Train problems (556)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (532)
- Suspension problems (415)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (350)
- Service Brakes problems (273)
See all Subaru Forester problems.