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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Subaru Forester visibility problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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. The judder is transferred through the window regulator mechanism in the form of mechanical resistance to the electric window motor. On models equipped with the Auto-up and Auto-down feature, if the level of this resistance increases enough, the auto-reversing (anti-entrapment) feature can activate and cause an inability to close the window.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies developed to address the following customer concerns: ⢠Power windows inoperative from the driverâs door master and / or passenger front door switch ⢠Unable to remotely operate other door windows from the driverâs door master switch ⢠One-Touch Auto Up / Down features inoperative from either / both front door switches"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of new power window switch assemblies developed to address the following customer concerns: ? Power windows inoperative from the driver?s door master and / or passenger front door switch ? Unable to remotely operate other door windows from the driver?s door master switch ? One-Touch Auto Up / Down features inoperative from either / both front door switches
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Climate control dials on the 2014 Forester use a pale yellow indicator against a shiny chrome bezel, making it nearly impossible to see at a glance. Drivers must stare at the dials repeatedly, pulling attention from the road for unsafe amounts of time.
Windshields prove fragile. Owners report cracking or shattering from minor impacts—a nut at 25 mph, a small rock at 55 mph—with both factory heated and non-heated variants affected. Some windshields crack while parked in cold weather with no impact at all. One owner's window spontaneously shattered at highway speed. Full replacement is required in every instance.
Wiper systems have their own troubles. One owner's motor simply failed at 27,000 miles with no parts available for repair. Another's plastic hose between reservoir and sprayers cracked and broke. The washer fluid sensor also malfunction in that case, cycling on and off despite a full tank.
In winter conditions, moisture and ice accumulate rapidly on wiper blades and the windshield itself, likely from inadequate drainage in the trim area below the wipers. The aerodynamic design—lowered hood, narrower trim trough—appears to have made the problem worse.
Rear visibility suffers from oversized headrests creating large blind spots, plus the diagonal routing of the seat belt overhead further blocks the view behind you.
Same Subaru Forester visibility reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Climate control dial visibility
Pale yellow indicator on climate control dials is difficult to distinguish at a glance against the shiny chrome bezel ring with seven indentations. Owner must look at dial repeatedly, diverting attention from the road for extended periods. Owner modified dials with white fingernail polish to improve visibility.
When: Ongoing since July 2013 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Yellow plastic indicator difficult to locate among six other indentations; Driver distraction while attempting to read dial settings; Poor contrast between pale yellow indicator and shiny chrome bezel
Repairs/costs cited: Owner self-remedied with white fingernail polish applied to rubber grip above indicator; no factory remedy noted
Windshield and wiper ice buildup in cold weather
When snowing at freezing temperatures with defrost on, ice accumulates rapidly on wiper blades and windshield. Plastic trim below wiper blades traps water without adequate drainage. Vehicle motion creates mist that blows onto blades and windshield. Owner states design change—deeper, narrower trim with lowered hood and hood ridge—altered aerodynamics and caused the problem.
When: Snowing conditions at freezing or below temperatures
Symptoms owners cite: Ice buildup on wiper blades almost immediately; Ice accumulation on windshield; Mist created by vehicle motion blows onto wiper blades and windshield; Visibility severely impaired, vehicle must pull off road
Front dual camera system fogging
Dual camera system mounted on headliner developed fog buildup over time, reducing visibility. Two front cameras affected. Dealer stated no procedure or TSB available for cleaning.
When: At approximately 24,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fog buildup on dual camera lenses; Reduced visibility from camera system
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No procedure or TSB available per Randy Marion Subaru of Mooresville, North Carolina
Windshield cracking and shattering
Windshields crack or shatter from minor impact. Two separate incidents reported: nut struck windshield at 25 mph while heated windshield was on, causing full shatter; small rock hit windshield at 55 mph when heated windshield was off, causing large spider cracks. Both required full replacement. Owner attributes fragility to heated windshield design or manufacturing defect. Another complaint reports windshield cracked across heater strip while parked at 6 degrees with no prior damage. Owner online reports cite weight reduction and thinner windshields in newer Subarus. Another report of driver-side front window spontaneous shattering at 60 mph with no apparent impact, glass stayed in place. One more report of small crack appearing at 50 mph that expanded across windshield.
When: Various; one at 40,000 miles; one while parked; one at 60 mph; spontaneous instances
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield shattered from minor impact (nut at 25 mph); Large spider cracks from small impact (rock at 55 mph); Windshield cracked across heater strip while parked; Small crack appearing at 50 mph, expanding side to side; Driver-side window spontaneously shattered at 60 mph with no apparent impact
Repairs/costs cited: Full windshield replacement required in all cases. Windshield manufacturer: AGC Automotive, Lamisafe (noted in one complaint)
Windshield wiper motor failure
Windshield wiper motor failed and required replacement. Dealer reported no parts available to remedy the defect. Vehicle remained unrepaired.
When: At approximately 27,183 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield wipers fail to operate
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield wiper motor replacement needed; no parts available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Windshield wiper fluid hose cracking
White plastic hose between wiper fluid reservoir and sprayers cracked and broke, rendering wipers practically inoperable. Hose described as cheap plastic that should not crack on a 6-year-old vehicle. Reservoir low-fluid sensor also malfunctions, cycling on and off despite reservoir being full.
When: At 6 years of age
Symptoms owners cite: Crack and break in plastic hose; Wipers practically inoperable; Reservoir low-fluid light cycling on and off intermittently despite full fluid
Repairs/costs cited: Hose replacement needed; sensor malfunction also present
Rear view visibility obstruction from headrests and seat belts
Large 64 square-inch headrests create two large blind spots limiting rear view visibility. Center headrest only 2 inches high while lateral headrests are 8 inches high. Seat belt angles from roof diagonally, further limiting rear view vision.
When: Design feature present from vehicle purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Limited rear view visibility; Two large blind spots from oversized headrests; Seat belt angling reduces rear view
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2014 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2014 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 20,000 and 63,000 miles, with the median around 27,183. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 63,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.