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 ↗2016 Subaru Forester visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Subaru Forester have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Forester | 3 |
| 2013 Forester | 5 |
| 2014 Forester | 10 |
| 2015 Forester | 23 |
| 2016 Forester (this page) | 21 |
| 2017 Forester | 105 |
| 2018 Forester | 146 |
| 2019 Forester | 387 |
| 2020 Forester | 287 |
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
The 2016 Forester's windshield fails in two overlapping patterns: spontaneous cracking with no visible impact, and ordinary rock chips that balloon into long cracks. Owners report windshields cracking while parked, at stoplights, or during highway driving—sometimes producing a loud pop or cracking sound with no debris strike observed. Cracks often originate from the bottom edge seam or from the embedded de-icer heating element on the driver's side.
Owners identify weak glass as the core issue. Small chips acquired at 50–65 mph on the highway spread into multi-foot cracks within weeks; repair attempts with resin fail to stop growth, forcing full replacement. One owner replaced the windshield twice within 14 months. Temperature extremes trigger failures: rapid AC activation on hot days, overnight cold-to-warm swings, and winter sleet with the heater running all produce cracks. Owners cite the de-icer heating the bottom unevenly while the top stays cool, creating stress that weak glass cannot handle.
Subaru denies warranty claims for defective glass once the vehicle passes three years—even at 31,000 miles. Dealers cite lack of impact marks to reject coverage. Owners reference class-action lawsuits over identical windshield failures in 2017–2020 model years and note that 2015–2016 Outback and Legacy received recalls, but the 2016 Forester has not. Replacement windshields require EyeSight system recalibration, adding significant labor cost.
Same Subaru Forester visibility reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous or stress-induced windshield cracking without clear impact
Windshield develops cracks with no visible impact, debris strike, or collision—often originating from edge seams, the base, or near the embedded de-icer heating element. Cracks appear while parked, at rest, or during normal highway driving. Owners report no warning and no evidence of external cause.
When: Occurs at various mileages (31k–62k reported); can happen while parked overnight, during idle periods, or within hours after initial sound/chip noticed while driving. Temperature fluctuations and harsh weather (sleet, winter storms, hot days with AC on full blast) are often cited as triggers.
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield crack appearing without visible impact or debris strike; Crack initiating from edge seams or bottom of windshield; Crack originating near the embedded de-icer heating element (driver-side); Sudden loud cracking or popping noise from windshield; Crack spreading or growing over hours to weeks after initial chip or crack noticed; Window or side glass imploding with loud noise while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacement required; costs cited range from $802 to unquoted. EyeSight system recalibration required after windshield replacement (additional cost and labor). Repair attempts (resin/bubble fill) often fail, leading to full replacement. Multiple replacements needed on some vehicles within warranty/ownership period.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru regional offices have denied warranty claims citing out-of-warranty status (e.g., Claim #TL1-53388627724 denied at 3 years 10 months). Dealers cite lack of impact marks to deny coverage. Class action lawsuit mentioned for model years 2017–2020 (not Forester 2016 yet per owners), with extended coverage offered for those years. Subaru did not respond to some complaints.
Brittle glass prone to chip expansion under stress
Rock chips that occur during normal highway driving (50–65 mph) do not remain contained; they expand into long cracks within weeks or days. Glass is described as brittle and unable to withstand typical road debris. Repair attempts fail, resulting in full replacement. The problem recurs shortly after replacement.
When: Chips occur during highway driving at 50–65 mph; cracks spread within days to weeks. One owner had second windshield failure within 14 months of first replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Rock chip on windshield during normal highway driving; Chip expands into multi-inch or multi-foot crack within days to weeks; Repair attempts (resin fill) fail or fail to stop crack growth; Repeated chip and crack events on replacement windshield
Repairs/costs cited: First windshield replacement cost $802.13; second replacement required within 14 months. Multiple repair attempts (technician tried 6 times on one vehicle) unsuccessful before replacement. EyeSight recalibration required with each replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers recognize the weak glass issue but do not cover under warranty if chip origin is not from the bottom. Owners note that similar defects in 2015–2016 Outback and Legacy resulted in recalls, but no recall issued for 2016 Forester.
Differential heating stress on windshield
Embedded de-icer heating element heats the bottom of the windshield unevenly, creating tension between heated and unheated areas. Combined with weak glass, this differential stress causes cracks to initiate and propagate, particularly in temperature-fluctuation scenarios.
When: Occurs during temperature extremes (cold nights/warm days, heating system activation on hot days with AC on full) and seasonal changes. Events cited at mileages 31k–62k.
Symptoms owners cite: Crack initiating from the de-icer heating element on driver-side windshield; Crack spreading horizontally from the heated zone; Failure during rapid temperature changes (AC on full blast on hot day, sleet with heater/defrost activated, overnight temperature swing from 30°F to 60–65°F)
Repairs/costs cited: Full windshield replacement; EyeSight recalibration required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response specific to the heating-stress issue documented in complaints.
Synthesized from 21 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 2016 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 2016 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 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 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 24,600 and 59,745 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,600; a quarter make it past 59,745. 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/2016/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.