This bulletin announces a design change to the Power Rear Gate Drive (PRG) Unit to address rare concerns about a very slight drop immediately after the gate is fully open.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Subaru Forester body problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body 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 the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area for models listed. "
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces design changes made to the Power Rear Gate Drive (PRG) Unit to address concerns of the power rear gate being inoperative.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin announces diagnostic procedures to be followed when working with a Power Rear Gate (PRG).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Glass failures dominate this complaint cluster. Multiple owners experienced windshield cracks from very small rocks or no identifiable impact; one had two replacements within 2 months at 7K miles, another required three by 21K miles. A tiny pebble nick spread across the entire windshield in an hour. Owners say their prior vehicles absorbed similar impacts without trouble, suggesting a design or material issue with the 2020 model. One driver's rear window imploded while the car was parked, with no external cause found. A pending Subaru lawsuit alleges spontaneous window and windshield failures, though Subaru is not accepting responsibility on most claims.
Power equipment also shows recurring defects. The automatic liftgate closed unexpectedly on occupants and reappeared after dealer repair. Another liftgate motor ran continuously when open, draining the battery. One hood opened independently at 60 mph while driving; another shook and vibrated at 80 mph with wind noise, neither repaired successfully at the dealer. A driver's door interior handle cable detached during normal use, leaving the door unusable from inside.
Dealers have been inconsistent in diagnosis and repair—some claim tiny indentations prove road impact rather than defect, others say they're unaware of issues despite dozens of online complaints.
Same Subaru Forester body reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield cracking from minor impact or spontaneously
Windshields crack from very small rocks, minimal nicks, or with no identifiable impact. Cracks spread rapidly across the glass. One owner had to replace the windshield twice in 2 months at 7K miles; another had three replacements by 21K miles. A small pebble impact that left barely visible damage spread across the entire windshield within an hour. Another windshield developed a 16-inch fracture with only a tiny indentation (less than 1/32 inch) near the A-pillar, which the dealer attributed to impact. Owners report the glass seems unusually brittle compared to prior vehicle experience.
When: 7K to 36K miles; incidents occurring within weeks of purchase and on highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid crack propagation from small impact points; Spontaneous cracking with no obvious cause; Cracks appearing after vehicle has been parked; Windshield shattering from small rocks at highway speed; Multiple replacements needed in short timeframe
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple windshield replacements; insurance typically covers once cause ruled out as defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru refusing warranty coverage, attributing damage to road impact; pending lawsuit Powell v. Subaru of America regarding spontaneous windshield/window failures; one case Subaru agreed to cover $100 deductible
Automatic power liftgate malfunction—uncontrolled closing
Power liftgate opens fully, then immediately closes without warning on occupants or those accessing the cargo area. Issue has recurred after dealer attempted repair. Soft beep emitted but behavior unexpected with no warning lights displayed.
When: Early life; issue reproduced multiple times within a month of repair
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic closing without warning after full opening; Potential impact hazard to persons; Soft beep present but no warning lamps; Recurrence after dealer service
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attempted repair but issue reappeared one month later; actual cause not identified
Power liftgate motor does not shut off when open
Liftgate motor continues to cycle indefinitely when liftgate is open, draining the vehicle battery. Dealer claims unfamiliarity with the issue despite multiple complaints online.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Motor runs continuously with liftgate open; Battery drain; Cycling continues until battery depleted
Hood latch failure—hood unlatches and opens while driving
Hood becomes unlatched and opens independently while vehicle is moving. Hood latch light illuminates. Occurred at both highway and city street speeds.
When: 36K miles and earlier in vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: Hood opens while driving; Hood latch light illuminates; Hood latch failure with no obvious cause
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; owner pulled over and manually closed hood
Hood vibration and wind noise at highway speed
Hood shakes and vibrates abnormally with strong intermittent wind noise at highway speed. Dealership could not diagnose the issue.
When: 6,874 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hood shake and vibration at 80 MPH; Strong intermittent wind noise while driving; Abnormal hood behavior
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; dealership unable to diagnose
Driver door interior handle linkage cable detachment
Linkage cable between driver's interior door handle and door latch mechanism becomes unhooked during normal vehicle use, rendering the door inoperable from inside the vehicle. Door still functions from exterior.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Door cannot be opened from interior; Linkage cable unhooked; Door operable only from outside
Repairs/costs cited: Reattaching linkage cable and interior trim reinstallation resolved issue
Rear window spontaneous implosion
Driver-side rear window imploded into multiple pieces while vehicle was parked, with no visible impact, vandalism, or external cause. Police investigation found no evidence of external force. Owner is concerned this relates to the pending Powell v. Subaru lawsuit regarding spontaneous window/windshield failures.
When: Parked for less than one hour
Symptoms owners cite: Window shattered into small pieces; No visible impact or entry point; No apparent cause for failure
Repairs/costs cited: Incident classified as vandalism by police; Subaru agreed to cover $100 deductible per note
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru not taking responsibility; lawsuit filed; Subaru requested dismissal of Powell v. Subaru case; Subaru offered $100 deductible coverage in at least one case
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
There is a crack on the left lower part of the windshield. It’s the 3rd crack requiring a windshield replacement and it only has 21,110 miles on it
Had body trouble with your 2020 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 body problem on the 2020 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 5,500 and 7,500 miles, with the median around 6,874. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,500; a quarter make it past 7,500. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2020/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.