Car is brand new. Within 2 weeks of purchasing already 3 chips in windshield when no rocks were observed hitting. One of the chips is in front of the eyesight system and if it grows it will hamper the safety systems of the car. It will cost me around 1700 dollars to repair something that should have never happened.
2020 Subaru Forester visibility problems
moderate 287 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
287
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 287 visibility complaints filed for the 2020 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Visibility accounts for 49% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 287 visibility complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Windshield cracked while parked during the day. No visible reason for the crack - no chips, divots, or impact marks on windshield. Crack runs from bottom corner of driver's side windshield up to mid windshield right in the line of vision for driver.
The windshield has a crack that has grown exponentially. It seems to be very susceptible to impact cracks and chips.
The windshield has spontaneously developed a crack that begins at the bottom center edge and has advanced about 18 inches at this point, and is visibly advancing daily.
The windshield cracked while I was stopped at a light. It creates a visibility issue. The windshield was repaired previously and has cracked again. The vehicle has not been inspected the manufacturer, police, insurance or others. There were no warnings prior to the incidents.
I purchased the vehicle on saturday, november 30, 2019. As I began my drive to work the following friday (december 6), I noticed a small crack at the bottom of the windshield. I reported it to the dealership since I purchased windshield repair coverage and the insurance company stated that I needed to contact the dealership since my vehicle wasn't in their system yet. The dealership said that…
Windshield cracks easily on a 2020 Subaru forester
When the front windows are open and then closed they always come up from the inside of the door wet. This happens whether or not the car has recently been to the carwash/ its been raining outside/ or not. Condition has existed since I purchased vehicle.
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2020 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 287 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 158 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 3,000 and 11,000 miles, with the median around 7,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,000; a quarter make it past 11,000. 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/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.