This announcement is in regard to the warranty extension initiated for windshields for the models listed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Subaru Forester visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Subaru Forester have filed 287 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 7,000 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
287
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Forester | 21 |
| 2017 Forester | 105 |
| 2018 Forester | 146 |
| 2019 Forester | 387 |
| 2020 Forester (this page) | 287 |
| 2021 Forester | 82 |
| 2022 Forester | 20 |
| 2023 Forester | 11 |
| 2024 Forester | 4 |
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.
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.
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Front Windshield used in the above listed models and model years from three (3) years / 36,000 miles to eight (8) years / 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). If a customer experiences windshield damage, inspect the damage as per the guidelines supplied in this bulletin to confirm if the damage is covered under the Warranty Extension.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the Front Windshield used in the above listed models and model years from three (3) years / 36,000 miles to eight (8) years / 100,000 miles (whichever comes first).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This announcement is in regard to settlement in a class action lawsuit for vehicles that will receive a limited warranty extension for original equipment Subaru windshields experiencing a qualifying crack.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin announces availability of a new variable displacement type A/C compressor designed to address a small number of customer concerns regarding an excessive sound heard when the system is OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report that windshields on 2020 Subaru Foresters develop large, spreading cracks from impacts that would not damage other vehicles. A pinhole chip from a small rock, pebble, or ice flake often turns into a 10- to 24-inch crack within minutes to hours. Multiple owners describe hearing only a small ping or pop upon impact—nothing like the sounds from rock strikes on their previous vehicles. Safelite technicians have told owners the windshield angle or design is faulty and see "a lot of Foresters in their shops every week" for the same problem.
Cracks also appear spontaneously while vehicles sit parked in garages or driveways with no visible impact point or chip. Owners wake up or return from work to find cracks spanning the glass, sometimes growing overnight.
The pattern is recurrence: owners who replace the windshield face another crack within weeks or months, from either minor debris or no apparent cause. Some have required three to four replacements in under three years. Dealers and Subaru refuse warranty coverage on all failures, attributing them to external impact. One service advisor explained the windshield is thinner than industry standard to allow the EyeSight camera system to function, implying durability was sacrificed for the safety feature.
Full replacement costs $859–$1,500 plus $200–$590 for EyeSight recalibration. After replacement, the system may require multiple service visits to calibrate correctly, leaving drivers without this safety feature for weeks.
Same Subaru Forester visibility reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield cracking from minor road debris impact
Windshield develops cracks—often 10 to 20+ inches—after minor rock or pebble strikes that owners report would not damage other vehicles. Cracks originate from pinhole or barely visible impact points and spread rapidly within minutes to hours. Some cracks extend across the entire field of view, obstructing vision. Owners report hearing small pings or pops upon impact, unlike the loud impacts they've experienced with other vehicles.
When: Typically within first year of ownership; mileage ranges from 500 to 50,000 miles at time of failure; most reported in first 6–12 months
Symptoms owners cite: Long cracks (10–24 inches) extending from pinhole impact site; Rapid crack propagation after initial chip appears; Cracks oriented horizontally, vertically, or diagonally across windshield; Obscured driver vision, particularly at eye level; Impaired EyeSight camera system when crack is in line of sight
Repairs/costs cited: Full windshield replacement required in most cases; cost reported as $859–$1,500 plus EyeSight recalibration ($590–$200 additional). Multiple owners required 2–4 windshield replacements within 2–3 years. Some owners report Safelite technicians cited faulty glass angle/design specific to Subaru Forester.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealerships attributed failures to rock/debris impact, not manufacturing defect, and denied warranty coverage. One service manager cited Class Action suit bulletin on windshield failures but attributed all cracks to external impact. One service advisor stated EyeSight system required thinner-than-industry-standard glass, trading durability for camera performance. No recalls or TSBs documented in narratives for 2020 model year; prior model years (2016–2019) mentioned in class action lawsuit context.
Windshield cracking without evident impact or debris strike
Windshield develops cracks spontaneously while vehicle is parked in garages, driveways, or parking lots, with no observable impact point, chip, or indentation. Cracks appear overnight or over a few hours without any collision or debris strike. Owners report leaving vehicles with fully intact glass and returning to find large cracks (6–18 inches). No visible damage to glass edge or vehicle frame adjacent to crack.
When: Occurs while vehicle parked and undriven, often within first 2–6 months of ownership; some after 5–10 days of sitting idle
Symptoms owners cite: Large cracks (6–18 inches) appearing without impact evidence; Crack visible on return to vehicle after 1–24 hours of parking; Cracks at top edge, bottom edge, or running horizontally across windshield; No chip, pock mark, or indentation at crack origin; Crack location unrelated to weather (occurs in garage, not exposed to elements)
Repairs/costs cited: Full windshield replacement; cost $859–$1,500 including EyeSight recalibration. One owner reported attempting chip fill, which caused crack to spread; another owner paid $1,416.27 for dealer replacement and EyeSight calibration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships denied warranty coverage, citing external impact as cause despite no evidence. One dealer stated spontaneous cracks were 'often a problem with the smart windshield' but not warrantied. No manufacturer response documented in narratives.
Recurring windshield cracks and multiple replacements in short timespan
Owners experience repeated windshield failures (2–4 replacements within 2–3 years) despite using OEM or aftermarket glass. After each replacement, subsequent cracks occur from minor debris or spontaneously. Pattern suggests underlying glass durability defect rather than isolated incidents. Owners describe glass as 'fragile,' 'brittle,' and unusually sensitive to road debris compared to prior vehicles.
When: Failures cluster in first 2–3 years of ownership; intervals between replacements range from 1 month to several months
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple large cracks (10–24 inches) across separate glass installations; Cracks from progressively minor impacts (e.g., tiny pebble, ice flake, small rock); Rapid crack propagation (within seconds to hours of impact); Each new windshield fails within weeks to months, not years; Impaired vision and EyeSight function repeated across multiple replacements
Repairs/costs cited: Cumulative cost for multiple replacements reaches $3,000–$6,000+ over 2–3 years. Safelite technician cited faulty windshield angle/design as root cause. One owner replaced with OEM glass; Safelite warned performance would not improve. One owner reported 6 windshield replacements on 2019 Subaru Outback within 2 years (per service advisor anecdote).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru denied repeated warranty claims, blaming external impact each time. No corrective action or design investigation documented. One owner mentioned Subaru USA acknowledged 'not being the only one having these issues' but offered no remedy.
EyeSight system unavailability due to windshield damage or recalibration delay
When windshield cracks or is replaced, EyeSight driver-assist system loses calibration and is unavailable for weeks or months. Recalibration at dealership is required ($200–$590 additional cost) and can take multiple service visits. One owner drove 2 weeks without EyeSight; another experienced 3+ recalibration attempts spanning 5+ weeks.
When: Occurs immediately after windshield crack develops; recalibration delays range from days to 5+ weeks depending on parts availability and dealership scheduling
Symptoms owners cite: EyeSight system disabled when windshield compromised; Recalibration appointments difficult to schedule; Multiple recalibration attempts required; initial repairs at glass shops do not resolve calibration; Vehicle operating without advanced safety features for extended periods
Repairs/costs cited: EyeSight recalibration adds $200–$590 to windshield repair cost. One owner: Safelite unable to calibrate after 3 hours; required dealership intervention, finally completed 4+ weeks after initial crack. Another owner: dealership repair took 3+ hours and multiple visits to achieve calibration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No documented manufacturer assistance; owners routed to dealership for recalibration. One service advisor cited thin glass required for EyeSight camera function, implying design is intentional trade-off.
Synthesized from 287 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
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.
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.