This announcement is in regard to the warranty extension initiated for windshields for the models listed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Subaru Forester visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Subaru Forester have filed 82 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 5,200 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
82
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Forester | 105 |
| 2018 Forester | 146 |
| 2019 Forester | 387 |
| 2020 Forester | 287 |
| 2021 Forester (this page) | 82 |
| 2022 Forester | 20 |
| 2023 Forester | 11 |
| 2024 Forester | 4 |
| 2025 Forester | 16 |
When does it fail?
Of the 82 visibility complaints filed for the 2021 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 40% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 82 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 report two distinct windshield failure patterns on 2021 Subaru Foresters.
Extreme susceptibility to impact damage: Owners describe minimal stone strikes—pebbles, normal highway gravel, even pinhead-sized chips—causing rapid crack propagation. A small rock at highway speed creates a 12-inch crack that doubles within hours. Another owner reports a pinhole impact undetectable to the naked eye expanding into a full windshield replacement. One owner, comparing her 2010 Mazda CX-9 with 160,000 miles of pristine glass to her Forester with under 19,000 miles and multiple failures, calls it a defect.
Spontaneous cracking without impact: Multiple owners discover large cracks—often L-shaped, radiating from bottom corners near wiper areas—while the car sits parked in driveways or garages overnight. No stones, no noise, no visible damage. One owner reports a crack appearing while the vehicle was stationary and parked in an office complex. Another wakes to find an 18-inch upside-down L-crack in a garage, matching patterns from a prior class action lawsuit. A few incidents occur while driving with no audible impact—one at 45 mph, another at 65 mph, another at 25 mph.
Wiper malfunction appears once: intermittent failure of front and rear wipers after rain exposure, repeating six times over 15 weeks despite a wiper motor replacement and loose-connection repair.
Visibility impairment: Cracks in the driver's line of sight block vision and distort oncoming headlights. One owner notes a crack affecting the Safety Eyesight camera system. Another describes chips and crazing covering the entire windshield, making visibility extremely hard in direct sunlight.
Owners cite a prior class action lawsuit (2017–2020 models) and cite the introduction of acoustic glass as a potential factor.
Same Subaru Forester visibility reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Extreme impact fragility
Windshield sustains rapid crack propagation from minor stone strikes—pebbles, highway gravel, or pinhole-sized impacts—that would not damage other vehicles.
When: 0–19,000 miles; incidents 3 weeks to 18 months after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Small stone strike creates 6–12 inch crack within hours; Pinhole impact expands to full-windshield replacement; Crack doubles in size within 24 hours of minor impact; Star-shaped chip under quarter-inch radiates into 3+ cracks covering half windshield within 2 days; Crack propagates across windshield width after minor gravel impact
Repairs/costs cited: Full windshield replacement required; OEM glass recommended by Subaru for safety systems; cost $500–$1,000+ per replacement; one owner paid $500 deductible twice in 5 months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru referenced in class action lawsuit for 2017–2020 models; 2021 models not recalled; warranty coverage denied in some cases; Subaru customer service coordinated repair on one vehicle under warranty
Spontaneous cracking without impact
Windshield develops cracks while vehicle is parked and stationary, with no audible impact, visible damage, or external cause.
When: 1,700–27,985 miles; typically 3–18 months after purchase; discovered after overnight parking or extended stationary periods
Symptoms owners cite: Large crack appears overnight in parked driveway or garage; L-shaped or upside-down L-shaped crack starting from bottom corner or wiper area; Crack radiates upward and horizontally without impact site; Multiple radiating cracks from single origin point; Crack appears while driving with no audible rock strike; Bubble under glass visible at crack origin near wiper area; Diffuse cracks across windshield after overnight parking
Repairs/costs cited: Full windshield replacement; one warranty replacement approved; others denied outside warranty period (36,000 miles or 36 months); Subaru reimbursed one insurance copay after manufacturer review
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior class action lawsuit filed for 2017–2020 Foresters with identical crack pattern; 2021 models appear unrecalled; one owner reports Subaru customer service coordinated repair under warranty; others report manufacturer denial or lack of acknowledgment
Windshield crazing and chip accumulation
Windshield develops numerous small chips and fine cracks across surface, reducing visibility in direct sunlight and creating safety hazard.
When: Used vehicle purchased with 112,000 miles; early ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Entire windshield covered in tiny chips and crazing; Visibility severely impaired in direct sunlight; Multiple small cracks in center region; Chips visible across entire glass surface; No single impact cause identified
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repaired larger chips; full windshield replacement needed; estimated cost not specified
Intermittent wiper failure
Front and rear wipers stop functioning intermittently during or after rain exposure, resuming function after 10–30 minutes without driver intervention.
When: 3 weeks to 15 weeks after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers stop working after 5–10 minutes in rain; Wipers fail after heavy dew or following extended drive in rain; Function resumes spontaneously after 10–30 minutes; Both front and rear wipers affected simultaneously in all six incidents; Recurs despite repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Wiper motor replaced at first repair (3.5 weeks after purchase); loose connection found and fixed at second repair (12.5 weeks after purchase); failure continued after both repairs
Synthesized from 82 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Today I replaced my windshield for the second time in less than 6 months of owning the vehicle. The first crack happened a few months after I bought the car with no impact while driving. The second one also happened a couple weeks ago with no impact while driving. After seeing the other complaints, I'm shocked that there isn't a recall on these windshields. It's very dangerous to have windshields…
Windshield cracked with no impact. Started at top center and is expanding down the center of the windshield. I reached out to Subaru but no response.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH and passing a vehicle, he heard a sound coming from the windshield and the windshield cracked from the driver side to the middle of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the windshield. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred at the same spot while driving and passing another…
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the front windshield cracked without impact. The crack started at the top right on the passenger’s side and curved toward the rear-view mirror. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle was not covered and referred the contact the insurance company. The vehicle was not…
Barely pushed on inside of windshield with foot and it cracked in a million directions.
Crack in the windshield in line of sight. There is no entry point and upon research I’m seeing a lot of people complain about the 2021 models of the Subaru Forester with cracks. Living in the cold this is highly dangerous.
Had visibility trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 82 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 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 3,000 and 13,000 miles, with the median around 5,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,000; a quarter make it past 13,000. 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/2021/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.