This announcement is in regard to the warranty extension initiated for windshields for the models listed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Subaru Forester visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2022 Subaru Forester have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Forester | 146 |
| 2019 Forester | 387 |
| 2020 Forester | 287 |
| 2021 Forester | 82 |
| 2022 Forester (this page) | 20 |
| 2023 Forester | 11 |
| 2024 Forester | 4 |
| 2025 Forester | 16 |
| 2026 Forester | 4 |
What stands out
Visibility accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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
2022 Forester windshields are failing at an unusually high rate, and the failure pattern doesn't match typical road-hazard damage. Many owners report cracks forming spontaneously—while parked overnight, sitting at a red light, or warming up in the garage—with no impact event. Cracks typically start at the bottom edge or dashboard area and expand over days or weeks. Several owners experienced multiple cracks (three to four) within their first year of ownership.
When impact does occur, even minor ones cause excessive damage. Owners cite low-speed hits (5–20 MPH) causing significant cracking, contrasting with their experience on other vehicles that tolerate similar impacts. One owner replaced a 2019 Forester windshield within months; another reported the same problem on this 2022 model.
Rear and side windows also fail spontaneously—one rear window cracked while parked and fell out; another imploded during driving, scattering glass into the cabin.
Dealers consistently deny warranty coverage, claiming glass exclusions apply. One owner states Subaru has a "limited windshield replacement program," and another mentions "a glass action" against the manufacturer. Following one windshield replacement, EyeSight and adaptive cruise control became inoperable, suggesting recalibration issues after service. Replacement costs are high, and owners report this failure pattern is distinct to this vehicle.
Same Subaru Forester visibility reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2023 · 2025
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous windshield cracking
Windshield develops cracks without documented impact. Cracks initiate from bottom, edges, or dashboard area and spread over days or weeks. Owners report no rock strikes, pebble impacts, or collision events preceding failure.
When: Between 500 and 29,000 miles; many failures within first year of ownership (May-July 2022 purchases)
Symptoms owners cite: Vertical or horizontal cracks in windshield; Cracks starting from bottom or edges and spreading; Cracks originating from dashboard area; Cracks occurring overnight while parked or garaged; Cracks forming while driving slowly or at highway speeds; Cracks expanding over time after initial formation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and glass shops replace windshield; one owner reports service denied replacement due to small pre-existing hole in glass. Owner reports significant cost and inconvenience.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One narrative mentions limited windshield replacement program exists; one manufacturer photo documentation reported; no recalls or TSBs mentioned by owners
Windshield chips and crazing
Windshield develops small chips (less than 1 cm) or multiple scattered damage points across glass surface with no impact event reported. Pattern of damage suggests material defect rather than road debris.
When: Early ownership period; one documented at 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Small chips scattered across windshield; Chips covering windshield uniformly rather than concentrated impact zone; Multiple damage points appearing simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommends full windshield replacement; warranty denied by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refuses to treat as warranty claim
Rear side window failure (spontaneous cracking or implosion)
Rear or side windows crack or implode without documented impact. One narrative describes rear window cracking while parked and subsequently falling out; another describes driver-side rear window imploding while driving, sending glass fragments into vehicle.
When: Unknown specific mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window cracking while parked; Window glass falling out after cracking; Rear side window imploding during operation; Glass fragments dispersed into vehicle interior
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in narrative accounts
Windshield failure after OEM replacement (recalibration issue)
After dealer windshield replacement with OEM glass (per manufacturer instruction), EyeSight and cruise control features become inoperable, suggesting calibration failure following service.
When: Post-windshield replacement service
Symptoms owners cite: EyeSight system inoperable; Adaptive cruise control inoperable; Symptoms occur following windshield service
Repairs/costs cited: Occurred after one-month wait for OEM windshield replacement; not repaired in narrative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer required OEM replacement rather than aftermarket
Windshield vulnerability to minor impacts
Windshield cracks or develops significant damage from low-speed impacts that owners believe would not damage competitors' vehicles. Impact speeds cited as 5 MPH, 20 MPH, and highway speeds; owners report chips and cracks from impacts that they attribute to material brittleness.
When: Various mileages during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Cracking from low-speed impacts (under 20 MPH); Cracking from minor pebble strikes at low speed; Parking lot impact under 5 MPH causing cracking; Multiple impact-related failures within 12 months
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple replacements required within year; expensive replacement cost cited
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Woke up this morning to a cracked windshield. Car was garaged over night and I drove it around 8:30pm the evening before and their was no crack. Now have a 4” crack in the passenger side windshield.
While driving the drivers side rear window imploded sending thousands of shards of glass into the vehicle.
Windshield spontaneously cracked while stationary on a level paved major thoroughfare. There was no impact on the windshield of any kind. No prior damage. Just sitting at a red light no traffic approaching from any direction and the windshield cracked in the middle sections of the glass, on the right edge.
Had visibility trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Subaru Forester?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 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?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 18,300 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2022/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.