2009 Subaru Forester Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 6%of 178 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the visibility of the 2009 Subaru Forester, 6% of the 178 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The rear window spontaneously cracked/shattered. When entering the car the rear window was in one piece. I put the car in reverse and when I took my foot off the brake a chunk of my window fell in. The pattern around the cracked window appears as a cluster of thermal breaks. I have looked and there are more Subaru's reported with this issue as well which has to deal with how the car de-frosts the glass.”
NHTSA complaint #11330268, filed 2020-06, 118,800 miles“Hi - I own a 2009 Forester 56k my windshield has a very big crack because of a pebble from a truck. This should not happen. I always believed this car had thin glass even though I know it is safety glass. I also own a honda and it has thick glass and there is no holes in the windshield from pebbles. Have you had other complaints because I am complaining!”
NHTSA complaint #10585158, filed 2014-04, 56,000 miles“The function of the radio and windshield wipers is intermittent. Upon start these devices do not appear to have electrical power and do not function. I suspect there are other items that do not work either, but I have not confirmed them. They both function properly when the engine is restarted. This has happened on 2 occasions over a 1 week period. This is a safety issue since in a rainstorm, the visibility would be nil. Otherwise the vehicle functions normally.”
NHTSA complaint #11256759, filed 2019-09, 84,350 miles“This vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that is faulty and unnecessary. When the tires are at the correct amount of pressure the TPMS light appears on the instrument panel during cold weather and will not turn off. If you want it to go away you have to pay a technician to reset it. I have been told that the manufacturer made it so it cannot be disabled. As I stated it is faulty and unnecessary and people should not have to continually pay to have it reset or replaced. As well I own a 2008 impreza with the same issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11175037, filed 2019-02, 133,000 miles“My problem is with my 2009 Subaru Forester, purchased new. There is some sort of residue that forms on the windshield when we use the defroster (which we use a lot due to montana winters). It cannot be cleaned off. We've used multiple products to attempt to remove it, and not matter what, the result is a greasy film that reflects light into our eyes at night, or uncleaned, obscures our vision. It has to be something in the heating system because this is our second windshield, and both were affected. …”
NHTSA complaint #10314906, filed 2010-02, 45,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10232851Feb 7, 2013Front Door Glass Does Not Close Properly
- 10067839Feb 7, 2013This bulletin provides an inspection and repair procedure to address a misalignment of the rear upper and lower window sash which may cause the front door glass to bind or move…
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 25% |
| 2025 | 20 | 20% |
| 2024 | 5 | 16% |
| 2023 | 12 | 16% |
| 2022 | 24 | 24% |
| 2021 | 90 | 42% |
| 2020 | 301 | 50% |
| 2019 | 406 | 49% |
| 2018 | 156 | 31% |
| 2017 | 116 | 20% |
| 2016 | 23 | 6% |
| 2015 | 28 | 5% |
| 2014 | 12 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 6% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 9 | 3% |
| 2009 | 11 | 6% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 8 | 4% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% |
| 1998 | 7 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2009 Subaru Forester
40 complaintsEngine
27 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsSeats
16 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology