2020 Subaru Forester Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 108about this part
- Share
- 18%of 604 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 6,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 108 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2020 Subaru Forester, 18% of the 604 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 6,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I purchased my 2020 Subaru Forester in 6/2020, and by 2/2021 the windshield had chipped. I went to get it fixed, and it just cracked even more, according to the glass tech at safelite. I was told this has been happening very frequently with modern subarus and to file a complaint. I didn't notice the initial damage until the car was parked in my driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #11399530, filed 2021-03, 15,000 miles“Out of nowhere, the windshield has a crack that started at the top and is spreading down. There is no chip that started this. We have 2 newer subarus and this has happened to both cars within a month. There is nothing that we know of that caused this. Online we are seeing that this is an issue with newer subarus and windshields cracking.”
NHTSA complaint #11402739, filed 2021-03, 18,400 miles“A stone hit the windshield - passenger side ( colored glass) thickest part . I watched it crack in half all the way to the center of the car- immediately. I was 1.5 miles from the Subaru dealer .so I went straight there , I have had plenty of stone hits , never like this - they have always just made a pit , that could be fixed .I had purchased the car just 3 weeks before. This happened”
NHTSA complaint #11386240, filed 2021-01, 1,200 miles“My car was a couple months old. I was driving on the expressway and a rock glanced off my windshield. It cracked it. Based on the size of the rock, it was small, the windshield seems very susceptible to breaking. My previous car that I had for more than 10 years encountered much larger stones and I never had a windshield crack on me. The repair was over $1,500. It seems like quite the money grab by Subaru.”
NHTSA complaint #11397994, filed 2021-02, 500 miles“We leased this car feb 28, 2020. Two months later when traveling at 60 MPH we noticed a star-shaped crack on the windshield with nothing apparently hitting it. The windshield then cracked. Less than 3,000 miles on the car. We had the windshiled replaced at our expense. Last week when traveling 70 MPH a star-shaped crack appeared after nothing hitting it. The crack then expanded two different times.”
NHTSA complaint #11352084, filed 2020-08, 4,100 milesRelated service bulletins
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- 11032039Apr 24, 2026This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
Other or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 21% |
| 2025 | 21 | 21% |
| 2024 | 9 | 29% |
| 2023 | 20 | 27% |
| 2022 | 18 | 18% |
| 2021 | 43 | 20% |
| 2020 | 108 | 18% |
| 2019 | 145 | 17% |
| 2018 | 85 | 17% |
| 2017 | 97 | 16% |
| 2016 | 70 | 17% |
| 2015 | 74 | 12% |
| 2014 | 46 | 11% |
| 2013 | 7 | 9% |
| 2012 | 9 | 8% |
| 2011 | 13 | 9% |
| 2010 | 12 | 5% |
| 2009 | 11 | 6% |
| 2008 | 8 | 16% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 2 | 2% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 4% |
| 2003 | 6 | 3% |
| 2002 | 5 | 6% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 3 | 4% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 3 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2020 Subaru Forester
301 complaintsElectrical system
103 complaintsEngine
82 complaintsForward collision avoidance
44 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsLane departure
22 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsSteering
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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