There are 50 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2021 Subaru Foresterin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Windshield cracks with the slightest rock hit making the windshield unsafe to continue use. Had two replacements in first six months
The front windshield is covered in chips all over it I've got a few bigger ones repaired. However the whole windshield needs to be replaced I don't even know where they've come from I mean the whole windshield is just covered and tiny little chips and when the sun shines on it while you're driving It makes visibility extremely hard. And from what I gather researching windshields on Subaru this is a flaw... I've had plenty of vehicles and never have seen such a bad windshield. I recently purchased this vehicle in August and it has $112,000 mi on it. I did not see the issue with the windshield until after purchasing it and driving in direct sunlight. I did notice a few big chips in The windshield and the dealership did repair those...
Windscreen cracked for no apparent reason
**Component Malfunction**: The windshield developed cracks shortly after purchase, which expanded without impact, affecting visibility and causing the Safety Eyesight system to malfunction. **Safety Risk**: The expanding crack impaired vision and led to safety system malfunctions, posing a risk to driver and passenger safety. **Problem Reproduction**: It is unclear if the issue has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center. **Inspection Status**: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. **Warning Signs**: There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure; the issue appeared in the first week after purchase.
I was driving along the highway when I heard the sound of a pebble hitting my windshield. When I got home, I immediately checked my windshield and did not see any damage. I was quite relieved. Two hours later, I looked out and saw a very long crack had appeared. The crack went from nothing to about 22 inches long in a matter of hours. I went to investigate further and saw that the pebble created a small pit on the edge of the windshield. Unfortunately, like typical windshields, the pit did not remain consistent in size and stay put. Instead, it spread out as a very large crack on the window. I read today that Subaru has a lawsuit against this very thing - faulty windshields. I have had this vehicle two weeks and now have a very costly repair because of the eyesight technology. I bought this car for its reliability without knowing that it had faulty windshields.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield cracked without impact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,350.
Just discovered this morning that the windshield of my car has a long crack without being hit by any item like stone or small debris. It also affects the eyesight as it malfunctions occassionally
Windshield has cracked twice with no visual impact site or minimal impact. Occurred almost ‘spontaneously.’ Both incidents had significant splintering on the windshield impairing visibility. Incidents occurred within 6 months of each other. The windshield cracking can also affect the ‘Eye Sight’ camera with the car safety features. Appears to be a known issue with the type of glass used.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she observed micro-fractures developing on the front windshield of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 15,000.
See attached document for complaint
Had a rock barely touch my windshield causing a crack
Barely pushed on inside of windshield with foot and it cracked in a million directions.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the front windshield cracked from the side and extended to the center of the windshield. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 13,000.
As I was getting into my vehicle with my family, we heard a loud noise come from the front of the vehicle ( windshield are). We immediately noticed the windshield had cracked and it had started right underneath the driver area and was going up the middle and turned to passenger side of the windshield. All of this occurred while vehicle was parked. Have been reading this has been an ongoing issue with Subaru.
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that a small crack had developed on the front windshield. After parking the vehicle, the contact discovered that the crack had expanded. The contact stated that there was no impact to the windshield to have caused the windshield to crack. The windshield was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 27,985.
When I was driving less than 40 MPH a small pebble hit the lower portion of my windshield and the glass instantly cracked across my line of sight. It made it so images were distorted.
Subaru's Windshield problems persist. Bought a 2021 forester in 2021, shortly after had a small chip turn into a giant crack in a matter of days. Dealership wouldn't repair under warranty, so $1000+ to have it replaced and Eyesight recalibrated. I understand now why they sell glass insurance. Less than 18 months later the replacement windshield spontaneously cracked from the bottom up, forming a 18" upside down L-shape, just as the previous class action lawsuit describes. No warning as this happened sitting in a garage overnight, no outside influence could have caused it. The crack is partially within sightline to the hood, but visibility to the road is impaired by the horizontal portion of the crack.
My Subaru Forester 2021 windshield cracked spontaneously with no contact of an object (rock, etc.) Previous known issues and class action suits related to Subaru model windshields cracking spontaneously with no contact.
THE WINDSHEILD SUDDENLY CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, JUST IN FRONT OF THE EYESIGHT SENSOR, ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG. THE CAR HAS 35,000 MILES, AND IS DRIVEN BY A 67 YEAR OLD. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE IS MID 50'S.
I awoke to find the passenger side windshield cracked from the bottom, near wiper, extending upward and the moving horizontal in an Upside down L shape. I did a search and found that this incident is similar to others who own Subaru Foresters which is the vehicle I own. It is a 2021 model. I called my Subaru dealer and recommended that I take it to Wilson Auto Glass in Wheeling WV where I live. He did not tell me to bring it in to the service dept first.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026