6.3

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$930
Average Mileage:
28,850 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace windshield, re-calibrate eyesight system (6 reports)
  2. not sure (5 reports)
  3. had windshield replaced by insurance (1 reports)
Get free help with your lemon!
close ad
2018 Subaru Forester windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Subaru Forester:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2018 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #12

Mar 302020

Forester XT 2.0L Xt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The front wind shield started to crack from the left side, on the driver's side. It has slowly crept across the windshield with time.

Their is/was no rock to blame or sign of impact...

It seems to be a common problem for Subarus, now, it never was a problem with the six Subarus my family has owned over the last 25 years.

It seems like the quality of materials they use has gone downhill significantly!

- tedfisher47ef, Mission, US

problem #11

Apr 262019

Forester Premium Turbo

  • CVT transmission
  • 11,000 miles

Windshield cracked for no reason. Car is garaged year round and well taken care of.

- Karen D., Port Angeles, US

problem #10

Sep 142021

Forester 2.5i Premium

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,544 miles

click to see larger images

cracked windshield cracked windshield

The car windshield just had a crack by itself, no external or internal force. It purely a quality issue. Both Insurance and dealer refused to pay for the repair. The repair cost is crazy nowadays.

- Kangzhu G., North Arlington, NJ, US

problem #9

Sep 262019

Forester

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We had a huge crack in our 2018 Subaru Forester. It started as a small pit and by the next afternoon, it was huge. I called Subaru first thing to see if there were any recalls or issues and they said no and I was out of warranty. So we replaced windshield with help from our insurance company Farm Bureau and they made it easy, but now we have a weird noise coming from dash board - windshield area?

- Dixie W., barnesville, US

problem #8

Feb 142020

Forester

  • CVT transmission
  • 23,000 miles

Not even paid off on my loan, and now I have to spend another few hundreds just to fix this problem!

- Dexter R., Daly City, US

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #7

Apr 152021

Forester Touring 2.0L Litre

  • CVT transmission
  • 48,000 miles

Experienced a THIRD cracked windshield in my 2018 Forester - in less than 3 years!!! Just picked up another small stone strike driving on the highway. I cringed when I heard it but, didn't see anything right away and thought I might have been spared this time. A later look proved otherwise. No more coincidences - I researched Subaru windshield breakage and found that it is definitely an issue with Subarus.

One lawsuit has been settled and two more are (hopefully) still active. In the initial settlement, Subaru passed the buck and blamed it on the glass manufacturer. This is bogus. It is not a glass issue--it is a Subaru issue and they have, apparently, done nothing to correct it.

It's very sad. This is my second Subaru (the first one was great) and I really like my 2018 Forester except for this issue. It appears they are not owning up to the problem and, as a result, I have lost my trust and loyalty to the Subaru brand.

- Richard F., Dublin, US

problem #6

Feb 152021

Forester Touring 2.0L Litre

  • CVT transmission
  • 38,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the SECOND windshield I've had to replace on my 2018 Forester! Same thing happened as the first time - stone strike in lower part of windshield causing a crack that could not be repaired. Had to replace the windshield. I thought it strange that this happened again such a short time.

I asked the glass tech if he was aware of Subarus having a windshield issue - he was not. Being a trusting customer in the Subaru brand, I just thought I'm having a run of bad luck until...

- Richard F., Dublin, US

problem #5

Mar 062019

Forester Touring 2.0L Litre

  • CVT transmission
  • 16,327 miles

New 2018 Forester with only 16000 miles. Had a small stone strike in lower part of windshield resulting in a small chip which grew into a 8-9" crack necessitating a replacement. I've been driving for 45 years and have never had a windshield replaced. Thought is was just bad luck and didn't think twice about it--until it happened again two years later!

- Richard F., Dublin, US

problem #4

Sep 252019

Forester Premium 2.5L 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 17,000 miles

My windshield cracked while changing my wiper blade assembly. The empty passenger-side wiper arm slipped from my hand and struck the glass. At first, I saw no crack. By the next day, a 6-inch linear crack could be seen. On the day following that, the crack had grown to nearly 10 inches. Our Subaru service center said that it would have to be replaced and the Eyesight system would have to be re-calibrated. The minimum duration for this repair would be 3 hours, but no longer than one work day. The estimate for the parts and labor is $1200 and the 10/100,000 warranty, purchased extra, does not cover this. (I have an appointment.) I'm a bit shocked that the glass broke so easily. The wiper arm was not that far from the glass when it dropped. On our other cars, the windshield has never broken from a dropped windshield wiper arm.

- cv-18, Valparaiso, US

problem #3

Jun 022019

Forester

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles

Minimal impact from small stone, now with crack that started under the wiper on drivers side and is gradually extending across windshield. Looks like this is not an isolated issue.

- Lisa N., Durham, NC, US

problem #2

Dec 102018

Forester Premium 2.5i

  • CVT transmission
  • 13,000 miles

Add my wife and I to the list of disgruntled Subaru owners. Our 2018 Outback suffered a spontaneous windshield crack, without impact to the glass, originating in the deicer area on the driver's side (like countless others reported online). At least three separate service bulletins have been issued related to this problem, and a class action lawsuit is underway in California. We purchased the extended bumper-to-bumper warranty, but after speaking with a service center rep who says she's aware of the issue but can't remember the dealership ever covering a warranty claim for windshield damage, I have little faith this will be resolved satisfactorily.

- Jordan J., Portland, OR, US

problem #1

Aug 252018

Forester 2.5i Limited 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

A small stone cracked my windshield on 8/25/2018, and the crack continues to grow while not even driving the vehicle. I live in Massachusetts where it is illegal to drive a car with a cracked windshield. The glass company told me that the part is on backorder from Subaru (verified with a second glass company) and will not be available before the beginning of October. This means that I will not be able to operate my car for at least 5 weeks.

I have tried to get the dealer where I purchased the car to give me a loaner, but so far no luck. I talked to someone at Subaru Customer Service about this issue and am waiting to see for a response. I have also been in touch with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (They just talked about the lemon law here.) and a local TV station's consumer complaint division (They suggested writing to the head of Subaru USA -- I plant to do this next.)

There was a class action suit for windshield issues for earlier years Outbacks and Legacys,

- Barbara W., Lincoln, US

Not what you are looking for?