10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
97 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Subaru Forester miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2021 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #18

Dec 222022

Forester

  • miles

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

It was a very cold night on Dec. 21, 2022. I traveled out of town. I don't recall seeing or hearing anything hit my windshield. However, on Dec. 22, 2022 when I got back in my car, I noticed a very long scratch across the windshield. It is now Mar. 1, 2023 and it has gotten much worse. I am unsure how to go about getting it fixed because I cannot pay for the repairs.

- Sciotoville, OH, USA

problem #17

Dec 182022

Forester

  • miles
Windshield has cracked twice in last month, in separate areas. I replaced the windshield on 11/9/22 and identified a new crack on 12/18/22.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #16

Nov 302022

Forester 4-cyl

  • miles
Glass cracked for no reason. According to this article Subaru has been sued related to 2017-2020 Foresters for a similar reason https://www.torquenews.com/1084/new-ruling-subaru-cracked-windshield-lawsuit-now-adds-25m-cars

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #15

Nov 022022

Forester

  • miles

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

I purchased a 2021 Subaru Forester with approximately 9000 miles on the odometer. Purchase was made on October 18, 2022, then on October 19, 2022 I experienced unintended acceleration on my way home that day with the car. The car just seemed to have a mind of its own and just "took off" at high speed and quickly it returned to normal. I simply thought I did something wrong and kept driving the car. Then on November 2, 2022 while in my driveway, the unintended acceleration happened again and this time the car hit a building on our property and both the building and the car suffered severe damage.

- Mount Holly, NJ, USA

problem #14

Aug 232022

Forester

  • miles
On 08/23/2022 while driving on a four lane city street, light rain, moderate traffic, at about 35 mph, the car suddenly lost forward speed, depresssing the accelerator move rpm to over 3000, with continued loss of forward speed, until suddenly the drive train engaged and forward speed resumed. This is the fourth time this type of event has occured. A check at a Subaru dealer the next day revealed no codes in memory. Fortunately there was no heavy traffic on this road at the time because in another half hour there would have been very heavy traffic. This is very disconcerting and potentially dangerous to vehicles directly behind. Is there a problem with the Eye Sight system that triggers a sudden loss of speed when there is no vehicle close ahead?

- Isle La Motte, VT, USA

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problem #13

Jun 182022

Forester

  • miles
Windshield developed large L or J shaped crack from very top near roof line, down center of windshield and turns toward the Drivers side. This car was PARKED in our driveway at home when it cracked. No stone chips, nothing dropped on it as you can see in attached pictures. We will schedule a visit to Subaru dealer here in Knoxville, TN. for inspection. No warnings because vehicle was parked in our driveway.

- Knoxville , TN, USA

problem #12

Jun 142022

Forester

  • miles

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

Uknown. This vehicle was purchased in January of 2021. Approximately a month afterwards, the windshield had cracked and I paid out of pocket to get it replaced. Shortly after replacing the windshield, it had obtained 2 chips on the windshield and from the second chip, it cracked from the bottom left corner up towards the middle of the windshield. The frequency in which chips and cracks are occurring, especially after purchasing the vehicle brand new and shortly after replacing the windshield, is alarming. This puts my safety at risk because of its interference with visibility and Subaru Eyesight which is suppose to be a safety feature on the vehicle. This has been an ongoing problem with Subaru and their windshields. After owning the vehicle for just 18 months and having replaced the windshield already, this should not be happening in such frequency.

- Owasso , OK, USA

problem #11

Apr 232022

Forester

  • miles
Windshield chipped while driving 60mph on the freeway. A few minutes later while stopped at a light it developed an 18 inch crack as we watched it happen.

- Raleigh , NC, USA

problem #10

Dec 172021

Forester

  • miles
Design flaw-2022 Subaru Forester, Antenna placements inside body of car result in pacemaker interference and make it impossible to drive in and avoid. Antennas are built into frame of car and cannot be disabled to accommodate for disabled persons who have implantable medical devices. Inability to be able to permanently and completely disable technology that can interfere with implantable medical devices including "StarLink", GPS, Wireless and Radio wave technologies. Failure by Subaru to release testing results of above telematic devices to consumers. Failure by auto industry to properly test these systems before implementing into autos. Failure by auto industry to allow for accomodating people with disabilities to operate and purchase safely autos with these features. I want a black box warning on all vehicle stickers and complete disclosure in writing to dangers and exclusion to disable person to operate these vehicles! I disclosed to sells staff at Subaru at time of looking at vehicles to purchase that I have pacemaker, no warning was giving or safety concerns for persons with pacemakers. After purchase of vehicle and experiencing pacemaker function issues caused by these systems I was informed to stay 8" away from all antennas, which is impossible to do while driving or sitting in or near vehicle. I now have a vehicle I cannot drive and Subaru has refused to buy back to vehicle. I also want all any any testing info result findings do by NHTSA/Subaru to be mail to me asap! Thanks for your time.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 012022

Forester

  • miles
Windshield is faulty because it cannot hold up to small impacts of small rocks. I was driving on the freeway and a nearby car picked up a small rock which impacted my windshield glass. There was about one centimeter circumference star crack that webbed out 1 inches. While driving, the crack grew to 1 foot long in the span of less than 30 minutes during the drive (this day the outdoor temperature was 49-50 degrees F.). This is the second time this has happened. I had recently replaced my windshield about 8 months ago when rock hit windshield and crack grew over 2 feet. I have purchased the car 14 months ago and needing two windshield replacements.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #8

Dec 082021

Forester

  • miles

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

My windshield shattered when hit by a small rock that apparently came from across and bounced up and hit the windshield. Subaru does not replace windshields... so you have to get Insurance to cover. The wiring in a Subaru is attractive to rodents - what the wiring is made of depends on who you speak with - most common answer is Oat Based Covering. I have spent over $4000 to have the wring in the front and fuel area. This is a 2021 Subaru Forester with less than 12K miles. Subaru can not give a straight answer on material in the wiring and says I need to build a shed. There are 4 other vehicles at my location that are there 20 hours a day - I go to an office 5 days a week so my car is gone over 50 hours a week - still my fault!

- Forsyth, GA, USA

problem #7

Jan 052022

Forester

  • miles
I leased a 2021 Forester in April, and around September, I got a J shape crack in the bottom center of the windshield. Subaru dealership in Glendale, CA told me they would replace the windshield free for the first time. Had to wait until mid-December for the backordered replacement to come in. Today, 1/5/22, was driving on the highway and a small projectile on the road caused a starburst crack on my newly replaced windshield.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #6

Dec 112021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield cracked after it was hit by a rock. I have been told there is windshield issues with this vehicle.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #5

Nov 122021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield cracked for no apparent reason.

- Belton , TX, USA

problem #4

Sep 202021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield started cracking

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #3

Jun 252021

Forester

  • miles
I was on highway and I was not tailgating other cars. While on highway, a tiny rock (so tiny didn't even see it make impact) hit the windshield of my 2021 Subaru Forester. It left less than.5 inch of crack on windshield. The next day, the crack grew to the edge to over of half the windshield. The windshield is surprisingly extremely weak and susceptible to cracking and breaking. If such a tiny rock cause cause that much damage to the windshield, I fear for my safety and passengers' safety if larger hail or other debris will hit the windshield. Worse, if an accident would occur face-on, we will not be protected by the windshield. This is unacceptable that the windshield is weak and poorly manufactured. I brought car to the dealership and they inspected and took photos. I have also contacted Subaru corporate and I am waiting for their follow-up contact.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #2

May 252021

Forester

  • miles
This is for a car only 18 days driven. Windshield cracked from bottom, under retaining gasket, with no strike, impact, or previous ding. Car hood flexes up and down, more than 2-inches, when large trucks pass in opposite direction. Automatic fuel stop at pump did not work properly, causing fuel spill one time, and underfill another time. Windshield visibility and possibility of total failure. Car hood could fly up and obscure visibility and break windshield. Have not contacted dealer or insurance company yet about issues. Windshield problem is a known defect for Subaru, and subject of many lawsuits. No warnings before problems.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #1

Mar 122021

Forester

  • 1,750 miles
While parked at work, my window cracked about 10-12' right down the middle. It looks like it formed from a small pit in the window. Even though the car is maybe 5 weeks old, it looks like there are a bunch of these small pits all over the window which could be a manufacturing defect. My friend has a 2020 Forester that had the window crack in the same fashion after about 5 weeks of owning the car as well. I have attached a picture of the damage to the window.

- Broomfield, CO, USA

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