2020 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
598 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
5,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 272 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 252 of 598 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 62 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 28 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 1.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 252 |
| Unknown Or Other | 107 |
| Electrical System | 99 |
| Engine | 77 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 46 |
| Power Train | 31 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
Visibility/Wiper: 252; Unknown Or Other: 107; Electrical System: 99; Engine: 77; Visibility:Windshield: 46; Power Train: 31; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 240 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 240; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (240). 326 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| 2021 | 171 |
| 2022 | 103 |
| 2023 | 83 |
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2019: 11; 2020: 124; 2021: 171; 2022: 103; 2023: 83; 2024: 64; 2025: 28; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 60 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11271479 · 2019-10-28 (October 28, 2019)
I OWNED MY 2020 FORESTER FOR LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AND I GOT A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING LESS THAN 30 MILES PER HOUR. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT HEARD A CRACK AND SAW THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD.
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11279538 · 2019-11-12 (November 12, 2019)
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENABLED WITH A PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT USING A SEAT BELT EXTENDER. THERE ARE FLAWS ON THE SOFTWARE THAT IDENTIFY THE PASSENGER ACTIONS ENTERING THE CAR, WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED AND WHETHER OR NOT A SEAT BELT EXTENDER HAS BEEN USED. IF A SEAT BELT EXTENDER IS ALREADY IN PLACE, THE CAR REFUSES TO ENABLE THE AIR BAGS AFTER A PERSON SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11279538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287848 · 2019-12-09 (December 9, 2019)
WE VERY RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2020 FORESTER....LESS THAN 1000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN WE GOT IN IT THE NEXT MORNING THE WINDSHIELD HAD A SMALL CRACK IN IT! I HOPE THIS ISN'T A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THE POSTS ON HERE OF 2019 FORESTERS WITH WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO A WINDSHIELD REPAIR COMPANY AND HAD IT REPAIRED BEFORE THE CRACK GOT WORSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289165 · 2019-12-15 (December 15, 2019)
WINDSHIELD CRACKED.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289740 · 2019-12-17 (December 17, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2020 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT IN THE LEFT LANE ALONG AN ON-RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, WHICH CONSISTS OF A ROAD THAT CURVES TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND BUT THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. SUDDENLY AND IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR BEGAN TO BEEP CONTINUOUSLY WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT AND LOCKED, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN AS I TRIED TO CORRECT THE WHEEL AND BRAKE THE CAR. I WAS SUDDENLY COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR DROVE ME OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN INTO THE SNOWY …
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291017 · 2019-12-24 (December 24, 2019)
PURCHASED A 2020 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT. FIVE DAYS LATER, WOKE UP TO FIND A 2-3 FOOT LONG CRACK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING AT THE VERY EDGE OF THE GLASS (THE BLACK PART). NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ROCKS, IMPACT, CHIPPING, ETC. - WHEN I TOOK IT TO BE REPLACED, THE DEALERSHIP AGREED BUT SAID 'UNFORTUNATELY SUBARU DOES NOT COVER GLASS'. I INFORMED THEM THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SUBARU, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF. I HAD TO PAY $500 FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD ON A CAR I BOUGHT 5 DAYS PRIOR, WITH NOTHING CAUSING THE CRACK.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291156 · 2019-12-25 (December 25, 2019)
WHEN THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE OPEN AND THEN CLOSED THEY ALWAYS COME UP FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR WET. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR HAS RECENTLY BEEN TO THE CARWASH/ ITS BEEN RAINING OUTSIDE/ OR NOT. CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291547 · 2019-12-27 (December 27, 2019)
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019. AS I BEGAN MY DRIVE TO WORK THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY (DECEMBER 6), I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE I PURCHASED WINDSHIELD REPAIR COVERAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE MY VEHICLE WASN'T IN THEIR SYSTEM YET. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK WITH ME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CRACK SPREAD TO MORE THAN 6 INCHES. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 223 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291547 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.