2020 Subaru FORESTER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Subaru FORESTER has 794 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: 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 wi. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 27 crash reports 18 injuries

794

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

9.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

301 complaints

38%

• 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 WI
• 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.
• 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 NEEDE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 WI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

106 complaints

13%

• 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.
• 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 'UNFORTUNAT
• WINDSHIELD KEEPS BREAKING. VEHICLE BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER 2019, HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN. BOTH TIMES, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A CRACK STARTS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

97 complaints

12%

• WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT PUTS OUT LOW HEAT EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. AT 15 MINUTES SITTING, HEAT CAN BE FELT ON THE BUTTOCKS SKIN AND CAUSED MINOR SKIN BURN AT AROUND 30 MINUTES.
• VEHICLE IGNITION IS OFF AND IN PARK. THE SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS WHEN THE REAR TAILGATE IS LEFT OPEN. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF LEAVING THE REAR TAILGATE OPEN, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN OFF CORRECTLY AS A PUBLISHED SAFETY FEATURE TO HELP PREVENT A DEAD BATTERY UPON DEPARTURE. THE USER THINKS EVERYTHING
• A CHANGE IN SOME 2019-2020 SUBARU MODELS CAUSES AN INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN OBD-II DEVICES AND THE SUBARU STARLINK SYSTEM (WHICH IS USED TO DISPATCH EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES). SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN 15-257-19 11/11/2019 RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT PUTS OUT LOW HEAT EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. AT 15 MINUTES SITTING, HEAT CAN BE FELT ON THE BUTTOCKS SKIN AND CAUSED MINOR SKIN BURN AT AROUND 30 MINUTES.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

76 complaints

10%

• purchased new vehicle 10/23/19, 1st battery failure 6/15/2 jumped and ok 2nd battery failure 12/4/20 jumped, Subaru replaced battery 3rd battery failure 2/16/21, Subaru said battery was "fine" 4th battery failure 3/31/21 Subaru replaced battery 5th battery failure 5/14/21, appt with Subaru on 5/21/2
• I tried to unlock my car but the remote didnt work- I had to use the blank key inside the remote to get in the car. I couldn't start the car- my husband tried to jump it- that did not work- I called AAA they tried jumping it - that didnt work-- AAA told me the battery was good but totally out of cha
• I was in a parking lot at the time driving very slowly to pick a spot. When I went to turn right into the spot my car accelerated at an alarming speed. I had not control over it as it kept turning. It hit the car parked in front of my space pushing it and went on to hit the car parked to the right d

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“purchased new vehicle 10/23/19, 1st battery failure 6/15/2 jumped and ok 2nd battery failure 12/4/20 jumped, Subaru replaced battery 3rd battery failure 2/16/21, Subaru said battery was "fine" 4th battery failure 3/31/21 Subaru replaced battery 5th battery failure 5/14/21, appt with Subaru on 5/21/2”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

71 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WAS DARK AND RAINING. SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I WOKE UP ON SATURDAY I SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD
• I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WAS DARK AND RAINING. SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I WOKE UP ON SATURDAY I SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD
• 12/16/2020 DRIVING. 3:30 PM DAYTIME. CLEAR WEATHER. DIVIDED HIGHWAY. APPROX 50 MPH. NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CAR FOR AT LEAST A QUARTER MILE. CAR INITIATED SUDDEN STOP MODE NEARLY CAUSING A SEVERE REAR END COLLISION (AVOIDED BY APPROACHING DRIVER GOING INTO MEDIAN)

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING HOME IT WAS DARK AND RAINING. SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I WOKE UP ON SATURDAY I SAW A BIG CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 794 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: 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 WI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN DRIVING THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT PUTS OUT LOW HEAT EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. AT 15 MINUTES SITTING, HEAT CAN BE FELT ON THE BUTTOCKS SKIN AND CAUSED MINOR SKIN BURN AT AROUND 30 MINUTES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: purchased new vehicle 10/23/19, 1st battery failure 6/15/2 jumped and ok 2nd battery failure 12/4/20 jumped, Subaru replaced battery 3rd battery failure 2/16/21, Subaru said battery was "fine" 4th battery failure 3/31/21 Subaru replaced battery 5th battery failure 5/14/21, appt with Subaru on 5/21/2
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)