2017 Subaru Forester Visibility/Wiper Problems
- 25
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- passenger side · 5 records
- small chip · 4 records
- windshield cracked · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 14 |
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 60–100k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Visibility/Wiper
Cracked windshield on my 2017 subaru forester. Unknown source of how it happened. Not from any type of debris.
ODI 11307819
Visibility/Wiper
While driving on i-75 south near lake city, fl a small pebble struck and cracked the passenger side of my windshield. The year, make, and model of my vehicle have a well known history of weakness as well as fragility and class action suit for the subaru outback of same vintage has reached settlement. Unfortunately, the forester has the same problem. I had the crack repaired the same day to prevent it from getting…
ODI 11306698
Visibility/Wiper
Crack in windshield resulting in loss of cameras (eye sight)
ODI 11301948
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield is extremely brittle and will crack across with impacts that other cars can sustain. 3 windshield replacements required in 18 months.
ODI 11291513
Visibility/Wiper
12/11/19 2pm driving at 55mph south on route 321 between kane, pa and wilcox, pa. No oncoming traffic, no stone chips. Noticed 6" l shaped crack in windshield. Defroster was on. Next morning the crack was about 14" and growing.
ODI 11291381
Visibility/Wiper
I purchase my 2017 forester from the annapolis dealer as a used loaner car with less than 7000 miles with the original and extended warranty coverage. After reading about windshield problems i started checking the windshield on my forester. There are a number of hairline cracks that are difficult to see and best seen in low sunlight with the light is refracted by the cracks. I have not reported this problem to the…
ODI 11282641
Visibility/Wiper
While parked, the windshield on the passenger side of 2017 subaru forester suddenly cracked.
ODI 11271453
Visibility/Wiper
While driving at about 60 miles i noticed that the windshield was cracking
ODI 11271468
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield cracked in several places for no reason. Had to be replaced.
ODI 11271394
Visibility/Wiper
The windshield on my vehicle developed dozens of chips after only 40k miles of driving. My previous vehicles driven in the same manner in the same places had no such problem. The other the day factory windshield developed a large crack and had to be replaced. Please look at other owner complaints at subaruforester.org about the quality of the forester windshield. There is a trend of broken windshields on this model.…
ODI 11195725
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield shattered after hitting a deer. Replacement windshield cracked with no apparent reason while car was parked.
ODI 11271388
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield cracks at very little impact and cracks spread rapidly through windshield. I had windshield replacement twice in 2018 and it cracked again on 01-01-2019. It happened on the same road i commute for 20 years and never had windshield cracks with my previous vehicles.
ODI 11164465
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield exhibited sparkling type fault that compromised ability to see clearly thru the windshield. Especially severe in night driving or direct sunlight. Subaru replaced windshield as a "courtesy" to me. The same condition is now prevalent in the replacement windshield. I know the dealer will tell me it is another fault, not the manufacturing of the windshield.
ODI 11282076
Visibility/Wiper
Our windshield cracked while sitting in garage overnight. We were told that replacement has to be oem glass and calibrated due to the eyesight safety sensors. After two months on back order we were informed that there is a soa backorder of over 2,000 windshields. Upon checking forums, there are a plethora of complaints about repeated windshield cracks and long waits similar to ours. Design defect?
ODI 11149452
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield issues. Starting 2/11/2017 first stone ding - kings subaru recommended windshield replacement. Part was ordered and installed by a mel's auto-glass. I pay $250.00 deductible for repair. 7/28/2017 - same issue, stone ding - same dealer recommends glass replacement. Getting a new windshield much more difficult this time. One month later i seek a second opinion from safelite. They are able to fix windshield…
ODI 11130820
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield cracked all by itself a second time. Got into the car, looked up, massive crack from the top edge down and across. There was no impact. Filed insurance claim, took to dealership, had windshield replaced with another oem subaru windshield, had eyesight system calibrated. Car sat at dealership undriveable for 4 months because windshield was on national backorder.
ODI 11190410
Visibility/Wiper
I have experienced multiple issues with now 2 replacement windows on my 2017 forester for what i believe to be related to low quality glass that subaru is using. Glass damage - 1.7.18 - small chip while vehicle was moving from road debris. Driving on i-25 south in co - repaired / chip filled by safelite glass damage - 2.5.18 - small chip near center top that expanded into a 2 foot crack. Chip / crack occured while…
ODI 11088976
Visibility/Wiper
Own a 2017 subaru forester, we have less than 11,000 miles and less than one year of ownership. A small stone hitting the windshield, quickly ends up in a 24" to 30" long linear crack unlike my other two vehicles. We are in process of replacing 3rd windshield glass in less than one year. It appears that there may be an oem defect. This long crack creates danger vision problem. Every windshield replacement requires…
ODI 11080745
Visibility/Wiper
While driving subaru forester 2017, a small rock hit the windshield and small crack quickly turned into 24" to 30" long linear crack and as a result ended up replacing wind shield glass and re-calibration of eyesight. This happened twice in last 8 months. It appears to be an oem issue. Unlike my other two vehicles, they had similar issue however the crack was shield by professionals and never developed linear crack.
ODI 11074405
Visibility/Wiper
Damaged windshield from a tiny pebble resulting in a 2 inch spider webbed crack. Driving on highway on a paved road without any construction. Very small pebble struck windshield and left a large crack.
ODI 11221355
Visibility/Wiper
The windshield spontaneously cracked, middle passenger side (not aware when it happened. One time came out into the garage and noticed it was cracked). It also was severely chipped one time before (2500 miles). So it has had to be replaced 2 times within 16,000 miles and less than one year ownership.
ODI 11072066
Visibility/Wiper
Small chip driving aug 2017after parking turned into long cracks july 2018 small chip driving turned into long crack after parking
ODI 11297010
Visibility/Wiper
Windshield got small star chip on passenger side after getting dinged with a rock while driving on the interstate. Commercial windshield repair was attempted. The repair failed and the windshield produced a large horizontal crack along passenger side, originating from initial chip/repair site.
ODI 11219790
Visibility/Wiper
Got into vehicle, looked up and the windshield had a massive crack from the top edge down and across. No impact of any sort. Filed insurance claim and took to subaru dealership for replacement with oem subaru windshield and calibration of eyesight system.
ODI 11190407
Visibility/Wiper
Small object hit edge of windshield while driving on interstate. Horizontal crack developed later that day.
ODI 11219785
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2017 Subaru Forester.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.