Problems · by component

2018 Subaru Forester visibility/wiper problems

135 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester cite visibility/wiper, 27% of all 498 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
135
27% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the visibility/wiper

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Windshield cracked sitting parked matching Subaru TSB 12-192-15R except model of vehicle and Subaru stating not covered under the class action warranty extension”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2025Visibility/wiperODI 11663188
“Windshield cracked starting in the black area under the driver's windshield wiper. Car was idling at a drive through, wipers were on. NOTE: car had fewer than 22,500k miles at the time, was likely around 22,485+. The crack continued to climb to the top edge of the window as my car sat on the driveway.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2025Visibility/wiperODI 11641146
“A few days ago, a crack suddenly appeared in the windshield. It appeared when the car was parked in the garage. I reached out to SUbaru and they wanted me to take it to dealtership and get pictures taken. So, i complied and pictures were taken. The cause was given as a less than a mm speckk hitting about 1 inch or so above from dash. Area where glass is supposed to be strongest. I repeat, the cause was less than a mm sized dust particle. The vehicle was driven on paved roads, within city at a max speed of 60 miles per hour. MY concen is that when such a small speck can cause a crack, what is to say a 5 mm particle will not blow the windshield on my face. This is a serious quality concern and I am afraid to drive Subaru with Subaru parts in it. ALl while it is advertised as rugged off road vehicle. After reading through forums, it was found that a lot of folks have had this issue and SUbaru has had recalls on some vehicles for the same quality of windshield issue. The response from Subaru was that they make thin glass because of eyesight technology. Either ways, Subaru has compromised on quality to add a piece of technology. Compromise that could shatter the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2024Visibility/wiperODI 11573444
“We are on our 4th windshield with this vehicle and just got a crack overnight on it, nothing that we could tell hit it. 1 other time this has happened where it randomly cracked. The first two were rock strikes but nothing out of the ordinary, I've had much harder hits to my 2011 WRX with no issue, not even a chip. A smaller than golf ball sized rock hit the passenger side of the windshield the 2nd break and glass CAME INTO THE VEHICLE ALL OVER THE DASH. Glass repair place said they see Subarus with the eyeSight the most of any vehicle type.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2023Visibility/wiperODI 11536172
“Went out in the morning to get in my car and noticed the windshield was a crack that starts close to bottom of windshield on passengers side and goes up and across about half of the windshield. I have not noticed anything else wrong with the windshield. It literally cracked while sitting in the driveway. There were no rock pecks or anything that I had observed prior to this happening.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2023Visibility/wiperODI 11522769
“2018 Forester: front windshield. Second crack in windshield in 14 months. First crack: A minor rock strike caused small crack in windshield, within several days, spider web of cracks evolved from initial small impact. Windshield was examined and replaced at Subaru dealership: cost: $1674.00. (02/25/22). (including eye sight system as needed) Second strike: 03/31/2023: Same scenario, small impact on highway, crack is now 17" across middle of windshield.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2023Visibility/wiperODI 11517089

Showing 6 of 135 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.