Wiper problems of the 2017 Subaru Forester - part 1

The car driven to work from 6:05 to 6:25am and parked in a parking lot. When my wife went out to eat lunch around noon, she noticed a crack running from the mirror to the bottom center of the windshield. Upon further inspection we noticed the damage could be felt from the inside of the car, and was not caused by any stone chips or other damages from the outside of the car.

The air system has gone out in the car completely, you can hear it run or try to and then kick off, I have checked and it has not been recalled. There were no accidents prior to the air system giving out. It started around the June 2024, but it didn’t affect vision at that time. It started affecting vision as winter approached (Nov 2024). My vision is now completely affected as the weather is hitting temps as low as 10° and the heating system doesn’t work at all. All the defoggers/defrosters nor actual vents. It has been out for a bit, but now it is becoming dangerous as my vision is highly affected, I even bought a heater for in the car and my vision is still affected. I haven’t gotten it looked at as it’s not something im sure is affordable, so it’s a work in progress, but this isn’t the only time I have hear of this same brand car’s defroster/defogger has gave up. My vision is almost completely affected at times due to this.

Right side of windshield had a small crack. Illinois law can’t drive with a cracked windshield. Called Subaru they don’t fix windshield problems. Appointment at safelite on 1/23/24 crack had gotten bigger they cannot repair now have to replace windshield. Appointment on 1/25/24 to replace windshield. No prior incident that would have led to this situation. Never owned a car where the windshield needed to be replaced.

I was at an event for about 3 hours and was parked next to a trailer. When I started driving there was a crack in the lower right hand of my windshield. The event was private and the trailer was not used. I am unsure where this crack came from and am very confused.

The rearview mirror detached from the windshield due to heat. When this happened, the metal button removed a chunk of glass from the windshield, so the surface is not able to be cleaned to reaffix the button that holds the mirror. The rearview mirror is currently dangling by the electrical cord. Note that nothing was hanging from the rearview mirror prior to this incident, so additional weight is not a factor in the incident.

The windshield has failed without the vehicle suffering any collisions. The failure has led to the epoxy attaching the rear view mirror to detach with the glass from the windshield. Not only does the rear view mirror now hang from the electrical wire, the epoxy was able to remove a chunk of the glass. This has led to a significant safety issue as I’m unable to use my rear view mirror to no fault of my own. It is available for inspection. No dealer or further inspection with my insurance company has occurred.

The front windshield spontaneously cracked, beginning from the bottom of the windshield at the DE-icer on the passenger side and propagated up and across the windshield toward the driver's side. No evidence of a strike or outside damage which caused the crack is evident. The obstruction to my view is hazardous on the roadway as the crack continues to spread. This issue has been well documented in Subaru vehicles, and was the subject of a class-action lawsuit in 2017 regarding 2016 model year Subaru impreza's and outback's.

Windshield cracked without reason, and happened while vehicle was not being driven. Within the span on one day, the crack doubled in size, in my line of vision. There are other chips in the windshield that have occured, and I have filled them quickly as to not do damage like this. However, this crack occurred seemingly overnight, without time to schedule a repair at all.

The windshield cracked without anything happening. It started at the bottom and moved it's way up.

Windshield cracked while being parked on driveway over the week. Car has not been driven for a week and has not been hit by anything prior, normal outdoor temperature 50-85f.

The motor for the wiper fluid dispenser went bad. I took the vehicle back to be repaired and while they had the vehicle apart, I was informed that my entire wiring harness needed to be replaced. Now, my vehicle has sporadic issues such as windows not going down, the door locks engaging on their own, my fuel economy will suddenly drop to 19mpg from 28 mpg. Subaru initially stayed this was all due to the remote start I had installed at a retailer, this was after calling the dealership and they informed me that it was fine since my warranty had just expired. When I tried ro pursue something through the retailer, the dealership that had my vehicle denied saying that it was due to the remote start. So, I am stuck with a vehicle that has numerous problems, is not very safe and everyone says not my problem.

Windshield fractured from the right wiper heater embedded into the windshield while the car was parked. The incident happened on 2/28/2022. The car is scheduled for a windshield replacement as it should not be driven.

Cracked front windshield for no known reason.

Front windshield has started cracking from the middle top by the rear view mirror and is steadily getting larger making it's way toward driver side of windshield, there is also a chip by the passenger side of windshield.

The lower part of the windshield has cracked and I have no incident that occurred to cause it to crack. If a piece of gravel caused it, it was so small to not even be noticed by me. I have never had a windshield crack so easily in all my years of driving.

Spontaneous windshield crack occurred while car was parked (I. E. , no collision or pebble impact). Crack originates at lower portion of passenger side in black-colored perimeter of windshield glass with windshield deicer and spread upward and across middle of entire windshield. Crack obstructs driving visibility and poses risk to integrity of entire window including adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning system calibration. No previous impacts to windshield. Suspect defect in windshield consistent with those found in 2015-2016 Subaru outback and legacy models related to materials used in deicer area of windshields in recent class action settlement against Subaru. Took to Subaru dealer who confirmed origin of crack in originates in deicer region of windshield, but denies any liability for weakened material at sight of deicer as determined for other models.

Without any cause I found a crack on my windshield on 6/5/ 2021 . On the passenger side starting at the base . A very clean long crack without any apparent impact . When my I parked my car in my parking on Friday 6/4 after work there was no crack on the windshield , when I got in my car on Saturday 6/5 morning I saw the crack about 12 “ long . On Monday 6/7 when I got in my car to go to work , the crack was already about 2’ in length.

Cracked windshield.

While driving on the highway around 65mph, the windshield was struck by a small piece of debris, no larger than a nickel in diameter. This initially produced a small crack at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, which quickly lengthened to over 12 inches over the course of the day. Especially under bright sunlight, the crack produces a sharp glare which significantly reduces driver visibility. When running my finger along the crack, I cannot feel any crack. There is no chip in the glass. The crack is internal to the windshield. (see photo included with this incident submission. ) this seems to be a defect in the windshield quality that other Subaru Forester owners have also reported.

Windshield cracked for no good reason and the crack extended to over 12 inches long in 2 weeks time.

Forester windshield started cracking for no clear reason, spread quickly to a 20" or longer crack that continues to spread.

I have now replaced my windshield a second time in a 30-day period of time. I had my windshield break while I was driving down the road and did not see anything hit the windshield before this happened. As soon as I got it replaced, 3 days past and I woke up one morning to see that my windshield was broken again. Nothing hit the windshield either time and it just sporadically cracked. I'm dreading having to pay for the third replacement.

Front windshield has developed two linear cracks spontaneously, one small one 5 cm long, the other across the driver's side windshield about 50 cm. This appears to have occurred spontaneously, there was no debris, etc, first noted while vehicle was in garage. There are no stellate markings, etc.

Windshield prone to large cracks after any small chips near the edge of the front windshield. Has happened twice within 2 months. Car was stationary when cracks were noticed.

I purchased my 2017 Subaru Forester in July 2017, so I've owned the vehicle for almost 4 years. One day recently I got in my vehicle and noticed a massive stress crack in the windshield. The vehicle was parked outside of my home and I had not previously seen any cracks on the windshield. The crack is around 12 inches in length, maybe longer. It starts at the base of the windshield on the driver's side and extends mostly horizontally toward the passenger side. I ran my finger end to end across the crack both outside the vehicle and inside the vehicle and I could not feel the crack. Which means the crack is on the inside of the windshield, which makes me think it is a stress crack. This is a common issue with numerous Subaru vehicles of various makes, models, and years. My 2017 Subaru Forester is included in the list of vehicles that is affected. Subaru has a class action lawsuit against them because this issue of Subaru windshields cracking is so common. . Read more...

My windshield developed a crack after being parked for a period of 8hrs while I was at work. The crack starts from the bottom and extends vertically and then moves horizontally. I believe it to be internal as it has no exterior marks or chips from the outside. I also havent had any debris hit my vehicle during the last times I have commuted to work.

While driving straight forward on a well-maintained highway under normal road conditions my car has been hit with several rocks that have been flung from truck wheels into my lane. My car's windshield chipped and cracked in an unusually easy and violent manner. One of the cracks specifically seems like a hazard to the structural integrity of the glass, as it is easily spreading with any pressure on the windshield. I have only had this car for 6 months, and I have 7 (possibly more) visible rock chips and cracks on the windshield. My prior Subaru was an older (2001) model and I never experienced a visible rock chip in 8 years of ownership.

Myself, wife,and son were traveling southbound on highway 99 when we heard a popping sound for no apparent reason we were startled, there was no car or truck in front of us so I know it wasn't a rock,I then noticed a small crack on the right side of my windshield, then within seconds of noticing my windshield began to crack right infront of us and continued till we got to our destination. We were shocked to see how fast it continued to crack for no apparent reason.

After owning my certified pre-owned Subaru Forester for 3 months I woke up to a large spider crack starting from the top of the windshield. The vehicle was parked at my apartment complex in a patrolled lot. It went downward about 8 inches in length. No rocks were heard or visually observed to impact the windshield while driving the vehicle. The source of the crack appears to have started on the underside of the glass where it is sealed at the very top. This crack was not able to be felt with a fingernail which is how it is known to be under the glass.

My windshield has cracked and had to be replaced twice since purchasing the car with only 41,000 miles on it currently. It is a 2017 Subaru Forester and there are now 2 cracks in the third and current windshield. The windshields they are using are unsafe and cost roughly $1300 to replace due to the eye sight system. Subaru is installing these unsafe windshields knowingly and collecting massive profits from all the replacements.

Vehicle was traveling on highway 101 southbound. Driver heard a loud pop. Driver looked around to find a large crack in the windshield located on the passenger side. There were no vehicles within 7-8 car lengths in front of the driver.

I was driving about 70 miles an hour on the highway, typical speed for my area is between 65 and 80mph on highways. My wind shield was struck by gravel/rock/small or small debris. And a part of my windshield chipped while an other spot cracked and later developed a crack.

My windshield developed a large crack (2 feet long) beginning at the lower left edge of the windshield below the wiper extending half way up the windshield. There had been no impacts to the windshield to explain the crack, and the origin of the crack did not contain a chip to show why it started. I noticed the crack when I parked at my house, I'm not sure when it started but was sure it wasn't present when I purchased the vehicle 2. 5 weeks previously.

There is a chip/dent in the bottom left of the windshield of unknown origin. It is my belief that this should not have occurred from regular use and that the windshield is inferior/defective.

Since I have gotten my vehicle, my windshield has gotten several cracks and chips (very easily) from rocks flying up off the road. For the second time in three years I am going to have to get my windshield repaired and this time a full replacement is required due to damage from a rock hitting my windshield and causing a large crack.