Wiper problems of the 2025 Subaru Forester

On March 12, 2026, my 2025 Subaru Forester hybrid, owned for less than 1 month at the time and purchased on 2/14/2026, sustained a star chip to the windshield during normal driving conditions. While the physical damage itself was minor, the vehicle is equipped with Subaru eyesight, a camera-based advanced driver assistance system (adas) that relies on precise optical clarity through the windshield. I'm now required to have the windshield replaced, because the manufacturer and dealer requires it. According to both Subaru and the vehicle’s owner’s manual (page 15), windshield replacement must be performed using oem (original equipment manufacturer) glass to ensure proper calibration and safe operation of the eyesight system. My insurance provider is attempting to authorize the use of aftermarket (non-oem) windshield glass despite this. This presents a serious safety concern. The eyesight system controls or assists with critical safety functions including pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist. Aftermarket glass can introduce optical distortion or variation that can interfere with camera calibration and system performance. Using non-oem glass in a vehicle designed around camera-based safety systems creates a risk that these features may not function as intended, potentially increasing the likelihood of a crash. This directly impacts federally recognized vehicle safety systems. There appears to be a gap between manufacturer safety requirements and insurance replacement practices. Consumers are being placed in a position where cost-saving measures may override safety-critical specifications. I'm requesting that NHTSA open a formal safety investigation into the use of non-oem (aftermarket) windshields in vehicles equipped with camera-based adas systems. I further request that NHTSA establish clear regulatory guidance or requirements ensuring that windshield replacements follow manufacturer specifications, including the use of oem glass.

Windshield crack started under windshield wiper and then within 12 hours spread from center of car to the passenger side. Took it to dealer then said there was an impact spot under the wipers. Based on other automobiles I have owned this should not have happened.

I am submitting this complaint to report a potential safety defect with the windshield glass on my 2025 Subaru Forester. Since purchasing the vehicle in may 2025, I have experienced repeated windshield damage that seems excessive and abnormal for a new vehicle. Within the first two months of ownership, the windshield developed a rock chip. Approximately three months later, I experienced another rock chip that spread into a larger crack when I attempted to have it professionally repaired. Then, approximately two months after that, the windshield developed a large crack that is not repairable and requires full replacement. In total, my windshield has failed three times in less than one year of ownership under normal driving conditions. I have never experienced this frequency or severity of windshield damage with the cars I have owned in the past. This pattern suggests that the windshield glass may be unusually fragile or improperly designed for normal road conditions. The windshield is a critical safety component that supports the vehicle’s structural integrity and ensures proper airbag deployment. Repeated cracking raises serious concerns about occupant safety, visibility while driving, and the vehicle’s crashworthiness. I believe this may indicate a manufacturing or design defect in the windshield glass used in the 2025 Subaru Forester and warrants investigation before more drivers are affected.

Driving at night , headlights low beam were weak and did not project far enough for me to see objects, the headlights cut off with complete darkness above a certain height I feel the car is unsafe to drive at night in low light situations , also raining conditions make the weak headlights worse.

A minor rock chip 4 weeks ago resulted in a cracked windshield with spider legs extending from the center point. My insurance carrier (usaa), two glass shops, and the Subaru service center said I should replace the windshield because the crack could extend at any moment without notice. They advised that this could compromise our safety due to obscured vision and the eyesight system malfunctioning. Subaru parts, and the Subaru customer advocate departments, however advise that this part is back-ordered and there is no firm date when it will be available. It could be 6-8 weeks, or an undetermined time frame. I know that windshields are in fact available for I confirmed with Subaru dealers that this model Forester is continued to be produced on the assembly line in gunma, japan. All of the new vehicles have of course a windshield. The Subaru customer advocate department has refused to find out how to get a windshield shipped from the assembly plant to my dealer. This puts my wife and myself in continuous potential danger should the crack expand/shatter at any time.

Driver side mirror and rearview mirror vibrate, visibility affected - especially at night with vibrating headlights. Confirmed by dealer. Rearview mirror replaced and continues with same vibration issue (actually a little more vibration). Driver side mirror continues to be on back order. No warning lights or such - driver notices issue.

Driver side door rear view mirror vibrates at highway speeds (55mph and above) rendering it unusable due to distortion. This is especially dangerous at nighttime with headlights. Dealership is aware, has heard of it from multiple customers, but states no fix available from Subaru of America.

Since new, driver side mirror becomes jiggly at hwy speeds, cannot focus on detail. Hard to focus on cars zooming up from behind.

The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wiper blade speed adjuster failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the wiper blade speed adjuster was set for a slow intermittent speed, however the speed increased. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

The rear window spontaneously shattered. There was no extreme temperature or temperature change. The vehicle was parked when it happened. The entire rear window is gone to pieces.

I believe there are some issues related to the reliability of the windshield of this vehicle. My windshield cracked by itself from the bottom without hitting anything, which is similar to other complainant.

Driver side exterior rear view mirror shakes/vibrates at highway speeds (65mph or higher) making it difficult to safely change lanes/view following traffic. The dealership inspected this and was able to replicate the issue, but said there is nothing they can be done / they’ve seen it before / it’s just how it is - “not that bad”. This is a dangerous defect and it needs to be fixed. It is especially a problem at nighttime.

I believe there should be a windshield recall due to abnormally easy cracking. I purchased/took ownership of my 2025 Subaru Forester, touring model, on September 3, 2024. The odometer was just 4 miles. Barely a month later I had 2 cracks in the windshield; the 1st happened on October 2, 2024 and the 2nd occurred on October 13, 2024. Both happened simply while driving on interstate roads and something hitting my windshield (nothing big, didn't see any object and didn't even hear the 2nd one, just noticed the crack when I got home) . Two different places on the windshield. It is now November 12, 2024 and I have still not had the windshield replaced because safelite is waiting for an oem windshield (which is on backorder with no delivery date yet provided). I have had it parked since the 2nd incident. This is the 14th car I've owned and I have never had a cracked windshield before and I believe this must be a defective product!.

The head lights are seriously defective in low beam. In low beam the car is not road worthy. It is dangerous! it is available for inspection upon request. We did not drive the car after dark until a week after taking delivery. We were at risk as was any other vehicle on the road at that time. We have not driven the car after dark since. The dealer who sold the car to us has been made aware of the problem. No one has inspected the car. There were on warnings or symptoms.