Warnings Problems of Subaru Forester - part 2

Subaru Forester owners have reported 45 problems related to warnings (under the forward collision avoidance category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Subaru Forester based on all problems reported for the Forester.

36 Warnings problem of the 2015 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 02/09/2022

I have a crack running across the bottom of my windshield. I took the car to safelite for replacement. They do a pre-service check of the eyessight camera system which provides forward collision avoidance and lane departure warning. The scan revealed history code p00ff and a current code b280aa8. The safelite technician advised they could not replace the windshield until the codes were removed. Then they could replace the windshield and calibrate the eyesight system. They also stated I had to go to a dealer code removal. I contacted brunswick Subaru (dealer where I purchased the vehicle) and they stated they could only calibrate after the windshield was replaced. Another dealer (ganley Subaru) stated the same thing. Problem - the windshield cannot be replaced with the codes and the dealer cannot remove the codes (by recalibration) until the windshield is replaced. I am left with driving the car with a broken windshield. Please help.

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37 Warnings problem of the 2018 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 01/10/2022

Temperature dropped to -20 and large crack randomly appeared on driver side windshield. This crack has caused the eyesight safety feature to not work meaning I don’t have lane departure warning or forward collision warning. Informed my warranty does not cover the windshield repair or required camera recalibration.

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38 Warnings problem of the 2019 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 01/06/2022

I was on a sharp incline at idle behind a line of cars, waiting for the light to turn green and my Subaru forrester surged forward, out of my control, and hit the back of the vehicle in front of me, causing damage to my vehicle and the one in front of me. I questioned the Subaru service center regarding it and they did not have a means to report the incident to Subaru for investigation, but offered to do a service check on the transmission of the car. Coincidentally (or of uncertain significance), I had been waiting on a back ordered part from Subaru for a malfunctioning thermal control valve that caused a check engine light to be continually displayed on my dash, disabling some of the safety features of the vehicle. They assured me that the malfunctioning part would have nothing to do with any surging problems and that it was safe to drive the car until the part could be replaced.

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39 Warnings problem of the 2019 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 09/10/2021

Windshield cracked around September 10 of 2021. Forward warning went off at times since crack. I had windshield replaced and new windshield cracked 4 months later. I must pay $500. 00 deductible. Now the crack on new windshield is 3 weeks old and has spread to approximately 15 inches. Windshield must be replaced again. Forward safety now goes off at times as with previous windshield when it was cracked.

40 Warnings problem of the 2020 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 05/07/2021

Subaru eyesight technology has a pre collision feature along with lane departure feature. Latter can be turned off permanently, the pre-collision feature cannot. Number of instances where this has malfunctioned in a way that is unsafe. Driving in upstate NY on foggy morning, winding hilly roads, 50mph roads. Road had a driveway with a parked car not moving, parked and the pre collision system tried to break, so slowed down the car but there was another coming behind from a hilly turn, not aware I would suddenly slow, especially as I did not anticipate the car would try to put on breaks on its own for a parked unmoving car. No collision resulted fortunately, but unsafe if the car behind had not been able to slow to accomodate for the faulty detection by Subaru’s eyesight, thinking the parked unmoving car was a sudden stopping vehicle in front of me, when the winding road was actually clear for me to continue driving. Another incident on another road where a series of 4-5 cars driving constant speed, fixed distance from each other, then first car signalled to turn right and stopped; cars behind just went around them slightly as they were waiting to turn, and I was going to follow suit, the train of cars in front of me, when suddenly eyesight pre collision detected that turning vehicle as something to try to brake for, and the car behind me did not expect the sudden breaking attempt to slow down, and again, close call, no collision resulted but unsafe when the human driver was expecting to continue along with the other train of cars and not expecting a sudden stop. I have called Subaru both dealership and main office but informed there is no way to permanently disable the pre collision setting in the car. Concerned that if this feature is on, and erroneously detects an object in front, such as that parked unmoving car, in other situations the cars behind me may not be able to accomodate the attempts at sudden breaking by the Subaru eyesight technology. Dangerous.

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41 Warnings problem of the 2019 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 03/05/2021

My cars windshield has cracked from the base up over 12 inches. The curious thing about it is I have not driven it in three weeks due to foot surgery and it has been parker. There are no trees or possibility of debris nearby. I didn't have a crack before my surgery, my car had not been driven nor has it been tampered with. I have a camera on it 24 hours a day that notifies me if anyone comes near. The crack is deep and long and Subaru has been reported for the safety of it's windshields being defective. Since I haven't driven anywhere it is concerning that my windshield has cracked so badly.

42 Warnings problem of the 2019 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 02/17/2021

Windshield cracked sometime between 2/16/21 and 3/4/21. Vehicle was purchased as pre-owned certified on 2/13/21 from dealership. Came out to go to work on 3/4/21 and found large crack across windshield. I had no instances of objects hitting windshield while driving that would have caused initial crack. Internet search revealed numerous Subaru owners complaining of defective windshields in model years from 2017 - 2019. Cost to replace windshield and recalibrate eyesight feature expected to cost in excess of $1,000. Subaru customer service contacted and advised to take vehicle to dealership to determine if this is due to manufacturers defect. Case #1-66770999440.

43 Warnings problem of the 2019 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 12/30/2020

The car has 12600ish miles. There are no rock chips, etc. The windshield cracked for no apparent reason. It didn't have any when we parked last night and now there is a 6 inch crack coming from the bottom center. There were no instances of rocks, driving over bumps, etc. The car didn't have a crack when we parked it last night and all of the sudden does today.

44 Warnings problem of the 2016 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 12/01/2020

Have less then 10,000 miles on my vehicle. I purchased it brand new. When I tried to start it today, the steering wheel seemed locked and the error message came on. It's parked in a semi-heated garage at home.

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45 Warnings problem of the 2020 Subaru Forester

Failure Date: 04/11/2020

My vehicle was parked at my place of employment, I exiting my work and got in the vehicle and noticed a chip in the windshield that was not previously there. I drove straight home, after parking in the garage the windshield then began to crack and spider out.


Other Common Forward Collision Avoidance related problems of Subaru Forester


Forester Service Bulletins
Forester Safety Recalls
Forester Defect Investigations