Windshield cracking is by far the most-reported problem owners raise about this Forester, with cracks appearing spontaneously while parked or while reversing — often with very low mileage on the vehicle. Electrical behavior also draws significant attention, particularly lights and interior systems acting unexpectedly when the rear tailgate is left open. A smaller but notable share of reports covers repeated battery drain under the engine category, with some owners describing multiple failures within a short ownership period.

Most reported areas

Visibility/Wiper0 43%
Owners report the windshield developing cracks without any apparent impact, including while the vehicle is parked overnight or being reversed out of a driveway.
Electrical System safety 16%
Owners report unexpected interior lighting behavior tied to the rear tailgate being left open, where lights that should remain on for safety shut off after a period of time. · 1 fire · 1 crash · 1 injured
Engine safety 12%
Owners report repeated battery failures requiring jump-starts on multiple occasions, with some noting that the dealer found no fault with the battery despite recurring dead-battery events. · 3 fire · 2 crash
Visibility0 8%
Owners report the windshield cracking on its own without any collision or road debris impact, sometimes noticed while backing out of a driveway at low speed.
Forward Collision Avoidance safety 7%
Fewest reports at 42 (7%) but the most serious by outcome: 7 injuries, 4 crashes, and 1 fire. Pay close attention to how the automatic braking behaves.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints · 590 complaints

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General information compiled from public NHTSA complaint data, for reference only — not professional advice and not reviewed by automotive experts. Verify before acting; Team AM is not responsible for decisions made from it.