2009 Subaru Forester visibility problems

Filed Jun 23, 2020 · Visibility · 118,800 miles · NY

The rear window spontaneously cracked/shattered. When entering the car the rear window was in one piece. I put the car in reverse and when I took my foot off the brake a chunk of my window fell in. The pattern around the cracked window appears as a cluster of thermal breaks. I have looked and there are more subaru's reported with this issue as well which has to deal with how the car de-frosts the glass.

Filed Sep 19, 2019 · Electrical, Visibility · 84,350 miles · CA

The function of the radio and windshield wipers is intermittent. Upon start these devices do not appear to have electrical power and do not function. I suspect there are other items that do not work either, but I have not confirmed them. They both function properly when the engine is restarted. This has happened on 2 occasions over a 1 week period. This is a safety issue since in a rainstorm, the visibility would be nil. Otherwise the vehicle functions normally.

Filed Feb 7, 2019 · Visibility · 133,000 miles · CO

This vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that is faulty and unnecessary. When the tires are at the correct amount of pressure the TPMS light appears on the instrument panel during cold weather and will not turn off. If you want it to go away you have to pay a technician to reset it. I have been told that the manufacturer made it so it cannot be disabled. As I stated it is faulty and unnecessary and people should not have to continually pay to have it reset or replaced. As well I own a 2008 impreza with the same issue. The windshield defrost/wiper situation is also a serious issue! Either the defrost does not heat the windshield enough for the wipers to clear the windshield or the wiper arms are not strong enough to apply enough pressure to clear the windshield. In rain and snow conditions the windshield is very hard to see through and quite frankly dangerous. I have spoken to many people with this model vehicle covering many generations with very few to very high miles and this appears to be an issue with all generations of this model.

Filed Nov 15, 2017 · Electrical, Visibility · 120,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 subaru forester. The contact stated that various electrical systems, such as some warning indicators, wipers, and the defroster, ceased to function. The failures occurred without warning and would correct themselves once the vehicle was manually restarted. The failures occurred on five occasions. Autonation subaru in spokane valley, wa could not replicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Suspension, Transmission · VT

2009 subaru forester. Consumer writes in regards to recall and other repair issues. *smd the consumer stated the recall was performed. However, she did not understand why the drive shaft and front sway bar needed to be replaced, on a vehicle with 70,000 miles. Also, the windshield wipers and left front wheel bearing were replaced.

Filed Apr 27, 2014 · Visibility · 56,000 miles · NY

Hi - I own a 2009 forester 56k my windshield has a very big crack because of a pebble from a truck. This should not happen. I always believed this car had thin glass even though I know it is safety glass. I also own a honda and it has thick glass and there is no holes in the windshield from pebbles. Have you had other complaints because I am complaining!

Filed Feb 28, 2010 · Visibility · 45,000 miles · MT

My problem is with my 2009 subaru forester, purchased new. There is some sort of residue that forms on the windshield when we use the defroster (which we use a lot due to montana winters). It cannot be cleaned off. We've used multiple products to attempt to remove it, and not matter what, the result is a greasy film that reflects light into our eyes at night, or uncleaned, obscures our vision. It has to be something in the heating system because this is our second windshield, and both were affected. Initially, the dealership said it was new car outgassing, then they said that "all of them do it". It's become an issue, as we drive 70 highway miles a day to and from work, in all conditions in montana. We also know that it isn't new car outgassing because we've had the car for nearly 2 years and approx 45, 000 miles. We must clean the windshield at least 1 time per week, or we can't see in the sunshine or headlights. Additionally, the residue is worrisome because of potential health issues from breathing it.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Visibility · 23,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 subaru forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, snow fell from the top of a heavy truck and cracked the windshield. Small lines soon moved to all sides of the windshield. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealership and the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer to-date. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 24,000. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.

Filed Jan 2, 2010 · Visibility · 8,000 miles · WI

My 2009 subaru forester has a warped drivers side outside mirror. As the weather gets colder, the problem worsens. I live in wisconsin and in sub freezing temps it looks like a fun house mirror bending straight lines and distorting distances. Backing up at night and changing lanes are made less safe not to mention the perceived motion the convex shape causes. The dealership replaced it once but the problem remains. They offered to exchange it with one from another new forester but they were all that way. While reading forums on subaruforester.org most posts from people in colder climates have experienced the same problem. Other cold related problems are a drivers side window that won't close (at 10 degrees or colder) and a tailgate that does not always latch securely. The mirror is the problem that causes the most unsafe condition.

Filed May 14, 2009 · Engine, Visibility · 6,131 miles · CO · 1 injury

1. Greasy film on windshield, could not see well to drive, film cannot be wiped off. Cannot be cleaned off with normal household cleaners only industrial cleaners. Film expands to get on all the glass & materials in the car, including the rear hatch. Film is more visible at night & when the ambient temperature is below freezing. Chemical poisoning. Breathing the substance(s) has caused me to be sick since the end of december. Breathing issues, cough, lungs, nose problems. 2. Being poisoned by chemicals in the car that may be leaking out of some area as yet unknown. Unable to see well to drive. This happens whenever the defrost is run. Also, heater. Not sure about A/C. Have been sick now with just running the air. There may have been enough buildup of this substance that it is on all surfaces of the car interior and/or in the ducts of the vehicle. 2a. Symptoms: coughing, sometimes uncontrollably with long rides in the car. Shortness of breath, unable to breath, congested, lung tightness, nose congestion, etc. Have been to national jewish hospital. They recommend getting rid of car. 3. For the first 4 times I brought it in, they only washed the windshield, or all the glass on the car depending upon how much had built up on it. They said it was off gassing of the vinyl. The next time I brought it in they waxed the windows in the car, this so you could breath it, but not 'see' it supposedly. It built back up again anyway. Then they replaced the heater box. Got sick again running only air. Then per my direction, they found 2 A/C valves leaking. Now, still getting sick if in car without windows open and/or if I run the defrost/heat. 4. I have never gotten sick from any other car my entire life. I was perfectly healthy, without even having had a normal cold in the past 6 years. There were no typical cold symptoms with this issue. Before this happened, I had no allergies related to breathing, lungs, etc; nor any diagnoses such as asthma.