2014 Subaru Forester visibility complaints

Filed Aug 9, 2014 · Visibility · 15,000 miles · IN

A large nut fell from tree (while driving approximately 25 MPH) and hit drivers side windshield which shattered. This vehicle comes with specialty heated windshields, which was on at the time as it happened during winter. The second time, the windshield broke without fully shattering, but produced very unusually large "spider" cracks, after a tiny rock hit the windshield while driving approximately 55 MPH. The heated windshield was not on during the second incident. Both windshields were subaru factory new and both needed to be fully replaced after each incident.

Filed Jul 1, 2014 · Body, Visibility · CO

I purchased my 2014 forester in july 2013. I love the vehicle except for the design of the climate control dials which I consider to be a safety hazard because it is so difficult to ascertain at a glance what the current setting is for each function (heat/AC temp, fan speed, fan direction.) staring at the dial(s) or repeated glances takes the driver's attention off the road for too long, and therefore is absolutely a safety issue: each round dial has a rubber grip surface that the user contacts. On the front face of the dial is a shiny chrome bezel ring. This ring is quite narrow and has 7 small, equidistant indentations around the radius. One of the indentations is yellow plastic, which indicates the setting. At a glance, the small yellow plastic indicator is very difficult to locate among the other six indentations. What the purpose is of the indentations is a mystery (some marketer wanted sparkle?) and why subaru chose pale yellow against shiny chrome makes no sense. I have successfully altered my dials by putting a tiny drop of white fingernail polish on the black rubber grip directly above each yellow plastic indicator. Now, at a quick glance, I can easily see at what position each function dial is set. It's great. I feel much safer. I know this sounds like a small, unimportant problem, but it was a huge concern to me. I hope no forester owner is involved in a crash because he/she took his/her eyes off the road for too long trying to figure out one or more of the climate control settings. The forester might be a "top safety pick" but not on this. Thank you.