2018 Subaru Forester: windshield wiper failure

Filed Feb 6, 2025 · Visibility · TX

Windshield cracked starting in the black area under the driver's windshield wiper. Car was idling at a drive through, wipers were on. NOTE: car had fewer than 22,500k miles at the time, was likely around 22,485+. The crack continued to climb to the top edge of the window as my car sat on the driveway.

Filed Oct 17, 2022 · Visibility · AZ

Unanticipated Windshield Crack: While attempting to replace the right wiper blade, I lost handling it, with the old blade still in place. No obvious damage was noticed at the time. I took the car to the local Subaru dealership to successfully replace the wiper blades. Returning home I noticed the beginning of the crack. In disgust, I didn’t return to that shop, but waited until the next oil change to have the original dealership examine. No responsibility was assessed but an estimate of $1,333 was offered for replacement and recalibration of EyeSight. I don’t have windshield replacement coverage. I’m looking for other replacement options. The damaged windshield is available for professional inspection at this time.

Filed Apr 20, 2022 · Visibility · 36,569 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while warming the vehicle for approximately five minutes, the windshield wiper was activated and the contact noticed that the front windshield had cracked without impact. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,569. VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 28, 2022 · Electrical, Visibility · 27,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start-up. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that rodents had eaten through the engine wiring harness. The contact was informed that the wiring harness was made of a soy-based material that was attractive to rodents. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that 2 weeks prior the windshield wiper fluid spray mechanism was inoperable due to a similar failure with rodents eating the soy-based tubing. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 27,000.

Filed May 22, 2021 · Visibility · IL

Changing wipers blades. Blade hit passenger side windshield and creates a 12 inch crack. Windshield had to be replaced.

Filed Apr 25, 2021 · Visibility · MD

In under two years, I have had to replace the windshield on my vehicle twice. The first time, a rock hit my windshield which caused a very small chip. The following afternoon, the chip had become a large crack the came down from the top of the windshield nearly halfway down the windshield. I paid the extra money to replace the windshield with oem glass. More recently (less than 1.5 years later), the wiper blades on my windshield were replaced. The one wiper blade would not let go and the blade came back down on the windshield with the spring. No marks were observed in the windshield. The following afternoon, a crack came up from the blade and ran across nearly 1/3 of the windshield. The date recorded is for the second incident.

Filed Apr 14, 2021 · Suspension, Transmission · 2,000 miles · TX

I have AC problems, refrigerant leak, actuator problems, bad compressor. I have serious CVT surging and suspension problems that make vehicle unsafe to drive. The car literally begins to hop like you are stomping the gas and breaks back and forth and can easily make you lose control. It sometimes does nothing when pressing accelerator for way too long making it dangerous pulling into traffic. Windows roll down without pressing button and won't roll back up unless you roll them all the way down first and usually it just rolls right back down again. Aweful trying to drive while fighting with windows that won't stay up. Suspension is so destroyed from the surging and hopping that it cannot be aligned. The vehicle destroys tires rapidly and unevenly. Gas mpg is terrible, especially if you run AC. Steering assist is dangerous and will sometimes jerk wheel away for no reason causing you to scrape curbs and nearly hit a pole once.. Breaking assist is also dangerous as it will slam breaks for no reason. Lane departure beeps a lot for no reason. Wipers are garbage. Windshield glass is too soft and all dust scratches it making visibility poor the trunk often will not open no matter if you push button on key, inside car or on trunk. The door seals fell off, cheap clips fall off that are supposed to hold important things in place, glove box shock broke. I'm sure there are other issues too. Suspension is a big issue however, completely shot from surging. Far too expensive to get whole new suspension. Dealership ignored all complaints and purged all records of visits so I couldn't file lemon law. Subaru is very dishonest. So many things need recall that it is a lemon pure and simple.

Filed Jan 31, 2021 · Visibility · 19,500 miles · WA

I was on the highway and my windshield suddenly cracked in my field of view, creating a safety hazard. Once stopped, I discovered that there was a tiny chip near the bottom center of the windshield, near the heating element beneath the wipers, so small that I was unaware of anything ever hitting it while driving. Something so small should not have compromised the windshield in such a major way, making it difficult for me to see.

Filed Sep 22, 2020 · Visibility · 20,000 miles · NJ

The windshield developed a crack while I was sitting in a parking lot. It emanates from right above the driver side windshield wiper. There is no evidence of rock strike.

Filed Oct 11, 2019 · Visibility · 16,220 miles · IN

Windshield developed a linear crack after being struck by an empty wiper arm during the changing of a wiper blade. The crack grew from 6 inches on the first day to 14 inches on the second day.

Filed Aug 19, 2019 · Visibility · 6,300 miles · TX

Noticed small crack in windshield last tuesday, starting just above a clip on wiper. Assumed, at first it was dirty windshield from light rain & wiper use, but then saturday it moved about 6 inches mid day parked then halfway across driver side a couple of hours later parked. I have not been hit by anything big or small. I have read that this windshield issue has been in every subaru models. I want subaru to pay for this!

Filed Mar 18, 2019 · Visibility · 2,000 miles · NC

Our windshield cracked spontaneously, starting at the wiper park heater on the driver side. The car was parked in a parking garage when the crack spontaneously appeared.