Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2022 Subaru Forester owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a rock struck the bottom middle of the windshield glass. The rock became imbedded inside the windshield glass which caused water to leak inside the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and insisted that the windshield glass be replaced with the same type of glass and not an aftermarket glass. The contact waited a month for the windshield repair; however, the eyesight and cruise control features both became inoperable after the repair. A month later, the contact stated while exiting the highway, an unknown object struck the windshield and caused another crack to form on the bottom left side of the windshield. The contact stated that each crack obstructed her vision while driving. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, she noticed a crack on the windshield which started from the bottom of the front windshield and expanded to the driver's side casing a visibility hazard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The representative at the dealer took a picture and forwarded the picture to the manufacturer. The windshield was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 7,600.
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the front windshield was cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for the front windshield replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
Two things have already failed on this vehicle. The first being the seats/seat belt clips on the driver and passanger seat. The seat in constructed in such a way that no matter what adjustment is made, the driver feels as if they are falling into the steering wheel. Any attempts to correct the positioning leaves the driver feeling as if they do not have control of the vehicle. Additionally, the inward positioning of the seat-belt clip on the right side on the driver facing inward pushes into the drivers hip and/or thigh causing extreme pain. The narrowing of the seats does not allow the driver to get away from the pain of the seat belt clip. Second, the issue with the windshield. This is my second Subaru Forester. On my first, I had a cracked windshield in 5 places due to small debris hitting the vehicle in a normal operating matter. This was replaced. …
I believe the glass used for the front windshield in my 2022 Subaru Forester is structurally defective. I have experienced 3 chips in different areas of the windshield while driving at different times over the past 2 months. The most recent was October 11,2023. There were no loud impact sounds or obvious rocks strikes that impacted my windshield for each occurrence. I did hear a very faint noise when the latest chip appeared. It is my concern that if an object were to hit the type of glass used for this windshield while on the freeway it could shatter and cause harm to me and impair by ability to operate my Forester. I have read online of many problems with Subaru windshield glass occurring over many years and models. I believe this problem needs to be corrected most likely by changing the type of glass used. I reported this to a Subaru dealer. …
Windshield developed multiple small chips for no apparent reason. I am the only one who drives the car and never felt any rock or pebble hitting my windshield. Chips were small (less than 1cm). I took the car to my authorized Subaru Dealer (Pembroke Pines, Florida) to be inspected and they told me that windshield needed to be replaced. They did not accept that this was a manufacturer problem and they told me it was not covered by my warranty. They referred to a company they work with to replace my windshield. I am uploading pictures of some of the chips. There were more but I did not take pictures of all of them. Chips were all over the windshield which obviously is very unlikely to happen and never happened to me before with any of my cars.
At 5.000 miles I observed a crack in the lower portion of the windshield. The crack was vertical and about 8 inches in length. The crack was located almost in the center of the windshield. The crack is smooth to the touch on both the interior and exterior of the windshield. At no time to my knowledge did any objects strike the windshield. In the next few days of driving the crack grew to approximately 2 feet in length and spread horizontally across the passenger side. I contacted the dealer and was informed that the vehicle warranty does not cover glass. I made arrangements at a local auto glass shop to have the windshield replaced. I believe that the glass was defective.
2 incidents. First day we took car home the vehicle infotainment system failed while phone was connected to Apple CarPlay. Screen went black and there was a loud noise like interference. Has happened repeatedly since, supposedly due to needing a firmware update but it's been a well documented problem in Subaru automobiles for several years and the manufacturer has done nothing to alleviate the flaw. Second incident involves the windshield cracking in the lower driver side with no apparent cause from anything striking the windshield. Again, this is a well documented issue and there are several complaints on nhtsa.gov from other unhappy customers
Bought my brand new Forester less a month and i have to replace a windshield already!!! Discovered about 5 inches crack while warming up the car on the snow day. Subaru have a glass action agains them about windshield so easily to crack. Service dept refused to replace my windshield because of a super tiny hold that can not be seen by normal eyes, i think it was a damage from crack . We have a different brand vehicle which has about 10x bigger intake but never cause the crack for year. Now i know the reason why Subaru offer the limited windshield replace program.
On May 12, 2022, when I got in my vehicle and closed the driver's side door, I heard a crackling sound. When I looked in the rearview mirror, I could see a gaping hole in the rear windshield and glass falling everywhere. I got out of the vehicle to inspect it. The rear windshield had not been impacted by anything; it just spontaneously cracked. I house the vehicle in my garage, and that's where the situation occurred. I bought this vehicle brand new on March 1, 2022.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2022 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2022 Subaru Forester, 24% of the model year's 100 complaints. The component named most often is windshield (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2022 Subaru Forester window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2022 Subaru Forester, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2022 Subaru Forester window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 8,000 miles, and 67% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.