How many 2018 Subaru Forester owners reported windshield or wiper problems?

NHTSA lists 155 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2018 Forester, which is 31% of all 495 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2018 Subaru Forester windshield cracking issue?

No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the Visibility & Wipers component on the 2018 Forester.

At what mileage do 2018 Forester windshield problems tend to occur?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this area is 19,800 miles.

Did the windshield cracking cause any crashes or injuries?

No. NHTSA data for this component and year shows zero crashes, fires, or injuries reported.

How does 2018 compare to other Forester years for this problem?

The 2018 Forester's 31% share is lower than 2019 (49%) and 2020 (50%), but higher than earlier years like 2015 (4%) and 2016 (6%).

2018 Subaru Forester Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 155 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2018 Subaru Forester, 31% of its 495 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 19,800 miles. No related recall exists for this area, and owners mainly describe windshields cracking without impact.

Visibility & Wipers complaints: 155; 31% of 495
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 19,800 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

Windshields crack spontaneously with no visible impact, often starting near the wiper park or defroster area on the driver or passenger side.
Cracks appear while the vehicle is parked and stationary, then spread several inches within hours or days.
Some owners report repeated windshield cracking from very minor rock or pebble strikes, with replacements happening more than once within the same year.
A crack reportedly grew from a wiper arm striking the glass during a blade change, expanding from 6 inches to 14 inches in two days.
Owners describe cracks originating at or near the wiper park heater and curving up into the driver's field of vision.

When 2018 Subaru Forester visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 24, 2018, latest Dec 3, 2025.

155 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2025 Q4; peak 2020 Q1 (22).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2018 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20108 (3%)
20113 (2%)
20125 (5%)
20135 (6%)
201411 (3%)
201524 (4%)
201623 (6%)
2017115 (20%)
2018155 (31%)
2019406 (49%)
2020301 (50%)
202190 (43%)
202224 (24%)
202312 (16%)
20245 (17%)
202520 (22%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2018 Subaru Forester owners reported windshield or wiper problems?: NHTSA lists 155 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2018 Forester, which is 31% of all 495 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Subaru Forester windshield cracking issue?: No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the Visibility & Wipers component on the 2018 Forester.
At what mileage do 2018 Forester windshield problems tend to occur?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this area is 19,800 miles.
Did the windshield cracking cause any crashes or injuries?: No. NHTSA data for this component and year shows zero crashes, fires, or injuries reported.
How does 2018 compare to other Forester years for this problem?: The 2018 Forester's 31% share is lower than 2019 (49%) and 2020 (50%), but higher than earlier years like 2015 (4%) and 2016 (6%).