2026 Subaru Forester Visibility Problems

UPDATE TO EXISTING ODI 11761974 - 2026 Forester Wilderness - WRF-26 Power Moonroof Glass Adhesion Recall / 26V346000 Component/system failed: Power moonroof tracking assembly bonding area / roof panel paint. Available for inspection upon request, garaged, unrepaired with exposed bare metal. On 08/18/2026 at 3364 miles dealer completed WRF-26 recall and marked PASSED. On same repair order same day same dealer documented: "YELLOW FLUID COMING OUT OF DRIVERS SIDE OF SUNROOF CAUSING DAMAGE TO PAINT. DOWN TO BARE METAL AT THIS TIME." Macro photos taken BEFORE that RO was opened on 08/18 at 07:35 AM show yellow/orange chemical extruding FROM UNDER black rubber tracking channel seal, not deposited on top. Fluid burned through factory clear coat to primer and bare steel. Photos on 08/15 show same leak path. Photo on 10/09 at 4605 miles shows bare metal still exposed with corrosion starting at edges. Safety risk: Chemical discharge from moonroof bonding area causes paint failure to bare metal on roof structure. Exposed steel will corrode. If factory bonding adhesive is failing and leaking, potential for moonroof glass adhesion failure per WRF-26. Has problem been reproduced/confirmed by dealer? Yes. Dealer documented coming OUT causing bare metal. Authorized collision estimate $1,830 - Body 9.8 hrs, Paint 5.3 hrs, Mechanical 2.4 hrs (sunroof R&I 1.5 + headliner R&I 3.6) for full roof strip + headliner drop + side-curtain airbag disassembly. Body shop advised spot repair will not hold and still requires removing sunroof assembly. Has vehicle/component been inspected by manufacturer? Yes. WRF-26 marked PASSED. On 10/01/26 service manager issued formal written refusal: "does not have an on-site body shop, and we are not able to perform or coordinate the alternative paint touch-up/mitigation process." Manufacturer case #260817-2301925 claimed wiped away before evaluation, unable to determine if moonroof or tree sap, external environmental, customer complaint not diagnosis,

NHTSA ID

11773361

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

I am experiencing a serious visibility defect in my 2026 Subaru Forester. When driving at night with headlights on, a dark curtain or shadow drops down over more than half of the windshield. This occurs consistently and severely reduces forward visibility. It is dangerous and makes it difficult to see road signs, street signs, vehicles up ahead, and orienting landmarks. My Subaru dealer test drove the vehicle at night and confirmed the problem. He stated that he “definitely saw the issue duplicated.” (I have this recorded in a voicemail he left me.) They attempted a minor adjustment, but the defect remains essentially unchanged. The dealer then told me “That’s just how 2026 Subarus are,” and refused further repair. (He did express openness to having a Subaru Field Service Engineer (FSE) inspect the vehicle, which I am interested in pursuing, but I wanted to establish a case with NHTSA and Subaru of America’s Regional Case Management first, as I wasn’t sure how much an FSE simply represented Subaru’s, rather than the customer’s, interest. I included a request for an FSE to Regional Case Management.) This appears to be related to the EyeSight camera housing, windshield lamination/coating, or internal reflections from the auto dimming mirror. The problem is not cosmetic — it is a major safety hazard that affects nighttime driving and could lead to a collision. I am requesting NHTSA review because the defect persists, the dealer acknowledges it but will not repair it, and Subaru customer service has been unreachable. This is a serious visibility obstruction that makes the vehicle unsafe to operate at night. My vehicle can certainly be available for inspection upon request. (Please note: this problem only reveals itself once it is dark outside.) There were no warning lights or messages prior to or during the failure.

NHTSA ID

11768506

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

While the vehicle was stationary and off, the rear windshield shattered and fell in the vehicle for the second time in just over 3 weeks.

NHTSA ID

11762577

Incident

Sep 7, 2026

I closed the driver's door, and the rear windshield shattered and collapsed into the vehicle. No known defects were known prior to the incident. Animals or contents in the rear compartment could have been cut by the shattered glass. The vehicle is only 4 months old. The rear windshield will be replaced by an independent glass company. We live in a very rural area, and park well away from the road. There were no storms since the previous use of the vehicle. Thus, no damage prior to the glass shattering.

NHTSA ID

11757019

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

In early April 2026 I after washing the auto I noticed a chip in the windshield on the passenger side. I was shocked-normally if the windshield is hit hard enough to chip the drive notices it-I am the only drive and I was totally unaware of any such strike (auto had about 2000 miles on it). Then, May 30th as I exited a highway midway up the ramp going ~40-45 mph behind another auto going the same slow speed with 1-1.5 car length between us, something struck my windshield and immediately the strike had clearly broken the windshield just below the driver's direct line of sight and put a thorough 'star' the size of a nickel coin. There did not appear to be any debris on the road nor off or out of the auto in front of me. (There was not a vehicle ahead of that auto that would have generated this strike.) I feel I may be unsafe in this auto if its windshield cannot hold up under minor strikes such as this. When I called the auto repair center recommended by my automobile dealer they told me they’d already had 14 Subaru windshields call to schedule repairs this week (it was only Tuesday. This is a modest sized single location windshield repair shop).

NHTSA ID

11742094

Incident

May 30, 2026

Drivers side mirror vibrates making changing lanes a Safty issue as the approaching vehicle is not a clear visual to operator

NHTSA ID

11741542

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

I was working on fitting a cargo box on the crossbars the dealer had recently installed and noticed a milky white discoloration and moisture in the front driver's corner of the moonroof. I arranged for an appointment at the dealer who confirmed the glass had delaminated. They happened to have a replacement in stock and replaced it under warranty.

NHTSA ID

11740854

Incident

Apr 25, 2026

On the first day of receiving the car the windshield looked clear by day but it had little specks and lines like dust when driven at dusk and night of the first day it was driven. I brought it back to the dealer, they replaced it with a new one, and the problem persists. A clear windshield is much safer than one with specks.

NHTSA ID

11735070

Incident

Apr 7, 2026