1998 Subaru Forester Wipers & Visibility Problems
6 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (6)
WHILE RIDING ON HIGHWAY PEBBLES HIT WINDSHIELD CAUSING IT TO BREAK. *AK
1. LEFT AIR/HEAT VENT NON-FUNCTIONAL. AIR/HEAT IS PUSHED OUT WITH ALMOST NO FORCE, UNLIKE RIGHT VENT, WHICH BLOWS WITH SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER FORCE. BROUGHT THIS COMPLAINT TO DEALER WHO SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR. SAID IT WAS DESIGN FLAW, DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS PROBLEM. 2. A SPOT OF OIL OR GREASE-LIKE SUBSTANCE APPEARED ON REAR LEFT SEAT BACK. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING, NOW STAIN HAS GROWN TO COVER ALMOST A THIRD OF THE ENTIRE SEAT BACK. THE LEAK IS OBVIOUS AND GROWING, THE SEAT BACK CONTINUOSLY GREASY AND WET. DEALER NOTIFIED, CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
WINDSHIELD GLASS EASILY DAMAGED. HAS SANDBLASTED APPEARANCE FROM ROAD DIRT. IMPAIRS VISION. WINDSHIELD, REAR AND SIDE WINDOWS EASILY SCRATCHED BY ICE SCRAPER THAT DID NOT DAMAGE GLASS ON OTHER CARS.
WINDSHIELD CHIPPED WHEN SMALL STONE HIT WINDSHIELD. *AK
THE WINSHIELD GLASS CHIPS VERY EASILY FROM MINOR STONE HITS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I ENCOUNTERED 3 CHIPS IN A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS, DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. I THINK THE GLASS IS TOO VULNERABLE TO BREAKAGE WHICH COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS.
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAD A CRACK APPEAR IN MY WINDSHIELD. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN LATE MAY 1998 WHEN I WAS WASHING THE CAR AND SPRAYED COLD WATER ON IT I HEARD A CRACK. I TOOK IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER IN RENO AND THEY SAID IT WAS REALLY CAUSED BY A SLIGHT PEBBLE THAT HIT THE WINDSHEILD. THEN ON 23 NOV 98 AFTER DRIVING THAT DAY I NOTICED THE NEXT DAY THAT ANOTHER CRACK AGAIN IN THE LOWER LEFT HAND (FROM DRIVERS POSITION) PART OF THE WINDSHEILD ANOTHER (YET SMALLER THAN THE FIRST) CRACK. IT APPEARS THAT A PEBBLE MAY HAVE CAUSED IT. IF THIS IS ALL IT TAKES TO CRACK THESE WINDSHEILDS THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY YEARS A LOT OF THEM OVERSEAS IN EUROPE WHERE THERE ARE MORE GRAVEL ROADS THAN IN THE US AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. NOW TWICE IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS! SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OR THE MATERIAL USED IN THE MANUFGACTURE OF THE WINDSHEILD.