NHTSA Complaint #10822310 — 2014 SUBARU FORESTER

IF IT IS SNOWING AND THE TEMPERATURE IS FREEZING OR BELOW, THE WIPER BLADES ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO GET ICE BUILD-UP AND THE WINDSHIELD ALSO ACCUMULATES ICE. AFTER FURTHER STUDY, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS A PLASTIC TRIM, ALMOST LIKE A WATER TROUGH, IMMEDIATELY BELOW AND FORWARD OF THE WIPER BLADES. IT APPEARS THAT AS THE DEFROST MELTS THE SNOW, THE WATER IS CAUGHT IN THE TROUGH WITHOUT ADEQUATE DRAINAGE AND THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE CREATES A MIST THAT THEN BLOWS UP ONTO THE WIPER BLADES CAUSING THE ICE BUILD-UP AND ALSO CAN BLOW MIST ONTO THE WINDSHIELD FURTHER COMPLICATING THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE ONLY OPTION REALLY IS TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. LOOKING AT EARLIER MODELS, IT APPEARS THAT A REDESIGN MADE THE TRIM DEEPER, AND NARROWER, WHILE THE HOOD WAS LOWERED AND A RIDGE PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD. THIS HAS APPARENTLY CHANGED THE AERODYNAMICS AND CAUSED THIS VERY BAD PROBLEM.