← New search

2019 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

468 reports with mileage · 365 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 370 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports11 fire reports16 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

144 reports
Clear category filter
15,093 miles · Mar 26, 2020
Unknown Or Other

IN LESS THEN 18 MONTHS IVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT WINDSHIELD 3 TIMES DUE TO CRACKS THAT GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD THAT I'VE GOTTEN WHILE DRIVING ON CITY FREEWAYS

NHTSA ODI #11319383

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2020
Unknown Or Other

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED

NHTSA ODI #11318473

3,000 miles · Mar 15, 2020
Unknown Or Other

HAD THE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED CRACK IN UPPER LEFT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE BUT DO NOT RECALL BEING HIT WITH ROCK OR DEBRIS.

NHTSA ODI #11318110

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WINDSHIELD CRACKED- STARTED CRACKING SLOWLY HAVEN'T OWNED TOO LONG. JANUARY 2020

NHTSA ODI #11318037

16,000 miles · Mar 13, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO REASON. WE FOUND IT IN THE MORNING WHEN WE WENT TO GO TO THE STORE.

NHTSA ODI #11317939

12,161 miles · Mar 10, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WE PURCHASE A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON MARCH 29, 2019. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ON APRIL 3, 2019 A STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT REQUIRED US TO SUBMIT A CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR REPAIR. IN NOVEMBER 2019, WE WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED …

Read full complaint

WE PURCHASE A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON MARCH 29, 2019. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ON APRIL 3, 2019 A STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT REQUIRED US TO SUBMIT A CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR REPAIR. IN NOVEMBER 2019, WE WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH WENT FROM THE BOTTOM TO TOP. THERE WAS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE AS TO HOW THE CRACK OCCURRED. DON'T REMEMBER ANOTHER STONE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD THE CRACK JUST APPEARED. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY SO WE HAD TO SUBMIT IT TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS YEAR IN JANUARY 2020 ANOTHER STONE STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND WE HAD TO SUBMIT A CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE FOR IT TO BE FIXED. HAVING OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A WINDSHIELD OR TO HAVE A WINDSHIELD REPLACED. WE HAVE NOTICED OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON THE INTERNET EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR SUBARU WINDSHIELDS. ARE THE SUBARU WINDSHIELDS DEFECTIVE? THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI #11317250

10,000 miles · Feb 27, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

WE HAVE A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH THE EYESIGHT SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FOR NO REASON, AND TURNING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE MAJOR ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SLAMMED ON BRAKES WHEN THE ROAD AHEAD WAS CLEAR, JARRING ME AND PASSENGERS, MY WIFE LITERALLY HAD WHIPLASH AND A HEADACHE FROM THE EXTREME, UNEXPECTED BR…

Read full complaint

WE HAVE A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH THE EYESIGHT SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FOR NO REASON, AND TURNING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE MAJOR ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SLAMMED ON BRAKES WHEN THE ROAD AHEAD WAS CLEAR, JARRING ME AND PASSENGERS, MY WIFE LITERALLY HAD WHIPLASH AND A HEADACHE FROM THE EXTREME, UNEXPECTED BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN A VEHICLE IN FROM OF US MADE A RIGHT TURN, ROAD AHEAD IS CLEAR, TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, SENSORS MUST BE PICKING UP THE CORNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AS WE APPROACH, LOCKING UP THE BRAKES, THINKING IT IS STILL IN FRONT OF US. ANOTHER INCIDENT, EYESIGHT SENSING AN EMPTY PAPER BAG BEING BLOWN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION FROM A DRIVER BEHIND US IF THEY WERE FOLLOWING TO CLOSE, LIKE IS THE NORM IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ANOTHER EVENT, A DOG RAN ACROSS THE FREEWAY, EYESIGHT NEVER ACTIVATED, I THOUGHT I HAD BRAKED AND CLEARED THE DOG, HE KEPT RUNNING, NO IMPACT, FOUND DAMAGE TO FRONT END UPON INSPECTION. ANOTHER ISSUE UNRELATED TO EYESIGHT, THE DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT RESPOND TO HIGH SETTING WHEN FIRST TURNED TO HIGH TO CLEAR WINDOW FOG, IT TAKES 3 TO 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT RAMPS UP TO HIGH SPEED. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR SALESPERSON AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT OUR SUBARU DEALERSHIP, MAYBE BE A CALIBRATION ISSUE, PROGRAM ISSUE WITH THE EYESIGHT SENSORS, THEY REFUSED TO DOCUMENT ANYTHING I SHARED AND TOLD ME THEIR IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THERE IS NO MORE LOVE IN OUR SUBARU, AND NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER 2019 SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EYESIGHT ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE LEASED THE VEHICLE OCTOBER 2018 TO RECENTLY ON 2/20/2020. I WAS INFORMED TO FILE THIS BY THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL WHILE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11311846

10,000 miles · Feb 27, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE CRACK BEGAN IN THE LOWER MIDDLE PART OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD UPWARD ABOUT TEN INCHES. I ADVISED MY SUBARU DEALER OF THE ISSUED, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO SAFELITE AUTO GLASS, WHERE I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT MY OWN E…

Read full complaint

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE CRACK BEGAN IN THE LOWER MIDDLE PART OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD UPWARD ABOUT TEN INCHES. I ADVISED MY SUBARU DEALER OF THE ISSUED, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO SAFELITE AUTO GLASS, WHERE I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT MY OWN EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI #11311808

21,000 miles · Feb 24, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WINDSHIELD CRACKED

NHTSA ODI #11311220

5,229 miles · Feb 24, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WAS MERGING TO HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY HEARD SOMETHING HITTING WINDSHIELD. SAW TINY DOT ON WINDSHIELD AND THE MAKING OF THE LINE ON IT THAT IT CRACKED. VEHICLE HAD UNDER 6000 MILES. BELIEVE THAT WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. NO COMPENSATION FROM SUBARU.

NHTSA ODI #11311179

Official recalls

3

21V263000 · Suspension:rear

Apr 15, 2021

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.

19V856000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Dec 2, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.

19V065000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Feb 6, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC-88.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems