IllustrationWINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT REASON. THIS IS APPARENTLY COMMON AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE A RECALL. THIS WILL COST ME OVER $1,000.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
4010–25K
4525–50K
1350–75K
475–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
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
Visibility/wiper complaints
370 reportsMY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH OUT ANY OBVIOUS IMPACT. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
I GOT INTO MY CAR (PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE) AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. I REMEMBER USING THE DEFROSTER THAT MORNING AND DON'T RECALL SEEING A CRACK. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARU OWNERS AS THERE IS A LAWSUIT OUT FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS. THERE ARE NO POINTS OF IMPACT. THE CRACK STARTS CLOSE TO THE MI…
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I GOT INTO MY CAR (PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE) AND NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. I REMEMBER USING THE DEFROSTER THAT MORNING AND DON'T RECALL SEEING A CRACK. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARU OWNERS AS THERE IS A LAWSUIT OUT FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS. THERE ARE NO POINTS OF IMPACT. THE CRACK STARTS CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE AND SPREADS UPWARD, NOT HORIZONTAL.
A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT IS EXPANDING WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON A COOL, OCCASIONALLY DRIZZLY EVENING, NOTICED A SHORT VERTICAL CRACK AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD MIDWAY BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. DEFROSTER WAS USED A FEW TIMES TO KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEAR. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAD GROWN SEVERAL INCHES AND MADE A HARD LEFT TURN. A WEEK LATER WHILE P…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON A COOL, OCCASIONALLY DRIZZLY EVENING, NOTICED A SHORT VERTICAL CRACK AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD MIDWAY BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. DEFROSTER WAS USED A FEW TIMES TO KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEAR. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAD GROWN SEVERAL INCHES AND MADE A HARD LEFT TURN. A WEEK LATER WHILE PARKED IN THE SUN, THE CRACK SPREAD ALL ACROSS DRIVER SIDE AND ALSO ADDED A NEW VERTICAL CRACK A FEW INCHES TALL THAT THEN TURNED AND SPREAD TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM NORMAL ROAD DEBRIS. THIS IS THE SECOND CRACK IN AS MANY MONTHS (NOT DUE TO NEGATIVE DRIVING HABITS). THE WINDSHIELD IS UNABLE TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE FROM ROAD DEBRIS AS IT CRACKS FROM MINIMAL DEBRIS IMPACT AND BECOMES UNSTABLE.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE. FIRST TIME WE HAD IT REPLACED ON 12/17/2019 PROBABLY DUE TO A ROCK. 6359 MILES ON VEHICLE. SECOND TIME IT CRACKED ON SEPT. 8, 2020. IT WAS IN A WARM GARAGE AND PULLED OUT ON A COOL MORNING. DRIVEN A MILE ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. CRACK DUE TO COOLER TEMPERATURES OR UNKNOWN. 8,700 MILES AT TIME…
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WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE. FIRST TIME WE HAD IT REPLACED ON 12/17/2019 PROBABLY DUE TO A ROCK. 6359 MILES ON VEHICLE. SECOND TIME IT CRACKED ON SEPT. 8, 2020. IT WAS IN A WARM GARAGE AND PULLED OUT ON A COOL MORNING. DRIVEN A MILE ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. CRACK DUE TO COOLER TEMPERATURES OR UNKNOWN. 8,700 MILES AT TIME. THIS CAR IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH. CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE SECOND TIME AT $1400.
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK. STARTED IN THE LOWER LEFT DRIVERS SIDE AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE IMPAIR MY VISIBILITY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN YAKIMA WA, AND THE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS A ROCK. WHICH I KNOW IT WASN'T AS I WOULD'VE NOTICED SUCH AN EVENT, THERE WAS NOT AN IMPACT WHICH …
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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK. STARTED IN THE LOWER LEFT DRIVERS SIDE AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE IMPAIR MY VISIBILITY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN YAKIMA WA, AND THE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS A ROCK. WHICH I KNOW IT WASN'T AS I WOULD'VE NOTICED SUCH AN EVENT, THERE WAS NOT AN IMPACT WHICH I'VE WITNESS PLENTY OF, AND AM VERY PROTECTIVE OF MY VEHICLES. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO SAFELIGHT REPAIRS IN YAKIMA WASHINGTON TO HAVE IT REPLACED WHICH TOOK TWO MONTHS TO GET THE NEW WINDSHIELD IN AS THEY WAS A SHORTAGE WHICH WAS EXPLAINED TO ME. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON 03MAY2019. I HAVE THE RECEIPT FOR THIS REPLACEMENT AND STILL OWN THE VEHICLE.
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. HUGE CRACK FROM LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD ARCING UP TOWARDS CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS PARKED. NO SIGN OF DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD OTHER THAN LARGE SINGLE CRACK.
Official recalls
321V263000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.