IllustrationI RAN THE REMOTE START ON MY CAR TO DEFROST IT WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING. LESS THAN 10 MINUTES LATER I GOT IN AND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK GROWING UP THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WENT VERTICAL ROUGHLY 9 INCHES THEN CURVED HORIZONTALLY ABOUT FOUR INCHES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.
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 reportsI WAS SITTING IN MY CAR, IT WAS OFF. THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO EXPLANATION, NOTHING HAPPENED, NO CARS DROVE BY, THE CAR WASN'T ON. I HAD JUST GOTTEN IN A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TO LEAVE MY JOB AND WAS ON THE PHONE.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AT MY RESIDENCE. UPON GETTING IN THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL STATIONARY. THE CRACK WAS NOT PRESENT THE PREVIOUS DAY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SECURE FROM ANY FALLING OBJECTS. THE CRACK ORIGINATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE CENTER, TRAVELS VER…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AT MY RESIDENCE. UPON GETTING IN THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL STATIONARY. THE CRACK WAS NOT PRESENT THE PREVIOUS DAY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SECURE FROM ANY FALLING OBJECTS. THE CRACK ORIGINATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE CENTER, TRAVELS VERTICALLY UP, TURNS TOWARDS THE DRIVER (LEFT) SIDE, AND TURNS UP. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AN IMPACT. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM A DEFECT.
I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED SUMMER 2020 DUE TO A MAJOR CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. HERE WE ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF 2021 AND I HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT WILL REQUIRE A FULL REPLACEMENT
ON 2/9/21 I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE LOWER CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. IT WASN'T HIT BY ANY OBJECT AND THERE'S NO POINT OF IMPACT FROM A ROCK OR OTHER ITEM. IT JUST BEGAN TO CRACK BEHIND THE WIPER. THIS IS THE 5TH WINDSHIELD I HAVE HAD ON THIS VEHICLE. 4 WINDSHIELDS HAVE HAD TO BE REP…
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ON 2/9/21 I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE LOWER CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. IT WASN'T HIT BY ANY OBJECT AND THERE'S NO POINT OF IMPACT FROM A ROCK OR OTHER ITEM. IT JUST BEGAN TO CRACK BEHIND THE WIPER. THIS IS THE 5TH WINDSHIELD I HAVE HAD ON THIS VEHICLE. 4 WINDSHIELDS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL PROBABLY NEED REPLACED TOO. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 3 SMALL DEFECTS/ CRACKS IN THIS WINDOW ALONG WITH THIS NEW UNEXPLAINED CRACK.
THE WINDSHIELD GLASS OF MY SUBARU FORESTER 2019 MODEL IS HIGHLY PRONE TO CRACKING. IT IS JUST OVER 10K MILES. IT HAS A 12 INCH CRACK OUT OF NOWHERE. I CANNOT IDENTIFY THE REASON FOR THIS CRACK AS I DID NOT HEAR ANY ROCK-HITTING SOUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THERE MIGHT BE A ROCK OR OTHER SMALL OBJECT HITTING MY WINDSHIELD. …
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THE WINDSHIELD GLASS OF MY SUBARU FORESTER 2019 MODEL IS HIGHLY PRONE TO CRACKING. IT IS JUST OVER 10K MILES. IT HAS A 12 INCH CRACK OUT OF NOWHERE. I CANNOT IDENTIFY THE REASON FOR THIS CRACK AS I DID NOT HEAR ANY ROCK-HITTING SOUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THERE MIGHT BE A ROCK OR OTHER SMALL OBJECT HITTING MY WINDSHIELD. BUT THE SOUND MUST BE TOO GENTLE TO NOTICE.
SPONTANEOUS CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. STARTED AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER AND PROGRESSED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TO THE EDGE OF THE MIDDLE LEFT SIDE.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND STONE HIT MY WINDSHIELD, CAUSING IT TO CRACK.
HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD 2 TIMES IN 15 MONTHS. WINDSHIELD CANNOT WITHSTAND SMALL CHIPS-THEY RESULT IN LARGE CRACKS THAT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. NORMAL DRIVING ON FREEWAY, SURFACE ROADS.
WINDSHIELD BROKE WITHIN DAYS OF BUYING THE VEHICLE. NO KNOWN ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK FORMED WHILE DRIVING AND HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE
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.