IllustrationMY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER EXPERIENCED A TINY ROCK CHIP ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD FROM DEBRIS THAT WAS INITIALLY HARDILY NOTICEABLE UNTIL I REACHED HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE WINDSHIELD CHIP BEGAN TO GROW AND CRACK TO OVER 12" ACROSS THE LOWER LEFT PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD.
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 WENT OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING AND MY SUBARU HAD A HUGE CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. THE CRACK RADIATED OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND RENDERED THE EYE-SIGHT UNABLE TO WORK. INSURANCE STATE FARM CLAIM NUMBER …
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I WENT OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING AND MY SUBARU HAD A HUGE CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. THE CRACK RADIATED OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND RENDERED THE EYE-SIGHT UNABLE TO WORK. INSURANCE STATE FARM CLAIM NUMBER IS 19-B151-3T0
TWO CRAKCS ON MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD. DON'T REMEMBER HOW IT HAPPENED JUST SAW IT ALL OF A SUDDEN, IMPAIR VERSION AND SAFETY. DEALER RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND HAVE THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM READJUSTED.
MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CHIPS ON WINDSHIELD IN JUST 7 MONTHS (4500 MILES). DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO BAD ROADS/SALT ON THE ROAD. BUT I AM DRIVING MY OTHER VEHICLE (TOYOTA) ON THE SAME ROADS FOR PAST 5 YEARS, AND NOT A SINGLE CHIP/CRACK ON IT! THE PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY POOR QUALITY OF WINDSHIELD ON 2019…
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MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CHIPS ON WINDSHIELD IN JUST 7 MONTHS (4500 MILES). DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO BAD ROADS/SALT ON THE ROAD. BUT I AM DRIVING MY OTHER VEHICLE (TOYOTA) ON THE SAME ROADS FOR PAST 5 YEARS, AND NOT A SINGLE CHIP/CRACK ON IT! THE PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY POOR QUALITY OF WINDSHIELD ON 2019 SUBARU FORESTER.
WE HAD JUST PURCHASED OUR NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER IN LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL 2019. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WE TOOK A TRIP TO SPICER RESERVOIR IN CALIFORNIA FROM THE SF BAY AREA IN CALIFORNIA. ON OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THERE WAS NO WIND. WE WE'RE DESCENDING DOWN TH…
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WE HAD JUST PURCHASED OUR NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER IN LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL 2019. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WE TOOK A TRIP TO SPICER RESERVOIR IN CALIFORNIA FROM THE SF BAY AREA IN CALIFORNIA. ON OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THERE WAS NO WIND. WE WE'RE DESCENDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ROADS. SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD MADE A LOUD POP SOUND, AND CRACK STARTED EMERGING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR IMPACT THAT STARTED THE CRACK. AGAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US THAT COULD HAVE FLUNG DEBRIS AT US. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS CAUSED BY A PRESSURE CHANGED? WE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE CRACK. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO CREATE A LARGE, ~2 FOOT LONG, QUESTION MARK-SHAPED CRACK INTO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE INSPECTED THE CRACK AND THERE IS NO IMPACT MARK AT ALL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CRACK BEGAN BELOW THE BOTTOM SEAL OF THE WINDSHIELD. REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS WERE QUOTED IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. READING OTHER FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST OUR CAR.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM ST. CLOUD SUBARU IN MINNESOTA, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSCREEN. WHEN I PICKED IT UP ON 1/3/20, I VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS INDEED A CHIP THE SIZE OF PENNY IN THE WINDSCREEN.
MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER EXPERIENCE A TINY CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM DEBRIS THAT WAS INITIALLY HARDILY NOTICEABLE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD CHIP BEGAN TO GROW AND CRACK.
SMALL DIVOT IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXPANDED TO 13 INCH CRACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
SAT FEB 22 FORESTER DRIVEN TO GYM AND RETURNED HOME AT 2:20PM. PARKED IN ASSIGNED SPOT #32 IN UNDERGROUND SECURED PARKING. THERE WAS NOT A CRACK, DIVOT OROR ANY OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORESTER REMAINED LOCKED AND PARKED UNTIL MON FEB 24, 2020 AT 6:30AM. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE CENTER, BOTTOM. IT IS…
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SAT FEB 22 FORESTER DRIVEN TO GYM AND RETURNED HOME AT 2:20PM. PARKED IN ASSIGNED SPOT #32 IN UNDERGROUND SECURED PARKING. THERE WAS NOT A CRACK, DIVOT OROR ANY OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORESTER REMAINED LOCKED AND PARKED UNTIL MON FEB 24, 2020 AT 6:30AM. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE CENTER, BOTTOM. IT IS SHAPED LIKE A "7" AND IS ABOUT 10" LONG FROM END TO END. THERE IS NO OBJECT, MARK, DUST OR DEBRIS TO INDICATE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEE PHOTOS
WINDSHIELD CRACKED HALF WAY ACROSS
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.