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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.

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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

Visibility/wiper complaints

370 reports
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1,200 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CAR WAS MOVING AND HIT BY A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CHIP GREW HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE LINE OF SIGHT. NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS MODEL. THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE, A LEGAL ISSUE, AND A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. AFTE…

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WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CAR WAS MOVING AND HIT BY A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CHIP GREW HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE LINE OF SIGHT. NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS MODEL. THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE, A LEGAL ISSUE, AND A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE I SEE WHERE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE CARS SHOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IF THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS A WINDSHIELD. THIS "SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE" IS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11194238

1,500 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

CRACKED WINDSHIELD AFTER DRIVING ONLY 1500 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD WHEN WE HEARD IT CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #11194105

7,000 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. SMALL ROCK CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD TO HALF

NHTSA ODI #11193977

1,000 miles · Apr 4, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHEN DRIVING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP FROM MY WINDSHIELD BUT FORGOT ABOUT THAT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. TODAY THAT CRACK EXTENDED BY SEVERAL INCHES. ACCORDING TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THERE IS A VERY LONG BACK ORDER FOR 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS…

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WHEN DRIVING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP FROM MY WINDSHIELD BUT FORGOT ABOUT THAT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. TODAY THAT CRACK EXTENDED BY SEVERAL INCHES. ACCORDING TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THERE IS A VERY LONG BACK ORDER FOR 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS.

NHTSA ODI #11193948

2,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THE FORESTER ARRIVED TO US FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT WAS CRACKED WITHIN A DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS. BOTH TIMES OF INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IMPACT…

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THE FORESTER ARRIVED TO US FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT WAS CRACKED WITHIN A DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS. BOTH TIMES OF INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IMPACTED BY A VERY SMALL ROCK - YET THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BECAME DAMAGED.

NHTSA ODI #11193134

3,700 miles · Mar 15, 2019
Visibility/wiper

BOUGHT THE CAR 11/23/2018, AND IN JANUARY 2019 THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND BRANCH OUT FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PARKED INSIDE OF OUR GARAGE. CONTACTED SUBARU HQ AND DEALERSHIP SUBARU OF ONTARIO CALIFORNIA, BOTH DENIED THE WINDSHIELD HAS ANY DEFECT. AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ONLY LOOKED AT IT 2 SECONDS AND…

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BOUGHT THE CAR 11/23/2018, AND IN JANUARY 2019 THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND BRANCH OUT FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PARKED INSIDE OF OUR GARAGE. CONTACTED SUBARU HQ AND DEALERSHIP SUBARU OF ONTARIO CALIFORNIA, BOTH DENIED THE WINDSHIELD HAS ANY DEFECT. AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ONLY LOOKED AT IT 2 SECONDS AND SAID IT'S IMPACTED!!

NHTSA ODI #11187098

65 miles · Mar 14, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACK AND ROCK CHIP. THE SUBARU OEM WINDSHIELD IS VERY WEAK AND I'VE ALREADY NOTICED A CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD FOR A CAR THAT IS 5 MONTHS OLD. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS, AND ITS THE SAME FOR 2019 AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11186817

1,200 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THERE WERE SOME BUMPS ON THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY A CRACKLING NOISE AND A VERTICAL CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACKED RUN FROM THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHILED.

NHTSA ODI #11186348

1,200 miles · Mar 8, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON NOTHING HIT IT WENT TO DEALER NO HELP FROM THEM TOOK CAR TO GLASS EXPERT . SAID WINDSHIELD WAS NOT HIT (SPONTANEOUS CRACK) HAPPENS ON 02/13/2019 FOUND OUT NO REPLACEMENT IN THE USA. WINDOW OUT OF CAR 02/26/2019)SUBARU NO HELP LEFT WITHOUT CAR

NHTSA ODI #11185002

2,000 miles · Feb 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I AM HERE TO REPORT MY 2019 SUBARU FORRESTER WINDSHIELD CRACK. I THE CAR IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD AND WE FOUND THE CRACK IN THE MORNING WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS ON 2015 OUTBACK I CALLED THE SHOP AND THEY TOOK PICTURES AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANY CHIPS THAT WOULD INDICATE A ROCK OR PEBBLE HIT THE …

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I AM HERE TO REPORT MY 2019 SUBARU FORRESTER WINDSHIELD CRACK. I THE CAR IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD AND WE FOUND THE CRACK IN THE MORNING WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS ON 2015 OUTBACK I CALLED THE SHOP AND THEY TOOK PICTURES AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANY CHIPS THAT WOULD INDICATE A ROCK OR PEBBLE HIT THE CAR AND SAID THEY WILL CALL SUBARU AND GET BACK TO ME

NHTSA ODI #11174431

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