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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.

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

What owners actually said

833 reports
18,000 miles · Jan 26, 2021
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FULLY CLOSE WHICH CAUSED MOLD TO DEVELOP INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATEWAY SUBARU (30275 WINNER BLVD, DELMAR, MD 21875, (410) 896-3800) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO FULLY CLOSE WHICH CAUSED MOLD TO DEVELOP INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATEWAY SUBARU (30275 WINNER BLVD, DELMAR, MD 21875, (410) 896-3800) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #11390025

15,000 miles · Jan 24, 2021
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND STONE HIT MY WINDSHIELD, CAUSING IT TO CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #11389632

11,537 miles · Jan 22, 2021
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER HUNTER SUBARU (220 HUNTER AIRPORT DR, FLETCHER, NC 28732, (866) 536-3409) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER HUNTER SUBARU (220 HUNTER AIRPORT DR, FLETCHER, NC 28732, (866) 536-3409) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,537.

NHTSA ODI #11389363

19,000 miles · Jan 13, 2021
Visibility/wiper

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.

NHTSA ODI #11387929

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD BROKE WITHIN DAYS OF BUYING THE VEHICLE. NO KNOWN ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK FORMED WHILE DRIVING AND HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE

NHTSA ODI #11387737

22,200 miles · Jan 12, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WHEN DEFROSTING MY CAR AFTER A RECENT SNOWSTORM, I NOTICED THAT A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER. IT APPEARS THAT A SMALL ROCK/PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED THE CRACK, BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER HEARING A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NOT DONE ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING IN THE DAYS P…

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WHEN DEFROSTING MY CAR AFTER A RECENT SNOWSTORM, I NOTICED THAT A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER. IT APPEARS THAT A SMALL ROCK/PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED THE CRACK, BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER HEARING A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NOT DONE ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO NOTICING THE CRACK EITHER. ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THAT THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL CHIP (IE NOT A BIG CRATER) AT THE IMPACT POINT, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT WHATEVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN SMALL AND DID SO AT RELATIVELY LOW VELOCITY. GIVEN THAT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A COMMON ISSUE WITH NEWER SUBARU VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THAT THIS CRACK IS THE RESULT OF POOR QUALITY WINDSHIELD MATERIALS AND/OR POOR WINDSHIELD DESIGN. THE CAR IS ONLY ~2 YEARS OLD, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD ANY SORT OF CHIP/CRACK TO A WINDSHIELD ON ONE OF MY VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11387637

40,450 miles · Jan 9, 2021
Visibility/wiper

HELLO, WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN ON MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND A HUGE HORIZONTAL CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED BELOW. IT IS A SECOND SUDDEN WINDSHIELD CRACK IN TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP! THIS ISSUE IS BECOM…

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HELLO, WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN ON MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND A HUGE HORIZONTAL CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED BELOW. IT IS A SECOND SUDDEN WINDSHIELD CRACK IN TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP! THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING A REAL FRUSTRATION DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE GLASS AND UNREASONABLY HIGH COST TO REPLACE IT AND RECALIBRATE THE EYE-SIGHT. I AM AWARE THAT THE NEW CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST SUBARU COVERING THE NEW FORESTER SK 2019+ FOR THE SUDDEN WINDSHIELD CRACKS. THAT PROVES THAT I AM NOT ALONE. WHAT ARE THE REASONS WHY THE RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED YET? PREVIOUS WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED BY SUBARU DUE TO A WELL-KNOWN GLASS DEFECT THAT TRACES BACK TO 2015. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BEST REGARDS, ML

NHTSA ODI #11387325

3,500 miles · Jan 5, 2021
Fuel/propulsion System

CAR STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING FROM ONE STREET INTO ANOTHER STREET, ABOUT ONE TIME IN TWENTY.

NHTSA ODI #11386574

15,455 miles · Jan 4, 2021
StructureUnknown Or Other

SUBARU FORESTER 2019 MODEL CRACKED WINDSHIELD BY IT SELF.

NHTSA ODI #11386354

5,000 miles · Jan 3, 2021
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD INEXPLICABLY CRACKED ALONG THE HEATER ELEMENT AND SPREAD UP INTO THE MIDDLE RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHILE IN MOTION ON A FAIRLY EMPTY INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI #11386268

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