IllustrationWINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO REASON AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
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
What owners actually said
833 reportsWINDSHIELD CRACKED ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CRACK THEN SPREAD ACROSS (AND UP) ALMOST THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND BROKE WITH NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN 2 PLACES 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. STARTED AS A SMALL CHIP AND CRACK RAN ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WINDSHIELD. THEN ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED THE NEXT DAY RUNNING LENGTHWISE.
WINDSHIELD CRACK REALLY EASILY LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. MAYBE WE HIT A POT HOLE TOO HARD ON THE HIGHWAY OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT STARTED AT THE VERY EDGE. OEM WINDSHIELD SEEM TO BE VERY THIN CRACKED EASILY AND CRACK GOT BIGGER OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS HAD TO GET WINDSHIELD REPLACED OUT OF POCKET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048) WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048) WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED IN EMPTY PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE PART WILL COST OVER $1000
LEAVING A PARKING LOT GETTING READY TO TURN ONTO A DIVIDED 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CARE DID NOT GO WILE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN AND I DID IT AGAIN AND STILL NOTHING. BEFORE I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE CAR DRIFTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER EXCEPT THE E…
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LEAVING A PARKING LOT GETTING READY TO TURN ONTO A DIVIDED 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CARE DID NOT GO WILE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN AND I DID IT AGAIN AND STILL NOTHING. BEFORE I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE CAR DRIFTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER EXCEPT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED AND IN GEAR BUT STILL NO ACCELERATION SO I LEFT THE CAR DRIFT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED TO GO JUST BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED BACK. THE START-STOP WAS TURNED OFF AND THE ENGINE NEVER STOPPED THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED 6 OR 7 TIMES IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS BUT THIS WAS THE MOST SERIOUS.
I HAVE HAD 2 WINDSHIELDS CRACK ON ME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CRACKS ARE VIOLENT AND SUDDEN. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY SUBARUS MANY MILES BUT THE 2019 FORESTER IS VERY SENSITIVE TO INHERENT STRESS IN THE GLASS
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WHILE STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS CHIPS OR IMPACTS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF A REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED, AND WAS TOLD 'NOT A CHANCE. THAT JUST HAPPENS TO THOSE CARS.' UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OTHER 2019 FORRESTER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME W…
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MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WHILE STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS CHIPS OR IMPACTS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF A REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED, AND WAS TOLD 'NOT A CHANCE. THAT JUST HAPPENS TO THOSE CARS.' UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OTHER 2019 FORRESTER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME CUSTOMER SERVICE. A WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK JUST BECAUSE IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.
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.