IllustrationA CRACK HAS DEVELOPED ON THE LOWER PORTION OF DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. NO IMPACT OCCURRED WITH ANY OBJECT. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE IN TORQUE NEWS DATED 20 JUN 20 BY DENIS FLIERL.
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 reportsTHE WINDSHIELD HAS 3 CHIPS AND A 12 INCH LONG CRACK RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY FOR 3 CRACKS THE LAST CHIPS IS FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE.
SOMETHING WENT VERY WRONG IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS, I NOTICE VERY SMALL DEFECTS (SMALL, PINPOINT SIZED FRACTURES) IN THE WINDSHIELD. NOW, I HAVE A 20 INCH CRACK THAT GROWS 1 INCH EVERY DAY.
WINDSHIELD SEEMINGLY CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY (NO OBSERVED IMPACT WITH PROJECTILE LIKE A STONE). VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT MODERATE SPEED (~45 MPH) WHEN CRACK "POPPED". NO IMPACT FROM PROJECTILE WAS HEARD.
I STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, WANTED TO BACK IN TO PARK, GOT OUT OF THE RUNNING CAR TO CHECK SOMETHING, CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME AND THEN TRIED TO GET BACK IN BUT THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF. I HAVE MY KEY ON ME BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO OPEN THE CAR, THE KEY DOESN'T WORK. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY AND THAT DIDN'T WORK E…
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I STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, WANTED TO BACK IN TO PARK, GOT OUT OF THE RUNNING CAR TO CHECK SOMETHING, CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME AND THEN TRIED TO GET BACK IN BUT THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF. I HAVE MY KEY ON ME BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO OPEN THE CAR, THE KEY DOESN'T WORK. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I'M STANDING NEXT TO MY LOCKED, RUNNING CAR. IT'S AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. HAD MY BABY BEEN IN THE CAR, IT WOULD BE LIFE THREATENING! THIS IS ABSURD! THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AND IT'S SCARY. THIS SHOULD BE A LAWSUIT. THIS IS A HORRIBLE MISTAKE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED STAT. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH SUBARU.
WHEN DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY A PEA SIZED PEBBLE STRUCK THE VERY TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHERE IT ADJOINS THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY A 16 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE PEBBLE WAS SO SMALL, A NORMAL WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED. I BELIEVE THE WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL COST OVER $1200 TO…
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WHEN DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY A PEA SIZED PEBBLE STRUCK THE VERY TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHERE IT ADJOINS THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY A 16 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE PEBBLE WAS SO SMALL, A NORMAL WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED. I BELIEVE THE WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL COST OVER $1200 TO REPLACE.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED, ABOUT 12" LONG, FROM THE BOTTOM UP INTO THE VIEWING AREA WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT.
2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED BY ITSELF DURING DRIVING IN A HOT DAY. NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW THE TIME IT HAPPENED. REVIEWED DASH CAM AND CONFIRMED NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. CIRCULAR CRACK WHICH CAN BE BARELY FELT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT DEEP ALMOST INTO THE 2ND LAYER OF GLASS.
WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS .HAD TO PULL OVER AND LET CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN RESTARTED CAR. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT IT HAD VERY LOW POWER. CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE LOW POWER AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. CAR HAD 38,467 MILES AT THIS TIME. CAR FREQUENTLY HAS A KICKBACK…
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WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE CAR LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS .HAD TO PULL OVER AND LET CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN RESTARTED CAR. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT IT HAD VERY LOW POWER. CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE LOW POWER AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. CAR HAD 38,467 MILES AT THIS TIME. CAR FREQUENTLY HAS A KICKBACK FEEL WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT HAS A DELAY RESPONSE TO MOVE. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR AXEL OF CAR SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED. DEALER CONTINUES TO SAY IT'S A TIRE NOISE AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR.
PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE. TWO DAYS LATER, FOUND A 2 FOOT CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I SEE NO PLACE ALONG THE CRACK WHERE AN OBJECT MIGHT HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD.
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.