IllustrationMY FRONT WINDSHIELD RECEIVED A SMALL CHIP IN THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE SEVERAL DAYS AGO. TODAY, AFTER LEAVING THE CAR PARKED AND NOT DRIVING IT A LARGE CRACK HAS BEGUN PROPAGATING ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A LARGE CRACK GROW FROM SUCH A SMALL NICK BEFORE. *TR
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 reportsA CRACK, LONGER THAN 16 INCHES, HAS DEVELOPED ON THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN ITS PLACE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE DEVELOPED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL INFLUENCE. *TR
WINDSHIELD STARTED A 6INCH CRACK WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE WIPERS WERE SITTING AT. IN ABOUT 12 HOURS, IT CRACK TO MORE THAN 12 INCH LONGER. ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT SUBARU SUVS, THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT, COMMON, YET NOT ADDRESSED PROBLEM B…
Read full complaint
WINDSHIELD STARTED A 6INCH CRACK WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE WIPERS WERE SITTING AT. IN ABOUT 12 HOURS, IT CRACK TO MORE THAN 12 INCH LONGER. ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT SUBARU SUVS, THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT, COMMON, YET NOT ADDRESSED PROBLEM BY SUBARU. *TR
PURCHASED USED 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FROM VROOM 4/07/2020. WINDSHIELD STARTING CRACKING HORIZONTALLY ABOUT DRIVERS EYESIGHT. CRACKING LINES VISIBLE IN PARALLEL LINES IN TWO AREAS 2" - 3" MOVING TO PASSENGER SIDE. NO HIGHWAY ROCK/PEBBLE DAMAGE NOTED ANYWHERE ON WINDSHIELD. TAKING VEHICLE TO AUTO GLASS SHOP TO CONFIRM IS CRACKS…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED USED 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FROM VROOM 4/07/2020. WINDSHIELD STARTING CRACKING HORIZONTALLY ABOUT DRIVERS EYESIGHT. CRACKING LINES VISIBLE IN PARALLEL LINES IN TWO AREAS 2" - 3" MOVING TO PASSENGER SIDE. NO HIGHWAY ROCK/PEBBLE DAMAGE NOTED ANYWHERE ON WINDSHIELD. TAKING VEHICLE TO AUTO GLASS SHOP TO CONFIRM IS CRACKS BECOMING A LARGER PROBLEM. CRACKS CAN BE SEEN WHEN FACING SUNLIGHT. *TR
WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ANY ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS, THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CRACK DEVELOPED FROM THE BASELINE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IS ABOUT 9 INCHES LONG. *TR
BRAKES: THE CAR ACCELERATE WITHOUT ANY ACTION DURING DRIVING. WIPER: WIPER BLADE MAKE A NOISE LIKE ITS ABOUT TO FALL APART. SEAT BELT: SEAT BELT INSTALL IN A PLACE THAT( FRONT BOTH SEATS) THERE IS NO SPACE BETWEEN SEAT AND CAR BODY. *TR
MY CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE FOR A FEW HOURS AND A CRACK APPEARED GOING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. EARLIER THAT DAY A ROCK HIT IT ON THE ROAD BUT THERE WAS NO CRACK, CRACK SHOWED UP HOURS LATER. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE CRACKED APPEARED. IT WAS OUTSIDE AND A SUNNY DAY BUT ONLY IN THE 60S. *TR
WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM WIPER AREA, EXTENDING 12 INCHES UPWARD, WITH NO OBVIOUS IMPACT DAMAGE. PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, RETURNED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND "[XXX]" - JUST LIKE THAT - NOTICED A CRACK GREW OUT OF NOWHERE! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND EXTENDED OVER A FOOT TO THE MIDDLE. NO IMPACT FROM ROCK OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS OCCURRED WHEN CRACK STARTED. *TR
A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR ANY DEBRIS THAT FLEW TOWARDS MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK STARTED NEAR THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ANGLED DOWN AND TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT ST…
Read full complaint
A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR ANY DEBRIS THAT FLEW TOWARDS MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK STARTED NEAR THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ANGLED DOWN AND TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 6 INCHES AND PROGRESSED TO AT LEAST A FOOT LONG BY THE END OF THE TRIP. *TR
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.