Illustration2 ISSUES 1. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE CAR IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. 2. THE ENGINE PULSES AS IF STUCK BETWEEN GEARS WHEN DOING 75+MPH, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UPHILL. THERE ARE FLUCTUATIONS IN ACCELERATION THAT MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL.
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 reportsAPPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING A BRAND NEW SUBARU FORRESTER 2019 TOURING VEHICLE DIRECTLY FROM SUBARU, THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERED A CRACK. ON FEBRUARY 24, 2019, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY IN CALIFORNIA WHEN A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED A SMALL DENT WHICH THEN SPLINTERED INTO A CRACK THAT SPREAD …
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APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING A BRAND NEW SUBARU FORRESTER 2019 TOURING VEHICLE DIRECTLY FROM SUBARU, THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERED A CRACK. ON FEBRUARY 24, 2019, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY IN CALIFORNIA WHEN A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED A SMALL DENT WHICH THEN SPLINTERED INTO A CRACK THAT SPREAD FURTHER AND FURTHER THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I USED A LOCAL COMPANY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH A BRAND NEW WINDSHIELD FROM SUBARU AND THEN I HAD SUBARU RECALIBRATE THE EYESIGHT CAMERA. MY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE LIMITED THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS REPAIR AND RECALIBRATION. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, ON FEBRUARY 16, 2020, ONCE AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN CALIFORNIA, SMALL ROCKS HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATED TWO SMALL DENTS (EACH SMALLER IN SIZE THAN A QUARTER). FORTUNATELY, THESE DENTS DID NOT SPLINTER INTO CRACKS BUT THEY BOTH NEEDED TO BE FILLED. THE COST WAS COVERED FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. I AM NOT CERTAIN BUT MY BEST ASSESSMENT IS THAT SUBARU'S WINDSHIELD FOR THE 2019 FORRESTER MAY BE DEFECTIVE. IN NEITHER CASE WAS I SPEEDING, NOR WERE THE ROCKS THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD LARGE. THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT INCLUDES THE COST OF WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT, EYESIGHT RECALIBRATION, AND DENT FILLINGS.
HAD THE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED CRACK IN UPPER LEFT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE BUT DO NOT RECALL BEING HIT WITH ROCK OR DEBRIS.
WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHILE PARKED. I WAS TOLD WHEN REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD THAT THEY WERE ON BACKORDER DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF WINDSHIELDS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF…
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WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHILE PARKED. I WAS TOLD WHEN REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD THAT THEY WERE ON BACKORDER DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF WINDSHIELDS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF INSTALLATION OF THE SECOND WINDSHIELD CHIPPED. THE CHIP WAS NOTICED AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING.*DT
TWO THINGS: OUT OF NOWHERE OUR FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND OUR REAR TAILGATE GETS JAMMED UP ALL THE TIME AND WE HAVE TO DO A RESET
BOUGHT THE CAR 9/18/19, SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD WHICH INSTANTLY CRACKED DEC 1, 2019, HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED- STARTED CRACKING SLOWLY HAVEN'T OWNED TOO LONG. JANUARY 2020
WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STATE HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN MY LANE. THE CRACK INITIATED FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 24 IN LONG, ACROSS THE DRIVERS FIELD OF VISION. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE…
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WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STATE HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN MY LANE. THE CRACK INITIATED FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 24 IN LONG, ACROSS THE DRIVERS FIELD OF VISION. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AGENCY TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND SPENT $500 OUT IF POCKET.
I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON 5/9/2019 AND WINDSHIELD HIT BY SMALL INVISIBLE ROCK CHIP AND WINDSHIELD GOT CRACKS FROM LOWER TO MIDDLE AND STARTED SPREADING ALL OVER
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO REASON. WE FOUND IT IN THE MORNING WHEN WE WENT TO GO TO THE STORE.
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.