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 reports
8,000 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WE HAD JUST PURCHASED OUR NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER IN LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL 2019. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WE TOOK A TRIP TO SPICER RESERVOIR IN CALIFORNIA FROM THE SF BAY AREA IN CALIFORNIA. ON OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THERE WAS NO WIND. WE WE'RE DESCENDING DOWN TH…
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WE HAD JUST PURCHASED OUR NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER IN LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL 2019. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WE TOOK A TRIP TO SPICER RESERVOIR IN CALIFORNIA FROM THE SF BAY AREA IN CALIFORNIA. ON OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THERE WAS NO WIND. WE WE'RE DESCENDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ROADS. SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD MADE A LOUD POP SOUND, AND CRACK STARTED EMERGING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR IMPACT THAT STARTED THE CRACK. AGAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US THAT COULD HAVE FLUNG DEBRIS AT US. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS CAUSED BY A PRESSURE CHANGED? WE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE CRACK. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO CREATE A LARGE, ~2 FOOT LONG, QUESTION MARK-SHAPED CRACK INTO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE INSPECTED THE CRACK AND THERE IS NO IMPACT MARK AT ALL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CRACK BEGAN BELOW THE BOTTOM SEAL OF THE WINDSHIELD. REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS WERE QUOTED IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. READING OTHER FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST OUR CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11311435
26,000 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM ST. CLOUD SUBARU IN MINNESOTA, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSCREEN. WHEN I PICKED IT UP ON 1/3/20, I VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS INDEED A CHIP THE SIZE OF PENNY IN THE WINDSCREEN.
NHTSA ODI #11311401
12,000 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
BASE MODEL SUBARU FORESTER 2019, DRIVER EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE FOLLOWING A GREEN LIGHT IN AN INTERCEPTION. DRIVER HAD TO USE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER (VEER TO THE LEFT) TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF IT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER ENGAGING THE GAS PADDLE. VEHICLE…
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BASE MODEL SUBARU FORESTER 2019, DRIVER EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE FOLLOWING A GREEN LIGHT IN AN INTERCEPTION. DRIVER HAD TO USE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER (VEER TO THE LEFT) TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF IT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER ENGAGING THE GAS PADDLE. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE, AND DRIVER HAD TO USE THE BREAK PADDLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION LASTED FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. AFTER BREAKING TO A ZERO SPEED AT A RED LIGHT THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION RETURNED FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING BREAKING. UNINTENDED/SUDDEN ACCELERATION STARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT 7:15AM, OUTSIDE TEMP OF 36F, HVAC ON, WHILE DRIVING A FLAT ROAD. TOTAL TRIP TIME: ABOUT 15 MINUTES. ABOUT SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT, THE SAME DRIVER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION WITH THAT SAME VEHICLE. THE DRIVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND REPORTED TO SUBARU ABOUT THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE TEAM AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED AND THUS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A LOG ENTRY IN SUBARU DATABASE ABOUT THIS SERVICE VISIT.
NHTSA ODI #11311377
26,000 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Electrical System
INFORTAINMENT TOUCH SCREEN BECOME UNRESPONSIVE TIME TO TIME, CAUSING UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION TO OPERATE RADIO, NAVIGATION.
NHTSA ODI #11311368
7,000 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Visibility/wiper
MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER EXPERIENCE A TINY CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM DEBRIS THAT WAS INITIALLY HARDILY NOTICEABLE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD CHIP BEGAN TO GROW AND CRACK.
NHTSA ODI #11311350
14,000 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Visibility/wiper
SMALL DIVOT IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXPANDED TO 13 INCH CRACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
NHTSA ODI #11311308
8,800 miles · Feb 24, 2020
Visibility/wiper
SAT FEB 22 FORESTER DRIVEN TO GYM AND RETURNED HOME AT 2:20PM. PARKED IN ASSIGNED SPOT #32 IN UNDERGROUND SECURED PARKING. THERE WAS NOT A CRACK, DIVOT OROR ANY OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORESTER REMAINED LOCKED AND PARKED UNTIL MON FEB 24, 2020 AT 6:30AM. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE CENTER, BOTTOM. IT IS…
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SAT FEB 22 FORESTER DRIVEN TO GYM AND RETURNED HOME AT 2:20PM. PARKED IN ASSIGNED SPOT #32 IN UNDERGROUND SECURED PARKING. THERE WAS NOT A CRACK, DIVOT OROR ANY OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORESTER REMAINED LOCKED AND PARKED UNTIL MON FEB 24, 2020 AT 6:30AM. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE CENTER, BOTTOM. IT IS SHAPED LIKE A "7" AND IS ABOUT 10" LONG FROM END TO END. THERE IS NO OBJECT, MARK, DUST OR DEBRIS TO INDICATE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEE PHOTOS
NHTSA ODI #11311229
21,000 miles · Feb 24, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WINDSHIELD CRACKED
NHTSA ODI #11311220
5,229 miles · Feb 24, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WAS MERGING TO HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY HEARD SOMETHING HITTING WINDSHIELD. SAW TINY DOT ON WINDSHIELD AND THE MAKING OF THE LINE ON IT THAT IT CRACKED. VEHICLE HAD UNDER 6000 MILES. BELIEVE THAT WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. NO COMPENSATION FROM SUBARU.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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