2019 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 833 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 37 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, rearApr 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.
Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V263000 on NHTSA.gov
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.
An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 19V856000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemFeb 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.
Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 19V065000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
134 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Dec 14, 2022
Battery drain quickly. Overnight battery drain. Car driven for over 40 miles and the following day the battery is drained and won't start. Car left for one week with out driving - battery drained and won't start.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 10, 2022
Car stalls out sometimes when running while stopped. This is not the stop/start system. Also, driver door power window will sometimes raise and lower on its own.
Electrical system, Nov 3, 2022
Car is continually draining battery, causing vehicle to fail twice now due to a completely dead battery, once was while parked, once while idling with car in drive on road.
Electrical system, Oct 27, 2022
Failed thermo control valve assembly, Subaru part #21319aa010 Subaru is aware of the problem but new parts are backordered, with delivery perhaps weeks away as this is apparently a common problem. The local dealer indicated Subaru will pay for parts and labor (this is a verbal offer only), which again suggests this is a known problem. The failure led to automobile not performing and a two to service location. As a known deficiency, why has this not incited a recall or other notice?
Electrical system, Engine, Lane departure, Oct 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH the RBD warning light stated off, as well as the Lane Keep, Eyesight, ABS off, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated he noticed that several unknown safety features became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the gasket for the heater control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the parts were not available at the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and a voicemail was left. The failure mileage was 47,500.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 4, 2022
While on freeway at night on 9/28/22 about 8pm several dashboard lights activated including check engine, eyesight assisted safety light, steering and safety controls disabled, all at once! I pulled over and called Subaru for assistance. Called AAA. AAA suggested I drive vehicle off freeway. I went to brothers and he noted car not overheated and drive short distance home. Car manuals did not explain so many warning lights. Drove car to Roseville Subaru next day and determined that engine part had failed to leave for repair. Dealer service agent Raj would not provide any details, strange? Went online and found Subaru Service Bulletin #09-80-21 dated 2/28/22 indicating thermo valve defective causing warning lights, and to replace. I felt unsafe as on freeway at risk at night and am elderly. Subaru bulletin shows part faulty as of June7,21 per s.bulletin. Why not recalled by now? Unsafe to drive this car as steering, braking, and driver assistance systems all fail to operate at once and I was not sure if I could control car. Virtually every safety system shut down as simultaneously the speed control, collision monitoring and lane control all stopped working. Furthermore, dealer can't estimate when part is available or provide me a lender car. I am a cancer patient at risk! This car only has 17,000 miles and is not safe or reliable and the dealer won't help. Please help asap!
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2022
Auto start failed multiple times leaving car disabled for a short period of time in traffic creating safety hazard. After asking the Subaru service center about it they said there was nothing they could do about it because there was no lights on the dashboard. Eventually they informed me at the last service that the battery needed to be replaced.
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2022
In July my car kept dying and I had to jump the battery frequently. i Had it serviced at Hayesville firestone and was told it was ok. Problem continued. had a mechanic suggest I get another battery , whick I di at car quest. Has been fine since. I just received a notice of battery drains on Sub forester, so I am reporting this to you. No injury was involved
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 23, 2022
when driving and stopped at a light the car died, I had to put it in park and restart it , this has happened on 4 different occasions, and I've taken it to the dealer and was told nothing checked out as failing, also, the radio has gone wild on occasion, dialing contacts in my phone numerous times, and me being unable to stop it. was told that heat and temperatures could cause the electronics to shut down or burn. I feel that I was in danger of getting hit because these things occurred while in traffic, and I had no control over the car, the system was acting out on its own.
Electrical system, Sep 22, 2022
The car's battery is unable to start the car. If the car isn't used for one or two days, the battery power is drained so low that I can't start the car. This problem began very soon after purchase and has not gotten better. The dealership told me I was keeping the keys too close to the car and that was causing the issue. However when the keys are kept far away the problem continues. I'm also having a problem with lifting the back hatch. Sometimes it just beeps and doesn't open
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 18, 2022
Vehicle will not start after it has rained or if auto shut down occurs while it is raining. Vehicle has to be jump started if raining. Might start if “dried out” or left in dry conditions.
Electrical system, Sep 17, 2022
Battery has died
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2022
Part #21319AA010 COOLANT CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY. THERE IS A HUGE LINE 25 CUSTOMERS FOR THE SAME PART AT THE SUBARU DEALER I PURCHSAED THE 2019 BASE FORESTER FROM. CODE HAS BEEN READ. CODE P2682. VEHICLE HAS 50000 MILES. THE PART IS $435 PLUS INSTALLATION. NO LIGHT ON DASH, NO WARNING AT ALL BEFORE THE FAILURE CODE.
Electrical system, Sep 14, 2022
Something drained my battery completely dead (to less than 1V) overnight. The car was locked and the key fob wasn't near the car. In fact I keep it in a Faraday bag. The battery is less than one year old.
Electrical system, Sep 10, 2022
While driving, the vehicle stopped driving midride. I attempted to turn off the car and restart the car, but it had issues. This happened on 3 separate occasions. I believe the battery was being overdrawn. Two times this happened on the highway and I lost the ability to stay accelerated. I have had the dealer inspect it twice and they found no issues. Shortly after breaking down the third time, a separate car repair shop tested the battery and it tested good. The check engine light appeared and made mention of the Eyesight system.
Electrical system, Sep 5, 2022
Battery constantly drains and fails to start the car almost from 2019 when I purchased the car. I’ve had to replace the original battery when the car was less than two years old and one year later the new battery has the same problem. No battery is able to hold a charge in this car and it continues to be a problem. Something seems to be draining the battery regularly. So that I won’t be stranded frequently, I needed to purchase a portable battery charger to start the car.
Electrical system, Lane departure, Back over prevention, Aug 10, 2022
I recently bought this vehicle (used) with ~1900 miles. After 1.5 months of owning the vehicle, I suddenly had several warning lights as well as systems disabled within the vehicle. The first time this occurred I was about 2 hours into a drive, and suddenly my eyesight disabled, check engine light came on, cruise control disabled, lane departure disabled, collision warning and automatic braking disabled. After pulling over to inspect, I also realized my trunk would no longer open. I took it to a dealership who said it was due to low battery voltage—despite there being no spectacular incidents to drain the battery since I purchased the vehicle. They recharged the battery and the problem was temporarily fixed. However, once I retrieved my vehicle from the dealership the check engine light and disabled features were still prevalent. I once again had them recharge the battery—despite there again being no events causing the battery to drain—to which the problem was solved. Again, about an hour into my drive back home, the check engine light and features suddenly disabled. This is detrimental to my safety as a driver—as every safety feature suddenly disables without warning during my drive.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 2, 2022
Stopped at a red light. The Forester was in Auto Start/Stop mode and was in Stop. When I tried to start the Forester up again, it would not. A bell started ringing and all the warning lights lit up. I put the car in Park and and within a minute it started up again.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 26, 2022
vehicle stalled for no reason causing a dangerous situation, dashboard had 'eyesight' come on, possible crash avoidance feature ??
Electrical system, Jul 20, 2022, fire
My car started on fire while parked and turned off. The fire was electrical and appeared to be caused by issues in the main wiring harness under the console between the driver and passenger seats.
Electrical system, Jun 16, 2022
UNKNOWN. There is some sort of battery drain issue causing the battery to die and prevent my car from starting. The battery has been tested independently at two different locations, both of which found the battery was operating properly. My mechanic checked for anything causing any phantom power drain from the battery and could not locate anything. The tow truck operator told me they've been seeing and issue with Subarus where very new cars are having their battery die when there is no reason for it to.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, May 23, 2022
The car has a power assisted hatchback. When it fails to latch, the power is completely drained from the car, and there is zero indication of this happening, until the next day when an attempt is made to start the car. We've been stranded twice in our car and twice on the road. It's all due to the robotics not getting a signal to stop trying to keep it open. We notified the dealer twice by April of 2021. The second time they replaced the battery and we failed to convince them that this was a symptom, not the cause per many TSBs. In March of 2022 we were traveling and the hatch failed to latch. It would beep all the time. We took it to another dealer in Baton Rouge, who ordered a latch back in Atlanta. We drove it hundreds of mails beeping. The electrical system failed the next morning - again. We got the car started, made it back to Atlanta, and had the latch replaced by a 3rd dealer. Our original dealer says we are not eligible for the replacement hardware/software fix in the robotics (as distinct from the latch) to stop parasitic draining unlike identical cars made in this year. We do not trust this car until it's fixed.
Electrical system, Apr 26, 2022
Car battery drained. Have had to call AAA twice. Have now purchased another battery and it failed to auto start when I attempted to cross the intersection.
Electrical system, Apr 14, 2022, crash, fire
The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH on the interstate, a deer jumped in front causing a crash. All the air bags deployed, and immediately soon after a fire was coming from the hood. The contact and two children in the rear passenger seat were able to exit the vehicle safely. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. There was a police report was filed. There were no injuries or medical reports. The vehicle was consumed by the fire and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Apr 1, 2022, crash, fire
Car caught fire after a relatively slow (less than 35 mph) collision with a Chevrolet Tahoe. Other vehicle was driveable, my Subaru Forester caught fire.