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, Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2019
REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RANDOM AND PERIODIC SINCE WE TOOK DELIVERY FROM DEALER AT END OF MAY, 2019. TODAY AFTER SHOPPING I TRIED TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE HATCH. IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE INSIDE BUTTON AND THE HANDLE ON THE HATCH, NEITHER WORKED. I LOADED THE ITEMS IN THE BACK SEAT, STARTED THE CAR THEN STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE. AS VEHICLE TRAVELED IN REVERSE THERE WAS A NOISE LIKE A MOTOR AND THE HATCH OPENED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL SO FAR BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT OPENED WHILE IN MOTION
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 9, 2019
WHEN I START MY CAR VIA SUBARU STARLINK THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL ISSUES OCCUR VOICE OVER BLUETOOTH GETS DISTORTED, APPLE CARPLAY DOES NOT CONNECT OR AFFECTS RADIO FIRST WAS NOTICED JAN 23, 2019. ALSO, POWER REAR GATE DOOR WOULD FAIL AND WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REAR GATE BUTTON, DASH BUTTON OR VIA KEY FOB AS THIS ON AND OFF PROBLEM ALSO NOTICED AFTER CAR IS STARTED VIA REMOTE APP STARLINK. POWER GATE PROBLEM REPORTED FIRST ON JAN 23, 2019 AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE PRESENT DATE. EYESIGHT FAILED ON JUL 06, 2019 WHEN CAR WAS STARTED VIA STARLINK, JUL 07, 2019 EYESIGHT BACK ON AND FAILED AGAIN ON JUL 08, 2019 WHEN CAR WAS MANUALLY STARTED FROM PARKING POSITION. WHEN EYESIGHT FAILS IT EFFECT VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL WHICH ANALYZES STEERING ANGLE, ENGINE SPEED AND BRAKING CONDITIONS. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO WORK ANS WELL SUBARU REVERSE AUTOMATIC BREAKING. TOTAL MILES ON THE CAR 7321 AS OF JUL 08, 2019.
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2019
I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2019 SUBURU FORRESTER ON FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2019. LESS THAN 3 DAYS LATER THE ENTIRE STARLINK COMMAND HEAD UNIT FAILED LEAVING THE BACKUP CAMERA, RADIO, AUDIO, CELL PHONE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. A NEW UNIT MUST BE ORDERED.
Electrical system, May 31, 2019
THE REAR, AUTOMATIC TAILGATE PERIODICALLY FAILS TO OPERATE AND EFFECTIVELY LOCKS ONE OUT OF THAT AREA. THERE IS NO KNOWN BY-PASS OR WORKAROUND AND BASED ON SUBARU USER SITE, APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT SUBARU ITSELF DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND HAS MANY EXPLANATIONS BUT NO SOLUTION OR WORKAROUND. IT REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD A PET BE IN THE BACK OR PERHAPS A PERSON AFTER A CRASH. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ELECTRONIC KEY, DASHBOARD BUTTON AND BUTTON ON THE GATE ALL FAIL TO OPERATE AND ONE IS EFFECTIVELY LOCKED OUT FROM THAT PART OF THE CAR. THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" QUESTION NEEDS TO HAVE MULTIPLE ANSWER OPTIONS. MY WIFE AND I BOTH OWN A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER TOURING AND WE BOTH ARE HAVING ISSUES. INCIDENTS RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE AT THE END OF APRIL 2019 AND THROUGH 5/31/2019 PER CAR.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 21, 2019
ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE MOONROOF SLIGHTLY OPEN. RAINWATER GOT INSIDE THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION .
Electrical system, Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 12, 2019
I HAD THE NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FOR NOT EVEN A MONTH YET, AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 TIMES REGARD OF POWER REAR GATE NOT OPENING AND CRACKED RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS, WHICH OF THE TWO I CONSIDERED MANUFACTURER DEFECTS, BUT THEY DENIED ON BOTH ISSUES BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ME THE REASON AND PROPER WAY OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 12, 2019
IN OUR 2 WEEK OLD 2019 FORESTER, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND FELT A SUDDEN JOLT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF: THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE ACCELERATOR WASN'T WORKING. WE GUIDED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY AND SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER'S MASTER MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY CODE THAT TELLS THEM WHAT IS WRONG SO THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. THIS WAS A LIFE-THREATENING EVENT SO WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR FOR OURSELVES AND OTHER CARS ON THE FREEWAY. SUBARU IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. WE READ THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER "CAR STALL" PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO OURS WITH FORESTERS FROM OTHER YEARS.
Electrical system, Mar 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. ST. CLOUD SUBARU (141 PARK AVE S, ST CLOUD, MN 56301) STATED THAT WATER MAY HAVE CONTACTED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS WORKING ON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AND RECEIVING A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2019
REAR GATE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHETHER USING KEYLESS FOB, REAR GATE DOOR BUTTON OR DASH BUTTON. HAD TO HAVE CAR BATTERY DISCONNECTED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RECONNECTED IT TO GET THE REAR GATE DOOR TO WORK.