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: other or unspecified
144 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 13, 2019
I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 3500 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH DUE TO CHIPS. THE GLASS SEEMS VERY WEAK AND CRACKS WITH THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH ANY OTHER CARS. IT USUALLY TAKES A BIG ROCK TO CRACK IT.
Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2019
KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH EVEN IF VEHICLE IS IN PARK. OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW. THERE IS A SUBARU TSB FOR THIS (16-112-18R).
Other or unspecified, Aug 26, 2019
#1 ) WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEED THE CVT TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD COUNTERING MY BRAKING CONTROL. #2) WHILE DRIVING THE VISUALS AND DRIVER ASSIST ALERTS DISTRACT THE DRIVERS VISUAL ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE ROAD
Other or unspecified, Aug 26, 2019
AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE ON THE INTERSTATE, MY BACK SIDE DOOR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ONE HOUR, TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80 DEGREES.
Other or unspecified, Aug 23, 2019
I WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD AT PLACE OF MIRROR ATTACHMENT HAD BROKEN SO A LARGE CHUNK OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE MIRROR. WAS NOT A FULL THICKNESS BREAK BUT CREATED A DIVOT IN THE WINDSHIELD APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THIS AREA OF WINDSHIELD. CAR HAD BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. THERE WAS A VERY SMALL (1/2 INCH) STAR IN WINDSHIELD TOWARD OUTSIDE OF PASSENGER SIDE WHICH OCCURRED FROM ROCK 4 MONTHS BEFORE AND WAS NOT ENLARGING.
Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2019
WINDSHIELD OF CAR CRACKED WITHOUT ANY CONTACT. THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AND A LARGE CRACK APPEARED WHICH KEPT GETTING LONGER AS I DROVE. THE CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNNY NORMAL CHICAGO SUMMER DAY, ABOUT 80 DEGREES F.
Other or unspecified, Aug 2, 2019
MY COMPLAINT MAY NOT BE VALID BUT I THOUGH IT APPROPRIATE SINCE MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2018/19 SUBARU FORESTERS. I HAD A SMALL ROCK BOUNCE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH ON AUG 1,2019 AND NOW THE SHIELD IS SPIDER WEBBED WITH TWO LONG CRACKS AND TWO SMALLER CRACKS. FROM MY READINGS ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE WITH THESE MODELS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR WINDSHIELDS AT UNUSUAL RATES. OF COURSE YOU CANNOT PREDICT WHAT A ROCK TO THE SHIELD WILL DO, BUT I DO KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT DRIVING THESE SAME ROADS AND CONDITIONS FOR 20YEARS WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES, THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE TWO WINDSHIELDS. JUST MY TWO CENTS AND AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT WE SHALL SEE HOW LONG THE NEXT SHIELD LASTS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 31, 2019, crash, fire
IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING FRONT END TO OTHER CAR REAR END ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE ENGINE THEN CAUGHT FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE CAR BURNED. FORTUNATELY NO INJURY TO DRIVER OR PASSENGER.
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2019
THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE UNSAFE NATURE OF THE AUTO START/STOP FEATURE ON OUR 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP, AT A STOP SIGN FOR EXAMPLE. IT THEN TAKES A SECOND OR MORE FOR THE ENGINE TO START AGAIN AFTER TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS HESITATION IS VERY UNSAFE IN ANY SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A NEED FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF APPROACHING DANGER, SUCH AS AN OUT-OF-CONTROL VEHICLE COMING AT THE CAR. THE HESITATION IN MOVEMENT CAUSED BY THIS FEATURE COULD EASILY MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING HIT AND GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. THE FEATURE'S DEFAULT SETTING IS "ON." EVEN IF YOU TURN IT OFF, THE NEXT TIME YOU START THE CAR IT WILL BE BACK ON AGAIN. IT WOULD BE MUCH SAFER IF THE FEATURE'S DEFAULT SETTING WAS "OFF." THE SUBARU DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT CHANGE THE DEFAULT SETTING TO "OFF." I HAVE WRITTEN TO SUBARU SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR IS CLEARLY LESS SAFE TO OPERATE WITH THE FEATURE ON, SO SUBARU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE DEFAULT SETTING TO "OFF."
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2019
BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS GLASS. GREW FAST AND STILL GROWING ACROSS TO DRIVERS SIDE. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT IT. WAS DRIVING AND JUST HEARD POP OF GLASS AND CRACK. NO STAR JUST CRACK FROM CORNER UNDER WIPER.
Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2019
CRACK OCCURRED ON PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WITH IN OVERNIGHT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY ROCK HITTING SOUND.
Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2019
HOMELINK, THE IN CAR OPERATION FOR GARAGE DOOR OPENERS CHANGED CREATING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A HAZARD. THE CURRENT VERSION ONLY OPERATES WITH THE IGNITION ON WHILE PREVIOUS MODELS DID NOT HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEIR REPLY WAS "WORKING AS INTENDED". MY POINT IS THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOW START THEIR CAR IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE (CLOSED GARAGE) BECAUSE THE HOMELINK WON'T OPEN THE DOOR UNTIL IGNITION IS ON? I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN TURN IGNITION ON WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND OR TAKE THE EXTRA STEP TO DO THAT?
Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOWHERE NEAR ANOTHER CAR, WHEN MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. IT'S A HORIZONTAL CRACK ACROSS ALMOST HALF OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 19 INCHES LONG AND 14 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM. I WAS OUT IN THE OPEN, NO TREES, NO OVERPASS, NO OTHER CARS NEARBY.
Other or unspecified, Apr 18, 2019
WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A VERY SMALL PEBBLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SKITTLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND NEEDS A FULL REPLACEMENT.
Other or unspecified, Apr 17, 2019
WINDSHIELD IS WEAK AND CRACKS VERY EASILY. HAVE HAD IT REPLACED AND FIVE DAYS LATER IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN DUE TO CRACK. BOTH TIMES FROM A SMALL ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD ON THE HIGHWAY.
Other or unspecified, Mar 24, 2019
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A CRACK APPEARED SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD CLOSE TO THE WIPER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD DUE TO BACKORDER AND UNAVAILABILITY OF SUBARU WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENTS FOR A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE BECAUSE SUBARU DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT PART. I HAVE REQUESTED A SUBSTITUTION OF COLLATERAL FOR THIS REASON AND AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM SUBARU. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL SUBARU. IS THE PART UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE SO MANY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS ARE NEEDED?
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2019
DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING (HEAT ON HIGH). PARKED IT IN A PRIVATE LOT FOR ABOUT 5 HRS. THERE WAS LIGHT SNOW/ICE THAT DAY. I GOT OUT TO DRIVE AND SEE A HUGE CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD SPANNING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THROUGH TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE PREVIOUSLY NO DISCERNABLE NICKS ON THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED SUBARU, ALL FORESTER WINDSHIELDS ARE BACKORDERED. SOME ON THE FORESTER FORUMS HAVE WAITED OVER A MONTH FOR THEIR WINDSHIELD. MINE WILL SUPPOSEDLY TAKE AT LEAST 3 WEEKS. NOT ACCEPTABLE TO BE DRIVING WITH A DEFECTIVE AND ALREADY CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THEIR WINDSHIELD ISSUE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF YET.
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.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 14, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ,BOTTOM CENTER UP ABOUT 15" CIRCLE .VEHICLE PARKED .NO STONE MARK OR STAR MARK. LOOKS LIKE FACTORY DEFECT. I'VE HEARD OF OTHERS DOING SAME.