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: visibility
406 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Apr 8, 2022
It did not take more than one week after buying my new 2019 Subaru Forester in November 2019 when the windshield cracked for no reason. Due to the cost I have not replaced the windshield even today. I just read that there is a court case that forces Subaru to replace my windshield but requires me to file with a complaint through the NHTSA. Please accept this as my complaint.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2022
I have only had my car for about a month and already there are three chips in the windshield that weren't present when I bought it. The latest one appeared today.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2022
The windshield on my 2019 Subaru has cracked for the second time. This has taken away many of the safety features that comes with the car due to the cameras not working properly or not at all. This second time it cracked its cost me money through my insurance company. No one has physically seen my windshield except me. I currently have photos with Progressive and they’re still reviewing my claim. This happened once before when a cement crew had sawed cement fibers into the side of my car and just so happened to crack the windshield in the process. But the angle from which they were spraying the cement fibers didn’t make sense at the time. Then it cracked a second time and I looked online. I found the lawsuit and other people complaining online about their windshields as well. The second time it cracked, I do not know how. I came out to my car to find an impact point and spider cracks coming from it. I’m thinking a rock hit it on the highway but didn’t fully crack until it snowed or something.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 11, 2022
In June 2020 a rock on the highway hit my windshield and by the time I had arrived at my destination, the crack had grown to over 6 inches in length, so a replacement was required. It was replaced by safelite in July 2020 (limited staff due to COVID). In April of 2021 my windshield was again struck by a rock from the highway and, while it started as less than 4 inches in length, quickly grew to over 6 inches within a matter of days. Since this would be the second time replacing my windshield and I still needed to commute 30 minutes to work via the highway for another couple months, I withheld reaching out to Safelite to get my windshield replaced until I could move residence and not have to take the highway every day. It was replaced in July of 2021. This ended up being the wise decision, as between April 2021 and July 2021 the windshield sustained two more cracks, for a total of 3 well over 6 inches each. Yesterday, March 10, 2022 my windshield was once again struck. This time it looks like if it were hit with a baseball bat, but I was on the highway, so it may have been a bird. I am aware of a current lawsuit against Subaru for weak windshields on 2017-2020 vehicles, which my 2019 Forester falls into, so I can't help but wonder if it's just really bad luck, or a bad lot of weak/defective windshields. I know Safelite fixed them instead of Subaru, but I am under the impression that they were made by the same manufacturer that supplies the windshields to Subaru.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2022
I was sitting in park w/ac on and heard a crack looked up, initially saw nothing a few minutes later I saw a crack that has continued to spread.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2022
While the vehicle was parked in a driveway, the windshield developed a 10 inch crack in an upside down "J" shape, originating from the bottom edge of the windshield. There were no debris impacts in this area of the windshield and no "pitting" is visible that would have compromised the structural integrity of the windshield. There have been multiple class-action lawsuits related to the issue of cracking windshields and in my opinion this should be investigated and considered for a recall.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 15, 2022
cracking in windshield without any impact
Visibility/wiper, Feb 14, 2022
A very small ding in the windshield turned into a full size crack quickly.
Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 9, 2022
Windshield cracked around September 10 of 2021. Forward warning went off at times since crack. I had windshield replaced and new windshield cracked 4 months later. I must pay $500.00 deductible. Now the crack on new windshield is 3 weeks old and has spread to approximately 15 inches. Windshield must be replaced again. Forward safety now goes off at times as with previous windshield when it was cracked.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 1, 2022
Crack in windshield that came out of nowhere and just keeps expanding
Visibility/wiper, Jan 25, 2022
Windshield cracks very easily. It has cracked on my 2019 Subaru Forester Premium trim two times in the last two years. This is just from the normal debris flying off the road. The first incident happen in Aug 2020, Second January 2022.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 24, 2022
Small rock hit windshield while highway driving and created an impact point in the bottom-center of the windshield, affecting eyesight and requiring a replacement per Subaru dealership.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 22, 2022
I have owned my certified pre-owned 2019 Subaru Forester for less than a year, with under 30K miles. Within the last 2 months I’ve gotten a crack and a chip in two different areas of my windshield. Nothing out of the norm happened to cause this. I only drive 20 miles round trip for work daily and some errands around town on the weekends.
Visibility, Jan 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the windshield cracked without impact. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2021
Windshield Glass Break even small debris
Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2021
My front windshield just cracked, no rock hit it, just cracked
Visibility/wiper, Dec 13, 2021
Yesterday, when we got into the car (2019 Subaru Forester) we noticed a large crack in the windshield. It started near the edge where the glass meets the frame, and went down and curved towards the driver side. If it were a straight line, it would be at least 10 inches. We had not had any rock strikes while driving and the windshield showed no signs of cracks the day before. The car has a little more than 12k miles so still very new.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 12, 2021
Yesterday as I was driving home, I heard a “pop” noise & I looked at my front windshield I saw a 6” crack in the lower section of my windshield underneath the left wiper blade. I have approximately 22,000 miles on the vehicle. I got it brand new on 7/3/2019.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 11, 2021
3 chips in the windshield very quickly and had them repaired. This windshield is a rock magnet and easily chipped. Only had 1 windshield cracked and less than 3 dings repaired with all my other vehicles in over 40 years of driving. Also, just driving down the road the windshield cracked right at eye level all the way across the drivers side. Now while driving, have to have seat raised all the way to be above the crack so road view is not distorted or impaired by the crack. Have not replaced it yet because of expense to do so for insurance, Eye Sight reprogramming, researching what brand windshield to replace it with that is not so susceptible to dings / cracking, why this vehicle has more issues than any others I have had and whether purchasing / installing a rock deflector would help. Something to note, that as of this post there are 514 complaints total for this vehicle posted with two thirds of them having to do with visibility (windshield) issues (313 + 25). Not to mention the other Subaru vehicles with the same issue around this time period. Something is not right with these windshields!
Visibility/wiper, Dec 10, 2021
Driving on the highway, and a small pebble hit my window and cracked it. This is the second time in the three years it's been driven (~34,000 miles). The windows seem to be weak as compared to other cars. The repair is expensive because of the eyesight system.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2021
Small rock strike on interstate caused cracked windshield. Second on this vehicle since purchased new.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 30, 2021
Numerous small chips throughout normal driving conditions. Mostly pitting. However one rock chip (starburst) received from opposite lane traffic. Had glass company seal, but approx 1 month later it spread across. Throughout my history I've never seen such a fragile windshield.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 14, 2021
A pebble struck the lower right corner of the windshield which precipitated a long crack going one-third of the way across the windshield. I have had many rocks hit my windshield in other vehicles and not once have they started a crack across the whole windshield. In contacting Subaru of Surprise service center, they notified me of a two month backlog order for a replacement windshield.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 24, 2021
My windshield cracked for no apparent reason. To the best of my knowledge, nothing hit the windshield itself. I was parking the car and all of a sudden I noticed the crack. Single line from the left edge. No chips or divots that I can tell
Visibility/wiper, Sep 20, 2021
Windshield cracked for an unknown reason. This is the second crack and windshield replacement within one year.