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
833 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2020
WHILE CLEANING THE INSIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I DIDN'T APPLY ANY UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, JUST "REGULAR" WIPING PRESSURE. IT HAS SINCE "SPIDERED" OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
Vehicle speed control, Dec 16, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 18 MPH WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, GOING AROUND A BEND UP-HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOWSER SUBARU (1001 CLAIRTON BLVD, PLEASANT HILLS, PA 15236, (412) 469-2100) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER I COULD NOT SEE A ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE, EXCEPT A TINY DOT AND A CRACK GOING OUT FROM IT. OVER THE NEW FEW DAYS THE CRACK STARTED GROWING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 8, 2020
STARTED CAR ON A COLD MORNING, TURNED ON DEFROSTER AND WENT INSIDE GOT BACK IN CAR STARTED TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED A HUGE CRACK STARTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEED THE BOTTOM OF THE WIPER BLADE. AS I DROVE THE CRACK GOT WORSE NOW IT IS HALFWAY ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE FIRST CRACK APPEARED
Visibility/wiper, Dec 6, 2020
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 6, 2020, crash
DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE I HIT THE BRAKES AND INSTEAD LURCHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ABOUT 8 FEET AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. DURING THIS TIME I REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD NO RESPONSE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED AT THE COLLISION CENTER THEY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU. SUBARU RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE COLLISION CENTER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DETECTOR WOULD NOT GO OFF FOR MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS UNDER 100 POUNDS.'TO CLARIFY THE SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF.' I SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. TOTAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS ABOUT $8200 AND I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE DAMAGES TO THE OTHER VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2020
WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY A SMALL ROCK WHILE GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS (DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE ROCK), CAUSING A 2 MM ROUGH CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD AND A 1 CM CRACK ON THE OUTSIDE AND ANOTHER 1 CM CRACK ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2020
MY 2019 FORESTER WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED FROM THE VERY TOP TO MID WAY DOWN. I NOTICED THE CRACK WHEN GOING TO MY CAR FOR WORK IN THE MORNING.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CHIP FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON RURAL ROAD
Visibility, Nov 27, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AN INCH-LONG HORIZONTAL CRACK FORMED OVER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. OVER TIME, THE CRACK SPREAD TO APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK OBSTRUCTED HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,500.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO REASON AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CRACK THEN SPREAD ACROSS (AND UP) ALMOST THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND BROKE WITH NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN 2 PLACES 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. STARTED AS A SMALL CHIP AND CRACK RAN ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WINDSHIELD. THEN ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED THE NEXT DAY RUNNING LENGTHWISE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACK REALLY EASILY LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. MAYBE WE HIT A POT HOLE TOO HARD ON THE HIGHWAY OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT STARTED AT THE VERY EDGE. OEM WINDSHIELD SEEM TO BE VERY THIN CRACKED EASILY AND CRACK GOT BIGGER OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS HAD TO GET WINDSHIELD REPLACED OUT OF POCKET.
Visibility, Nov 27, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048) WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.
Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED IN EMPTY PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE PART WILL COST OVER $1000
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 19, 2020
LEAVING A PARKING LOT GETTING READY TO TURN ONTO A DIVIDED 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CARE DID NOT GO WILE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN AND I DID IT AGAIN AND STILL NOTHING. BEFORE I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG THE CAR DRIFTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER EXCEPT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED AND IN GEAR BUT STILL NO ACCELERATION SO I LEFT THE CAR DRIFT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED TO GO JUST BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED BACK. THE START-STOP WAS TURNED OFF AND THE ENGINE NEVER STOPPED THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED 6 OR 7 TIMES IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS BUT THIS WAS THE MOST SERIOUS.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 17, 2020
I HAVE HAD 2 WINDSHIELDS CRACK ON ME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CRACKS ARE VIOLENT AND SUDDEN. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY SUBARUS MANY MILES BUT THE 2019 FORESTER IS VERY SENSITIVE TO INHERENT STRESS IN THE GLASS
Visibility/wiper, Nov 17, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO COLD WEATHER, WHILE STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS CHIPS OR IMPACTS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF A REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED, AND WAS TOLD 'NOT A CHANCE. THAT JUST HAPPENS TO THOSE CARS.' UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OTHER 2019 FORRESTER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME CUSTOMER SERVICE. A WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK JUST BECAUSE IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 16, 2020
WHILE DRIVING AND STATIONARY. AT LEAST 4 CHIPS IN WINDSHIELD. 1 CRACK THAT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE AT BETWEEN 55-65. INSURANCE FILLED INITIAL 2 CHIPS, BUT REFUSED TO FILL OTHERS OR REPAIR CRACK WITHOUT FILING A CLAIM THAT REQUIRES ME PAYING THE DEDUCTIBLE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 11, 2020
THE VEHICLE HAS 16000 MILES ON IT AND IVE HAD TO 2 WINDSHIELDS CRACK IN 3 MONTHS TIME. THE FIRST SPREAD WITHING 5 MINUTES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED BY MY INSURANCE. THE SECOND HAPPENED TODAY AND MY INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO FAULT. BOTH CAUSED IN THE SAME LOCATION LOWER WINSHIELD, CAUSED BY MINOR HIGHWAY DEBRIS. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD A WIND SHIELD SO WEAK! BOTH TIMES CAR WAS IN MOTION. I CAN PROVIDE PIC OF SECOND INCIDENT BUT THE FIRST WAS AT LEAST 14 INCHES WIDE AFTER SPREADING.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2020
THERE WAS A MILDLY HOT DAY IN REVERE MA IN 10/24 ALMOST 80 AND GOT COLD AT NIGHT AROUND 40. NEXT DAY WE GET IN THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE SOMETHING LIKE A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BUT AT THE MOMENT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST DIRT. IN 10/27 WE NOTICE THAT IT WAS A REAL CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN CLEANING THE VEHICLE, RIGHT WHERE THE DEFROSTER BLOWS. CRACK IS DEFINITELY NOT DUE FROM ROAD DEBRIS, NOT ROCK CHIPS AROUND THE CRACK AT ALL.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Oct 25, 2020
BACK HOOD LATCH STUCK AND WON'T OPEN
Visibility/wiper, Oct 13, 2020
LOVE MY SUBARU FORESTER BUT HATE HOW MANY ROCK CHIPS I'VE GOTTEN IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. TOMORROW WILL BE MY 3RD WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT I GET TO CALL INTO MY INSURANCE NOT TO MENTION JUST THE TIME IT TAKES TO WAIT FOR A NEW ONE AND MAKING TIME TO GET IT PUT IN. I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY LESS THAN 15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND MAYBE ONCE A WEEK AND THE ONLY THING I THINK ABOUT WHILE DRIVING IS TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM SEMIS, TRUCKS AND TRAILERS TO TRY SAVE MYSELF SOME TIME AND MONEY AND NOT GET ANOTHER ROCK CHIP. I'VE HAD COUNTLESS ROCK CHIPS REPLACED IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS ALONG SIDE OF THE 2 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS I'VE HAD SO FAR. ITS INSANE. TONIGHT I GOT A ROCK CHIP ALMOST THE SIZE OF A QUARTER WITH NO CAR AROUND EITHER FRONT OR BACK FOR AT LEAST 5 CAR LENGTHS! WITHIN 10 MINUTES ALMOST SPLIT HALF WAY ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD. ITS INSANE. SO NOW MY INSURANCE GETS TO REPLACE YET ANOTHER WINDSHIELD AND PAY FOR THE EYESIGHT TO BE RECALIBRATED, AGAIN. SUBARU SHOULD REALLY FIGURE THIS OUT OR AT LEAST BE WILLING TO REPLACE THEIR GLASS AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG PROBLEM.