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, Mar 10, 2020
MY CAR WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE WIPERS. IT WAS STATIONARY AND THEN I NOTICED A CRACK ONE MORNING. I USUALLY PARK MY CAR IN MY GARAGE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 10, 2020
WE PURCHASE A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON MARCH 29, 2019. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ON APRIL 3, 2019 A STONE HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT REQUIRED US TO SUBMIT A CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOR REPAIR. IN NOVEMBER 2019, WE WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH WENT FROM THE BOTTOM TO TOP. THERE WAS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE AS TO HOW THE CRACK OCCURRED. DON'T REMEMBER ANOTHER STONE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD THE CRACK JUST APPEARED. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY SO WE HAD TO SUBMIT IT TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS YEAR IN JANUARY 2020 ANOTHER STONE STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND WE HAD TO SUBMIT A CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE FOR IT TO BE FIXED. HAVING OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A WINDSHIELD OR TO HAVE A WINDSHIELD REPLACED. WE HAVE NOTICED OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON THE INTERNET EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR SUBARU WINDSHIELDS. ARE THE SUBARU WINDSHIELDS DEFECTIVE? THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2020
DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A CRACK FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. LAST YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON I-45, DEALER TRIED TO FIX IT AND ENDED UP MAKING IT WORSE SO THEY OFFERED A FREE REPLACEMENT.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 9, 2020
IN APRIL 2019 LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER I GOT A ROCK CHIP ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON A 45 MPH ROAD. THE AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP WAS ALREADY CLOSED SO I PLANNED TO GO THE NEXT DAY FOR REPAIR. I CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING TO MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED HALFWAY ACROSS BEYOND REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. I'VE NEVER HAD A CHIP BECOME A CRACK WITHIN A DAY AND NEVER HAD ONE HALFWAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I GOT A STARBURST CRACK FROM A ROCK ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE GLASS REPAIR SHOP WITHIN THE HOUR. THE FIX ONLY DELAYED THE INEVITABLE AND WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK ONE DAY THE WINDSHIELD SPLIT ACROSS WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY PROGRESSION. MY SECOND NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED LAST WEEK AND THIS MORNING I GOT A VERY SMALL ROCK CHIP ON A 30 MPH ROAD. BY THE TIME I DROVE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES HOME AND UNLOADED THE GROCERIES IT HAD STARTED TO CRACK. I WAS AT THE GLASS REPAIR SHOP WITHIN 2 HOURS RIGHT WHEN THEY OPENED TO HAVE THE CRACK REPAIRED BEFORE IT COULD SPLIT FURTHER. I FEAR WITH A REPAIR IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ONE CRACKS TOO. IF SO, THAT WILL BE THREE NEW WINDSHIELDS IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 22,000 MILES DRIVEN. NEITHER I OR MY INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCH A WEAK PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS AND FAILS TO MEET EVEN BASIC STANDARDS OF RESILIENCY AND QUALITY. THE INCONVENIENCE OF LITERALLY HAVING TO DROP EVERYTHING TO GET AN IMMEDIATE REPAIR ON ANY CHIP BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT WILL NOT EVEN LAST A FEW HOURS WITHOUT SPREADING. I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD IN MY LIFE ON THESE VERY SAME ROADS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PRODUCT OR IT'S A WAY TO EARN MORE MONEY ON OEM REPLACEMENTS SINCE WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE WITH THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS.
Electrical system, Mar 9, 2020
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS NOT OPENED AS COMMANDED BY THE KEY FOB AND/OR THE DASHBOARD CONTROL. THERE IS NO ELECTRONIC OVERRIDE OR MANUAL LATCH. THIS ISSUE LEAVES YOU WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE REAR CARGO COMPARTMENT. ON EACH OCCASION, THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IN PARK.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 6, 2020
I DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND PARKED IN THE PARKING GARAGE. WINDSHIELD WAS TOTALLY FINE. WHEN I WALKED BACK IN THE EVENING, I SAW IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS A HUGE CRACK IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH NO OTHER APPARENT DAMAGE. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY THE ENTIRE TIME AND IT'S CLEAR THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL EVENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 4, 2020
MY WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT IS 18" LONG. IT APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE . I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR DRIVERS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 4, 2020
WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY A ROCK IN THE BLACK AREA AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DING IS TINY WITH NO SPIDERWEB CRACKS RADIATING FROM IT. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, A LARGE CRACK STARTED FROM THE DING AND WEND DOWN AND ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 3, 2020
ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020, I WENT TO GET INTO MY PARKED 2019 SUBARU FORESTER AND NOTICED A HORIZONTAL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS ROUGHLY 17 INCHES LONG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY THE DAY BEFORE, BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE COME ABOUT WITHOUT CAUSE AND INHIBITS THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CLEARLY SEE THE ROAD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 3, 2020
MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER EXPERIENCED A TINY ROCK CHIP ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD FROM DEBRIS THAT WAS INITIALLY HARDILY NOTICEABLE UNTIL I REACHED HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE WINDSHIELD CHIP BEGAN TO GROW AND CRACK TO OVER 12" ACROSS THE LOWER LEFT PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2020
I WENT OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING AND MY SUBARU HAD A HUGE CRACK ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. THE CRACK RADIATED OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND RENDERED THE EYE-SIGHT UNABLE TO WORK. INSURANCE STATE FARM CLAIM NUMBER IS 19-B151-3T0
Visibility/wiper, Feb 29, 2020
TWO CRAKCS ON MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD. DON'T REMEMBER HOW IT HAPPENED JUST SAW IT ALL OF A SUDDEN, IMPAIR VERSION AND SAFETY. DEALER RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND HAVE THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM READJUSTED.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 27, 2020
WE HAVE A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH THE EYESIGHT SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FOR NO REASON, AND TURNING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THE MAJOR ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SLAMMED ON BRAKES WHEN THE ROAD AHEAD WAS CLEAR, JARRING ME AND PASSENGERS, MY WIFE LITERALLY HAD WHIPLASH AND A HEADACHE FROM THE EXTREME, UNEXPECTED BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN A VEHICLE IN FROM OF US MADE A RIGHT TURN, ROAD AHEAD IS CLEAR, TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, SENSORS MUST BE PICKING UP THE CORNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AS WE APPROACH, LOCKING UP THE BRAKES, THINKING IT IS STILL IN FRONT OF US. ANOTHER INCIDENT, EYESIGHT SENSING AN EMPTY PAPER BAG BEING BLOWN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION FROM A DRIVER BEHIND US IF THEY WERE FOLLOWING TO CLOSE, LIKE IS THE NORM IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ANOTHER EVENT, A DOG RAN ACROSS THE FREEWAY, EYESIGHT NEVER ACTIVATED, I THOUGHT I HAD BRAKED AND CLEARED THE DOG, HE KEPT RUNNING, NO IMPACT, FOUND DAMAGE TO FRONT END UPON INSPECTION. ANOTHER ISSUE UNRELATED TO EYESIGHT, THE DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT RESPOND TO HIGH SETTING WHEN FIRST TURNED TO HIGH TO CLEAR WINDOW FOG, IT TAKES 3 TO 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT RAMPS UP TO HIGH SPEED. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR SALESPERSON AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT OUR SUBARU DEALERSHIP, MAYBE BE A CALIBRATION ISSUE, PROGRAM ISSUE WITH THE EYESIGHT SENSORS, THEY REFUSED TO DOCUMENT ANYTHING I SHARED AND TOLD ME THEIR IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THERE IS NO MORE LOVE IN OUR SUBARU, AND NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER 2019 SUBARU FORESTER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EYESIGHT ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE LEASED THE VEHICLE OCTOBER 2018 TO RECENTLY ON 2/20/2020. I WAS INFORMED TO FILE THIS BY THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL WHILE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THEM.
Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2020
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SEEMED TO SPONTANEOUSLY CRACK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE CRACK BEGAN IN THE LOWER MIDDLE PART OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD UPWARD ABOUT TEN INCHES. I ADVISED MY SUBARU DEALER OF THE ISSUED, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO SAFELITE AUTO GLASS, WHERE I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT MY OWN EXPENSE.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2020
MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CHIPS ON WINDSHIELD IN JUST 7 MONTHS (4500 MILES). DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO BAD ROADS/SALT ON THE ROAD. BUT I AM DRIVING MY OTHER VEHICLE (TOYOTA) ON THE SAME ROADS FOR PAST 5 YEARS, AND NOT A SINGLE CHIP/CRACK ON IT! THE PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY POOR QUALITY OF WINDSHIELD ON 2019 SUBARU FORESTER.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
WE HAD JUST PURCHASED OUR NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER IN LATE MARCH/EARLY APRIL 2019. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WE TOOK A TRIP TO SPICER RESERVOIR IN CALIFORNIA FROM THE SF BAY AREA IN CALIFORNIA. ON OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THERE WAS NO WIND. WE WE'RE DESCENDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ROADS. SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD MADE A LOUD POP SOUND, AND CRACK STARTED EMERGING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR IMPACT THAT STARTED THE CRACK. AGAIN, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF US THAT COULD HAVE FLUNG DEBRIS AT US. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS CAUSED BY A PRESSURE CHANGED? WE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE CRACK. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO CREATE A LARGE, ~2 FOOT LONG, QUESTION MARK-SHAPED CRACK INTO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE INSPECTED THE CRACK AND THERE IS NO IMPACT MARK AT ALL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CRACK BEGAN BELOW THE BOTTOM SEAL OF THE WINDSHIELD. REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS WERE QUOTED IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. READING OTHER FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST OUR CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM ST. CLOUD SUBARU IN MINNESOTA, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSCREEN. WHEN I PICKED IT UP ON 1/3/20, I VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS INDEED A CHIP THE SIZE OF PENNY IN THE WINDSCREEN.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 25, 2020
BASE MODEL SUBARU FORESTER 2019, DRIVER EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE FOLLOWING A GREEN LIGHT IN AN INTERCEPTION. DRIVER HAD TO USE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER (VEER TO THE LEFT) TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF IT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER ENGAGING THE GAS PADDLE. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE, AND DRIVER HAD TO USE THE BREAK PADDLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION LASTED FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. AFTER BREAKING TO A ZERO SPEED AT A RED LIGHT THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION RETURNED FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING BREAKING. UNINTENDED/SUDDEN ACCELERATION STARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT 7:15AM, OUTSIDE TEMP OF 36F, HVAC ON, WHILE DRIVING A FLAT ROAD. TOTAL TRIP TIME: ABOUT 15 MINUTES. ABOUT SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT, THE SAME DRIVER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION WITH THAT SAME VEHICLE. THE DRIVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND REPORTED TO SUBARU ABOUT THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE TEAM AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED AND THUS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A LOG ENTRY IN SUBARU DATABASE ABOUT THIS SERVICE VISIT.
Electrical system, Feb 25, 2020
INFORTAINMENT TOUCH SCREEN BECOME UNRESPONSIVE TIME TO TIME, CAUSING UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION TO OPERATE RADIO, NAVIGATION.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER EXPERIENCE A TINY CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM DEBRIS THAT WAS INITIALLY HARDILY NOTICEABLE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD CHIP BEGAN TO GROW AND CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
SMALL DIVOT IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXPANDED TO 13 INCH CRACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2020
SAT FEB 22 FORESTER DRIVEN TO GYM AND RETURNED HOME AT 2:20PM. PARKED IN ASSIGNED SPOT #32 IN UNDERGROUND SECURED PARKING. THERE WAS NOT A CRACK, DIVOT OROR ANY OTHER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE FORESTER REMAINED LOCKED AND PARKED UNTIL MON FEB 24, 2020 AT 6:30AM. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE CENTER, BOTTOM. IT IS SHAPED LIKE A "7" AND IS ABOUT 10" LONG FROM END TO END. THERE IS NO OBJECT, MARK, DUST OR DEBRIS TO INDICATE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEE PHOTOS
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2020
WAS MERGING TO HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY HEARD SOMETHING HITTING WINDSHIELD. SAW TINY DOT ON WINDSHIELD AND THE MAKING OF THE LINE ON IT THAT IT CRACKED. VEHICLE HAD UNDER 6000 MILES. BELIEVE THAT WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. NO COMPENSATION FROM SUBARU.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED HALF WAY ACROSS