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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
THERE WINDSHIELD WENT FROM FINE, NOT CHIPPED OR CRACKED IN THE EVENING TO HAVING AN 18INCH CRACK IN THE MORNING. NOTHING OCCURRED DURING THIS TIME TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE BACK OF MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THE CRACK CONTINUE TO GROW ANOTHER 6 INCHES BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED 24HRS AFTER THE CRACK APPEARED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
I HAVE ONLY HAD MY FORESTER FOR 3-4 MONTHS WHEN I NOTICED A CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD, I CALLED SAFE LIGHT AND THEY CAME TO REPAIR IT. THEN IT CRACKED ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VERY NEXT WEEK ANOTHER CHIP HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING UNDER 35 MPH. I HAVE TO GET THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND RE CALIBRATED WHICH IS 1,000-2,000 +
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD ARE EASILY CRACK BY DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. AND SAT IN THE SON, IT WILL CRACK. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND A CAR FLICK A ROCK FROM ROAD (CONSTRUCTION AREA) AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND IMMEDIATELY CRACKED. ALSO PRIOR TO THE ROCK CHIP, MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK AND WHEN I CAME OUT TO SIT IN MY CAR ON MY BREAK, I NOTICE THERE IS A LONG LINE ON WINDSHIELD AND THERE'S A LINE CRACK
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. IN ONE INSTANCE IT WAS A MINOR ROCK CHIP (INCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY NEXT TO CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE) THAT TURNED INTO A FULL-BLOWN CRACK WITHIN 5 MINUTES, IN THE OTHER THERE APPEARS TO BE NO CAUSE (VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, CRACK APPEARED IN AM)
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2019
ONE DAY I WAKE UP TO DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK TO FIND A SMALL CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD WITH NO SINGLE REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN
Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHEILD THOUGH THE TOP CENTER , WHERE THE EYESIGHT TECHNOLOGY CENTER IS LOCATED, OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT TO CATALYZE THE CRACKING OF THE GLASS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
SINCE OWNING CAR SINCE DECEMBER 2018, I HAVE NOTICED INTERMITTENTLY THAT THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTONS IN THE BACK. ALSO SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT OPEN WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON ON LEFT SIDE OF DASHBOARD. THERE IS A RELEASE MECHANISM ON THE INSIDE REAR DOOR PANEL BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO REACH BECAUSE I HAVE TO CRAWL INTO THE REAR OF CAR FROM A SIDE DOOR. I ALSO NEED A METAL TOOL TO OPEN PANEL. I THINK SUBARU NEEDS TO ADD A KEYHOLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF HATCH SO I CAN USE MY KEY TO OPEN IT IN EMERGENCIES.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
ON 2/9/19 ABOUT 5PM AFTER CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 20 INCHES LONG ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD JUST COME BACK DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD NOR DID I NOTICE A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. I HAD THE HEATER AND DEFROST ON ALONG WITH THE WIPERS GOING AT THIS TIME B/C IT WAS RAINING OFF AND ON. THE CRACK LINE WAS NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD AND CONTINUED HORIZONTALLY TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. IT WAS ABOUT 20 INCHES LONG. I BELIEVE THE COMBINATION OF THE WINDSHIELD BEING COLD AND THE HEATING DEFROST MECHANISM BEING TURNED CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. MY INSURANCE, GEICO, REIMBURSED ME FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR $50.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING 45 A SMALL ROCK POPPED UP AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CHIP IN IT. I'VE HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF ROCKS POP UP BEFORE AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE THIS SMALL CAUSE A CHIP. IT IS PRETTY MUCH DIRECTLY IN FRONT ON MY EYE SIGHT CAMERAS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED 3 WEEKS AFTER O BOUGHT IT. SUBARU REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND RECALIBRATION.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS A SMALL ROCK (SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL 'CLICK') HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE CRACK WITH ONLY A SMALL CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER LEAVING WORK THAT DAY THE CHIP HAD TURNED INTO A CRACK APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES IN LENGTH. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN LENGTH OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS AND EVEN SPLIT OFF INTO A SECONDARY CRACK.
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
PURCHASED 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON 12/12/18. WITHIN 1 MONTH OF PURCHASE THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING AND NOTHING HAD GOT IT TO DAMAGE IT. BECAUSE OF A 500+ WINDSHIELD BACKORDER IN THE US AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY THERE WAS NO IDEA AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE DUE TO THE CRACKS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY SEE THE RD TO DRIVE I HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SUBARU FOR THEM TO COVER THE COST OF A RENTAL VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME AND WITHIN THAT 1ST MONTH I SAID TO SUBARU MANAGEMENT AT DONALDSON SUBARU I WANT TO TRADE BACK MY VEHICLE FOR A DIFFERENT SUBARU. JUST REPLACED WINDSHIELD AGAIN IN 9/2019
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
WENT OVER A SET OF TRAIN TRACKS AND THE NEXT DAY MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. REPLACED WINSHIELD
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL ON A BYPASS AND A WORK TRUCK KICKED UP A ROCK THAT HIT ME WINDSHIELD, NOTHING HAPPENED THEN, I CHECKED HOURS LATER AND IT TURNED INTO A SMALL CRACK, A FEW DAYS LATER THAT SMALL CRACK TURNED INTO A BIG CRACK THAT GREW THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND IS IN FIELD OF VISION
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED VERY EASILY WITH SMALL ROAD DEBRIS MAKING CONTACT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE EYESIGHT COLLISION AVOIDANCE OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT FUNCTION DUE TO THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD.
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2019, I HEARD A NOISE AND SAW THAT A CRACK APPEARED TO THE LEFT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDOW. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES STRAIGHT ACROSS. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENCY TO REPORT IT. IT TOOK A WEEK FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO COME IN. DURING THAT WEEK THE CRACK SPREAD TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD COMPANY FIXED IT AND 2 WEEKS TO THE DAY, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I KNOW HAVE A SPIDER WEB CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. SO FAR IT HASN'T GONE ANY FURTHER SO I HAVE NOT CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY YET.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 25, 2019
THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST ISSUE, AND POTENTIALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS, IS THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTTING ITSELF OFF - NOT STALLING. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHTS, BUT HAS OCCURRED IN OTHER SITUATIONS AS WELL. ALL FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE STOP, A LOUD, CONTINUOUS BEEP BEGINS AND THE DASH INDICATES AN 'EYE SITE' ERROR. APPARENTLY, WHEN THE EYE SITE FEATURE HAS AN ISSUE, IT RESPONDS BY RENDERING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. SO FAR, RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO PARK AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE RESETS THE FEATURE AND RESTORES FUNCTIONALITY. THE PROBLEM IS, HOWEVER, HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE SECOND ISSUE IS A LOUD, RAPID CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH. IT ALSO OCCURS RANDOMLY AND WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HINDER FUNCTIONALITY, BUT IT CAN BE INCREDIBLY DISTRACTING. FINALLY, AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, THE REAR HATCH ALSO RANDOMLY SHUTS ITSELF OFF AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO PROMPT TO OPEN. SUBARU'S RESPONSE TO THESE ISSUES HAS THUS FAR BEEN THE EQUIVALENT OF A SHOULDER SHRUG.
Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2019
MOON ROOF WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO CLOSE WHEN PRESSING THE "CLOSE" BUTTON. NEED TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RE-START THE VEHICLE AGAIN BEFORE THE BUTTON/MOON ROOF WILL OPERATE AGAIN. IT ALREADY HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE SEPTEMEBER 7, 2019.
Engine, Oct 24, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GREGORIS SUBARU (575 W MERRICK RD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580, (516) 825-8700) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SEPARATED FROM THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO CONTACT THEM IF ANY FURTHER DEFECTS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 996. *LN*JB
Other or unspecified, Oct 23, 2019
REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN USING REMOTE OR BUTTON ON DASHBOARD OR BUTTON ON DOOR. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS PARKED AT GROCERY STORE. TRIED AGAIN AT HOME AND STILL NOT WORKING.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2019
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE. AMBIENT WAS ABOUT 65 DEGREES F. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER WIPER BLADE. I ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED THE WIPER ARM WHICH STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT THE BLADE. THE RESULT WAS AN IMMEDIATE CRACK OVER 12" LONG. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 16,500 MILES. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR LESS THAN 1000 MILES.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2019
WE WERE DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND AND THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED A 12 INCH CRACK COMING UP FROM VERY LOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND WE DID NOT HAVE EITHER THE HEATER OR A/C RUNNING. OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS THE CRACK INCREASED TO ABOUT 24 INCHES. ON CLOSE EXAMINATION I DID SEE AN EXTREMELY SMALL 'STAR' WHERE THE CRACK STARTED. I DO REMEMBER HAVING A PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD OVER A MONTH AGO BUT I COULD NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE AT THE TIME. I SUPPOSE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE TINY CHIP. I HAVE RECEIVED STONE CHIPS WITH OTHER CARS BUT NEVER HAD ONE PROGRESS INTO A MAJOR CRACK LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 21, 2019, crash, fire
MY SON'S NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER TOURING BURNED TO A CRISP (TOTAL) ON SATURDAY, 10/19 IN I-95 NEAR NEW ROCHELLE, NY. VEHICLE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED AND THEY HIT IT, THEN THEY WERE HIT IN THE BACK, TOO. THEIR CAR BURNED BUT THE CAR IN FRONT AND BEHIND DID NOT. THE CAR IN FRONT WAS EVEN ABLE TO MOVE INDICATING NOTHING WRONG WITH ITS GAS TANK.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 18, 2019
THERE HAD BEEN A SQUEAKING / CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE DASH MEETS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS VERY HOT OUTSIDE 85 DEGREES OR MORE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM UP. THE CRACK STARTING WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. I HAVE FULL GLASS COVERAGE SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT. SINCE THEN I'VE HEARD ABOUT A POSSIBLE FAULTY WINDSHIELD IN THE 19 FORESTERS. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN I'LL BE GOING TO SUBARU FOR A REPLACEMENT. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS THE CAR ONLY HAD 5,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 15, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY