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.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 4, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AROUND 30MPH THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES HESITATE AND THEN LURCH IF THE GAS PEDAL IS VERY LIGHTLY PRESSED. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AS WELL, AROUND 50MPH BUT NOT TYPICALLY AT FREEWAY SPEED. HAPPENS ON MOUNTAIN ROADS AND CITY STREETS. MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN KEEPING SPEED WITH A CAR AHEAD. WHEN PRESSING HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL IT IS USUALLY NOT NOTICEABLE. WHEN DRIVING IN 'SPORT' MODE OR WITH MANUAL PADDLE SHIFTERS SET AT 4TH GEAR OR LOWER IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. THIS IS A CVT SPORT MODEL. DROVE A LOANER OF THE SAME YEAR AND TRIM, WHICH SHOWED SIMILAR BEHAVIOR, ALTHOUGH LESS COMMON. SUBARU CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR.
Air bags, Sep 4, 2019
WE OWN A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG CONTINUALLY FAILS TO REGISTER OUR DAUGHTER WHEN SHE IS SAT IN THE SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED. SHE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 100 POUNDS, IS 5' TALL AND 13 YEARS OLD. THE AIRBAG DETECTS HER ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. IF WE ADD ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TO HER, SUCH AS MY PURSE IT WILL SOMETIMES DETECT HER BUT NOT ALWAYS. WE HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAY IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED BUT WILL NOT TELL US AT WHAT WEIGHT THE AIRBAG DETECTION SYSTEM SHOULD BE TRIGGERED. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Sep 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ROY ROBINSON SUBARU (6001 33RD AVE NE, MARYSVILLE, WA 98271, (360) 659-6237) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V065000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,210.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 29, 2019
MY 2019 FORESTER PREMIUM, 6 WEEKS OLD AND <200 MILES ON IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. IT WAS COLD OUT THAT NIGHT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR I TURNED IN THE HEATED WINDSHIELD AND REGULAR HEAT IN THE CAR. MOMENTS LATER AND WHILE STILL PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD HEATING ELEMENT HALFWAY UP TO THE TOP. BROUGHT IT TO THE AUTO GLASS PLACE NEARBY, WHERE IT WAS NOTED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT NO IMPACT POINT WAS PRESENT. HE DOCUMENTED THIS ON MY WORK ORDER / RECEIPT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS ON BACKORDER FOR 3 WEEKS BUT WAS FINALLY INSTALLED.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 28, 2019
SOMETHING HIT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED OVER HALF WAY TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT ON NB I65 NORTH OF MOBILE, ALABAMA. THE WINDSHIELD HAD SEVER PITS IN IT NOT SURE WHAT THOSE WERE CAUSED BY. SUBARU MAKES MONEY AS THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED AFTER A NEW WINDSHIELD IS INSTALLED. ONE CRACK HAD BEEN REPAIRED ON 2/4819 MILEAGE WAS 6330
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).
Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD DEFECT. IT JUST CRACKED BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE FORCE. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT MOTION. IT WAS AFTER BEING PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 26, 2019
A SPONTANEOUS 20-25IN WINDSHIELD CRACK HAS APPEARED OVERNIGHT WHILE MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WAS PARKED IN A COVERED PARKING SPOT AT MY HOME ON 8/25/2019. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY AS THERE WAS NO CRACK ON SATURDAY AND THE CAR WAS JUST SITTING THERE OVERNIGHT. SEEMS LIKE THE CRACK STARTED BELOW THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WIPER (WHERE THE WIPER HEATING ELEMENT IS LOCATED) AND DEVELOPED A C-SHAPE CRACK UP AND TO THE LEFT TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S VIEW SIDE. NO SIGNS OF CHIPS OR DENTS ON THE WINDSHIELD, IT HAS CRACKED FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON. PLEASE SEE PICTURES ATTACHED. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUTBACK AND FORESTER IN THE PAST. IT WOULD BE NICE IF SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIXED THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! BEST REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2019
WINSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE ON A 2019 SUBARU FORRESTER. EITHER THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, OR THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, BECAUSE I'M SURE THIS WILL BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 18, 2019
08/16/19 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH, I HEARD A VERY FAINT "TINK" AND SAW A 1 INCH CRACK ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE OUTER EDGE. I DID NOT SEE A ROCK AND IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT A LOUD SOUND LIKE A NORMAL ROCK CHIP WOULD CREATE. MY INSURANCE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AT 8:00 AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING 08/17/19 WITH SAFELITE TO REPAIR IT. AFTER BEING AT SAFELIGHT FOR ONLY 5 MINUTES THE TECH COMES OUT TO TELL ME THE WINDSHIELD SPLIT AND NOW I HAVE A 19 INCH CRACK ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD AND IT MUST BE REPLACED AND THE CAMERAS RECALIBRATED THROUGH SUBARU. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE MY 1 MONTH OLD SUBARU FORESTER SPORT WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD UNTIL MY SUBARU DEALER CAN GET ME A NEW WINDSHIELD AND REPAIR DATE. I'VE OWNED HONDA, TOYOTA , SCION, CHEVY, GMC, ACURA, LEXUS AND FORD AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK OR SPLIT. THIS SEEMS TO BE WAY TOO COMMON WITH THESE SUBARU WINDSHIELDS.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 14, 2019
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES/LURCHES FORWARD EVERY TIME WHEN COASTING OR SLOWLY BRAKING FROM AROUND 30MPH TO A STOP. THERE IS A NORMAL PREDICTABLE REDUCTION IN SPEED UNTIL THE CAR REACHES 15 TO 16 MPH, AT WHICH POINT IT ACCELERATES/LURCHES FORWARD. IT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUDDENLY SHIFTING AND CREATING MORE POWER. THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCELERATION WHILE FLUCTUATES WILDLY. IN ONE INSTANCE WHILE SLOWING APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT THE CAR SEVERELY ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO COMPENSATE AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US WAITING AT THE STOP LIGHT. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN FRONT OF WHERE WE WOULD HAVE STOPPED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES ON IT WHEN THE MOST SEVERE OF THESE INSTANCES OCCURRED. ON ANOTHER NOTE THE CAR HAS TROUBLE COASTING. IT DECELERATES ABNORMALLY FAST WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2019
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER GRAVEYARD WORK SHIFT, WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN HE HEARD A CRACK. HE NOTICED A CRACK COMING FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, CLOSER TO THE DRIVER SIDE. HE DID HAVE THE DEFROSTER ON. THE NEXT DAY THE CRACK HAD SPREAD AND 2 MORE CRACKS APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND NOTIFIED THEM AND THEY SAID WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT SINCE WE DIDN'T PURCHASE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY, AND IT IS NOT A FACTORY DEFECT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF. IT IS A NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 10, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND DID NOT HEAR A ROCK OR ANY OBJECT HIT WINDSHIELD. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I NOTICED A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD BEGINNING AT DEICER OF WINDSHIELD UP TO 25% UPWARDS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDOW APPEARS TO BE BRITTLE AND SUBARU PREVIOUSLY HAD SAME ISSUE WITH 2016 OUTBACKS. SUBARU DENIED THIS WAS WITHIN WARRANTY. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW 3-4 WEEKS AGO.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 6, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO HER ARM WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER IN ANNAPOLIS, BUT CURRENTLY HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CONTACT ANNAPOLIS SUBARU INC LOCATED AT 149 OLD SOLOMONS ISLAND RD, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (443) 837-1400, BY PHONE BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
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."
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 22, 2019
VEHICLE QUICKLY DEVELOPED A "SURGE, SPUTTERING, JERK" TYPE ACTION WHEN COASTING OR MAINTAINING SPEEDS ABOVE 35MPH. ALSO WHEN BRAKING, THERE IS GOOD AND PREDICTABLE SPEED REDUCTION UNTIL ABOUT 10MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO UNLOCK AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD SINCE THERE IS SUDDENLY NOT ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED FOR SOME REASON. DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT HAS NO KNOWN FIX. BRAND NEW CAR 1 MONTH OLD AND IT RUNS LIKE A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD, UNTIL YOU GET TO MAINTAINING CRUISING SPEEDS. VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE THIS ONE ISSUE WITH SOMETHING THAT IS OTHERWISE A FANTASTIC CAR.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 13, 2019
IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS I HAVE HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS SPONTANEOUSLY FRACTURE ONE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE OTHER WHEN GARAGED.