← New search

2019 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

468 reports with mileage · 365 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 370 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports11 fire reports16 injury reports

Engine complaints

106 reports
Clear category filter
500 miles · Dec 10, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

1. WHEN START THE VEHICLE COLD OR WARM, THE ENGINE IS LOUD AND HIGH RPM FOR 60 SECONDS. VEHICLE SHAKES 2. AFTER 60 SECONDS, THE RATTLE/KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE KICKS IN AND STAYS ON. THE NOISE OCCURS 90% OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES STARTING THE VEHICLE. 3. HUGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE WHEN STARTUP THE ENGINE. SM…

Read full complaint

1. WHEN START THE VEHICLE COLD OR WARM, THE ENGINE IS LOUD AND HIGH RPM FOR 60 SECONDS. VEHICLE SHAKES 2. AFTER 60 SECONDS, THE RATTLE/KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE KICKS IN AND STAYS ON. THE NOISE OCCURS 90% OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES STARTING THE VEHICLE. 3. HUGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE WHEN STARTUP THE ENGINE. SMOKE GRADUALLY REDUCE 4. REAR TAIL GATE DOES NOT OPEN WHEN USING BUTTON ON REMOTE, BUTTON ON THE VEHICLE AND BUTTON RIGHT ON THE TAILGATE.

NHTSA ODI #11288085

10,000 miles · Dec 4, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, TAPPED BRAKES AND ANTI LOCKS ACTIVATED, IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH EVERY WARNING LIGHT POSSIBLE ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM START OF INCIDENT, INTO A PARKING LOT, DIRECTLY OFF THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE CA…

Read full complaint

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, TAPPED BRAKES AND ANTI LOCKS ACTIVATED, IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH EVERY WARNING LIGHT POSSIBLE ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM START OF INCIDENT, INTO A PARKING LOT, DIRECTLY OFF THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN. TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR- IT WOULD CATCH AND THEN SHUT OFF. ENDED UP GETTING IT TOWED TO MY HOME DEALER. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. IT APPEARED TO BE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE COMPUTER WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE CARS SYSTEMS TO SHUT DOWN. PICTURES SHOW DASH LIT UP AND SCREEN SHOT OF 'MY SUBARU' APP WHICH INDICATED ONLY SOME OF THE WARNING LIGHTS, ALTHOUGH ALL LIGHTS WERE LIT.

NHTSA ODI #11287008

996 miles · Oct 24, 2019
Engine

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 HA…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #11270696

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemCrashFire

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 I…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11269863

6,500 miles · Sep 4, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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 HARD…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11253275

3,800 miles · Jul 31, 2019
Air BagsEngineUnknown Or OtherCrashFire

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.

NHTSA ODI #11240861

Official recalls

3

21V263000 · Suspension:rear

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

19V856000 · 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

19V065000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Feb 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Subaru Forester problems