IllustrationMOON 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.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forester years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
4010–25K
4525–50K
1350–75K
475–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
144 reportsREAR 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.
REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RANDOM AND PERIODIC SINCE WE TOOK DELIVERY FROM DEALER AT END OF MAY, 2019. TODAY AFTER SHOPPING I TRIED TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE HATCH. IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE INSIDE BUTTON AND THE HANDLE ON THE HATCH, NEITHER WORKED. I LOADED THE ITEMS IN THE BACK SEAT, STARTED THE CAR THEN ST…
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REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RANDOM AND PERIODIC SINCE WE TOOK DELIVERY FROM DEALER AT END OF MAY, 2019. TODAY AFTER SHOPPING I TRIED TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE HATCH. IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE INSIDE BUTTON AND THE HANDLE ON THE HATCH, NEITHER WORKED. I LOADED THE ITEMS IN THE BACK SEAT, STARTED THE CAR THEN STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE SPACE. AS VEHICLE TRAVELED IN REVERSE THERE WAS A NOISE LIKE A MOTOR AND THE HATCH OPENED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL SO FAR BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT OPENED WHILE IN MOTION
OWNED THIS CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND 4X THE REAR GATE DOES NOT OPEN USING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. REQUIRES USE OF KEY FOB REAR GATE OPEN/CLOSE BUTTON OR FLATTENING BACK SEAT TO DRAG GROCERIES OUT SIDE DOOR. HAPPENS IN PARK WHEN TRYING TO UNLOAD ITEMS FROM REAR.
THE BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE CONTROL, DASHBOARD OPEN BUTTON, OR MANUAL BUTTON ON DOOR ITSELF. THERE ARE WAYS MECHANICS CAN OPEN IT, BUT NOT YOUR AVERAGE CHILD OR ADULT. SOMETIMES THE BACK GATE IS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT TO RESCUE A PASSENGER. THIS GATE FAILS AND COULD CAUSE DEATH IN EMERGENCIES LIKE WHEN TRAPPED IN CAR DU…
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THE BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE CONTROL, DASHBOARD OPEN BUTTON, OR MANUAL BUTTON ON DOOR ITSELF. THERE ARE WAYS MECHANICS CAN OPEN IT, BUT NOT YOUR AVERAGE CHILD OR ADULT. SOMETIMES THE BACK GATE IS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT TO RESCUE A PASSENGER. THIS GATE FAILS AND COULD CAUSE DEATH IN EMERGENCIES LIKE WHEN TRAPPED IN CAR DURING HOT (OR COLD) WEATHER, AND IF IT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT IN ACCIDENTS. THIS FAULT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT IS REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR THIS MODEL.
I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 3500 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH DUE TO CHIPS. THE GLASS SEEMS VERY WEAK AND CRACKS WITH THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH ANY OTHER CARS. IT USUALLY TAKES A BIG ROCK TO CRACK IT.
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).
#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
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.
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…
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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.
Official recalls
321V263000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.