IllustrationWINDSHIELD 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.
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 reportsMY 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 ONLIN…
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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.
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.
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 UN…
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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."
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.
CRACK OCCURRED ON PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WITH IN OVERNIGHT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY ROCK HITTING SOUND.
HOMELINK, THE IN CAR OPERATION FOR GARAGE DOOR OPENERS CHANGED CREATING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A HAZARD. THE CURRENT VERSION ONLY OPERATES WITH THE IGNITION ON WHILE PREVIOUS MODELS DID NOT HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEIR REPLY WAS "WORKING AS INTENDED". MY POINT IS THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOW START THEIR C…
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HOMELINK, THE IN CAR OPERATION FOR GARAGE DOOR OPENERS CHANGED CREATING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A HAZARD. THE CURRENT VERSION ONLY OPERATES WITH THE IGNITION ON WHILE PREVIOUS MODELS DID NOT HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEIR REPLY WAS "WORKING AS INTENDED". MY POINT IS THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOW START THEIR CAR IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE (CLOSED GARAGE) BECAUSE THE HOMELINK WON'T OPEN THE DOOR UNTIL IGNITION IS ON? I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN TURN IGNITION ON WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND OR TAKE THE EXTRA STEP TO DO THAT?
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOWHERE NEAR ANOTHER CAR, WHEN MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. IT'S A HORIZONTAL CRACK ACROSS ALMOST HALF OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 19 INCHES LONG AND 14 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM. I WAS OUT IN THE OPEN, NO TREES, NO OVERPASS, NO OTHER CARS NEARBY.
WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A VERY SMALL PEBBLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SKITTLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND NEEDS A FULL REPLACEMENT.
WINDSHIELD IS WEAK AND CRACKS VERY EASILY. HAVE HAD IT REPLACED AND FIVE DAYS LATER IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN DUE TO CRACK. BOTH TIMES FROM A SMALL ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD ON THE HIGHWAY.
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.