IllustrationSUBARU FORESTER 2019 MODEL CRACKED WINDSHIELD BY IT SELF.
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 reportsWINDSHIELD CRACKED TO WHERE IT NEEDED RPARE WHEN JUST ON A DIRT ROAD
26,000 MILES ON MY CAR NO REAL REASON AS TO WHY MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. BUT IT DID, THERE WAS NO WINDSHIELD CHIP. IT JUST DECIDED TO CRACK. REALLY FRUSTRATING WHILE OUT OF TOWN. COSTS $1200.00.
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER I COULD NOT SEE A ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE, EXCEPT A TINY DOT AND A CRACK GOING OUT FROM IT. OVER THE NEW FEW DAYS THE CRACK STARTED GROWING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS INCIDEN…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER I COULD NOT SEE A ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE, EXCEPT A TINY DOT AND A CRACK GOING OUT FROM IT. OVER THE NEW FEW DAYS THE CRACK STARTED GROWING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED IN EMPTY PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE PART WILL COST OVER $1000
BACK HOOD LATCH STUCK AND WON'T OPEN
WHEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY, THE GPS GIVES AN AUDIO COMMAND "EXIT RIGHT AHEAD", BUT IT IS NOT FOR THE NEXT EXIT. IT IS FOR ONE OR EVEN TWO EXITS LATER. THIS IS VERY MISLEADING AND NEARLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE WHEN WE REALIZED THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT, WE VEERED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE…
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WHEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY, THE GPS GIVES AN AUDIO COMMAND "EXIT RIGHT AHEAD", BUT IT IS NOT FOR THE NEXT EXIT. IT IS FOR ONE OR EVEN TWO EXITS LATER. THIS IS VERY MISLEADING AND NEARLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE WHEN WE REALIZED THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT, WE VEERED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SUBURU SHOULD REPROGRAM ALL THE GPS SYSTEMS ON THIS MODEL.
THE WINDSHIELD HAS 3 CHIPS AND A 12 INCH LONG CRACK RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY FOR 3 CRACKS THE LAST CHIPS IS FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE.
2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED BY ITSELF DURING DRIVING IN A HOT DAY. NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW THE TIME IT HAPPENED. REVIEWED DASH CAM AND CONFIRMED NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. CIRCULAR CRACK WHICH CAN BE BARELY FELT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT DEEP ALMOST INTO THE 2ND LAYER OF GLASS.
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2019 AND DO NOT DRIVE VERY FAR TO WORK. I DO VERY LITTLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IN JUNE 2019, WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES, WE WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP WHEN WE HEARD THE WINDSHIELD CRACK. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK SO WE TURNED THE CLAIM INT…
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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2019 AND DO NOT DRIVE VERY FAR TO WORK. I DO VERY LITTLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IN JUNE 2019, WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES, WE WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP WHEN WE HEARD THE WINDSHIELD CRACK. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK SO WE TURNED THE CLAIM INTO OUR INSURANCE. THEN YESTERDAY, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A TINY ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. TODAY THAT TINY PIT HAS CRACKED OVER HALF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE READ THAT SUBARU HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS FOR BOTH FORESTER AND OUTBACKS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE YEARS 2017-2019. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH NEEDING TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE CAUSING THE CRACK. IN ORDER FOR THE EYESIGHT TO WORK PROPERLY YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN APPROVED GLASS COMPANY AND THEN HAVE SUBARU CALIBRATE THE WINDSHIELD. THE COST TO REPLACE IS OVER $1200. SUBARU HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR WINDSHIELD AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE READ REVIEWS THAT OWNERS OF 2020 MODELS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES.
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.