IllustrationWINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS 6 WEEKS OLD
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
Visibility/wiper complaints
370 reportsDRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A POP SOUND. THEN NOTICED A CHIP FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I'VE HAD WINDSHIELDS GET CRACKS BEFORE FROM A ROCK IMPACT AND LEAVING A CHIP THEN THE CRACK FORMS. THERE WAS NO IMPACT AND THE WINDSHIELD JUST STARTED TO CRACK. IT WAS COLDER OUTSIDE AND WE WERE RUNNING THE HEATER AND THAT'S IT.
TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, I TOOK IT TO GET FIXED 3 TIMES AND IT WOULD CONTINUE TO CRACK. I KNOW HOW MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD CRACKED SELL SIDE TO SIDE.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT CRACKED. I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A NEW SUBARU WINDSHIELD AND 2 WEEKS LATER THE NEW WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT KNOWN CAUSE 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING NEW.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT KNOWN CAUSE. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD ON THE CAR THAT HAS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW, A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD, ONE IS 7 INCHES LONG, OTHERS ARE SMALLER
WHILE DRIVING I HAVE GOTTEN TWO WINDSHIELD DINGS/CRACKS THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED . ANOTHER JUST APPEARED OUT OF NO WHERE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG AS THIS IS THE SAME AMOUNT AS IN ALMOST 50 YEARS OF DRIVING. NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A WINDSHIELD!
THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH A FRONT WINDSHIELD WHICH I BELIEVE HAS SERIOUS ENGINEERING ISSUES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 26 MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 IN WASHINGTON STATE, WITHOUT A NOTICEABLE CAUSE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED,…
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THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH A FRONT WINDSHIELD WHICH I BELIEVE HAS SERIOUS ENGINEERING ISSUES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 26 MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 IN WASHINGTON STATE, WITHOUT A NOTICEABLE CAUSE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, WITH THE NEXT MOST RECENT OCCURRING IN JUNE 2020. ON THAT OCCASION, SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT IT WAS MINUSCULE, CAUSING A NOISE AKIN TO A LIGHT TICK. IT CERTAINLY DID NOT SEEM SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE CRACKING, BUT IT DID. I AM QUITE CONCERNED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF A ROCK LARGE ENOUGH TO CRACK A SAFER WINDSHIELD HITS MY VEHICLE. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED SOMETIME BETWEEN 2/16/21 AND 3/4/21. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED ON 2/13/21 FROM DEALERSHIP. CAME OUT TO GO TO WORK ON 3/4/21 AND FOUND LARGE CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD. I HAD NO INSTANCES OF OBJECTS HITTING WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED INITIAL CRACK. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED N…
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WINDSHIELD CRACKED SOMETIME BETWEEN 2/16/21 AND 3/4/21. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED ON 2/13/21 FROM DEALERSHIP. CAME OUT TO GO TO WORK ON 3/4/21 AND FOUND LARGE CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD. I HAD NO INSTANCES OF OBJECTS HITTING WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED INITIAL CRACK. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED NUMEROUS SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAINING OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS IN MODEL YEARS FROM 2017 - 2019. COST TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND RECALIBRATE EYESIGHT FEATURE EXPECTED TO COST IN EXCESS OF $1,000. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS DUE TO MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CASE #1-66770999440
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.