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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.

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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

Visibility/wiper complaints

370 reports
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22,200 miles · Jan 12, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WHEN DEFROSTING MY CAR AFTER A RECENT SNOWSTORM, I NOTICED THAT A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER. IT APPEARS THAT A SMALL ROCK/PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED THE CRACK, BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER HEARING A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NOT DONE ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING IN THE DAYS P…

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WHEN DEFROSTING MY CAR AFTER A RECENT SNOWSTORM, I NOTICED THAT A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER. IT APPEARS THAT A SMALL ROCK/PEBBLE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED THE CRACK, BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER HEARING A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NOT DONE ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO NOTICING THE CRACK EITHER. ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THAT THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL CHIP (IE NOT A BIG CRATER) AT THE IMPACT POINT, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT WHATEVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN SMALL AND DID SO AT RELATIVELY LOW VELOCITY. GIVEN THAT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A COMMON ISSUE WITH NEWER SUBARU VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THAT THIS CRACK IS THE RESULT OF POOR QUALITY WINDSHIELD MATERIALS AND/OR POOR WINDSHIELD DESIGN. THE CAR IS ONLY ~2 YEARS OLD, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD ANY SORT OF CHIP/CRACK TO A WINDSHIELD ON ONE OF MY VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11387637

40,450 miles · Jan 9, 2021
Visibility/wiper

HELLO, WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN ON MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND A HUGE HORIZONTAL CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED BELOW. IT IS A SECOND SUDDEN WINDSHIELD CRACK IN TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP! THIS ISSUE IS BECOM…

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HELLO, WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN ON MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND A HUGE HORIZONTAL CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED BELOW. IT IS A SECOND SUDDEN WINDSHIELD CRACK IN TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP! THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING A REAL FRUSTRATION DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE GLASS AND UNREASONABLY HIGH COST TO REPLACE IT AND RECALIBRATE THE EYE-SIGHT. I AM AWARE THAT THE NEW CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST SUBARU COVERING THE NEW FORESTER SK 2019+ FOR THE SUDDEN WINDSHIELD CRACKS. THAT PROVES THAT I AM NOT ALONE. WHAT ARE THE REASONS WHY THE RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED YET? PREVIOUS WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED BY SUBARU DUE TO A WELL-KNOWN GLASS DEFECT THAT TRACES BACK TO 2015. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BEST REGARDS, ML

NHTSA ODI #11387325

5,000 miles · Jan 3, 2021
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD INEXPLICABLY CRACKED ALONG THE HEATER ELEMENT AND SPREAD UP INTO THE MIDDLE RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHILE IN MOTION ON A FAIRLY EMPTY INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI #11386268

3,000 miles · Jan 3, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON

NHTSA ODI #11386245

3,532 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WITHIN A YEAR OR USE MY WINDSHIELD UNEXPECTEDLY APPEARED CRACKED ONE DAY IN PARKING POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #11386155

500 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WIFE HEARD A POP AND FOUND THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #11386152

12,660 miles · Dec 30, 2020
Forward Collision AvoidanceVisibility/wiper

THE CAR HAS 12600ISH MILES. THERE ARE NO ROCK CHIPS, ETC. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY WHEN WE PARKED LAST NIGHT AND NOW THERE IS A 6 INCH CRACK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER. THERE WERE NO INSTANCES OF ROCKS, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, ETC.THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE A CRACK WHEN WE PARKED IT LAST NIGHT AN…

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THE CAR HAS 12600ISH MILES. THERE ARE NO ROCK CHIPS, ETC. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY WHEN WE PARKED LAST NIGHT AND NOW THERE IS A 6 INCH CRACK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER. THERE WERE NO INSTANCES OF ROCKS, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, ETC.THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE A CRACK WHEN WE PARKED IT LAST NIGHT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN DOES TODAY.

NHTSA ODI #11385678

15,500 miles · Dec 28, 2020
Visibility/wiper

I HAVE HAD MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FOR 18 MONTHS. I HAVE 15,500 MILES AND SUDDENLY MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER TO 13" UP TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE. I DO NOT SEE AN IMPACT ON GLASS. NO APPARENT NOISE OF ROCK OR DEBRIS. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 44 DEGREES AND RAINING. I TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE TO WORK FOR THE LAST TWO MON…

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I HAVE HAD MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FOR 18 MONTHS. I HAVE 15,500 MILES AND SUDDENLY MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER TO 13" UP TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE. I DO NOT SEE AN IMPACT ON GLASS. NO APPARENT NOISE OF ROCK OR DEBRIS. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 44 DEGREES AND RAINING. I TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE TO WORK FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS WITH NO APPARENT SIGNS OF CONSTRUCTION OR LOOSE ROAD MATERIAL. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU DEALER WITH NO CALL BACK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF EMINENT DANGER OF VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO A FRACTURE LIKE THIS. NOT TO MENTION MY OWN LINE OF SIGHT THAT COULD BE IMPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #11385309

Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2020
Visibility/wiper

MY FORESTER HAVE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY REASON. NO STONE HITTING NO CHIPS. JUST BROKEN WHILE IT'S PARKED. IT'S DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11384840

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WHILE CLEANING THE INSIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I DIDN'T APPLY ANY UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, JUST "REGULAR" WIPING PRESSURE. IT HAS SINCE "SPIDERED" OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI #11384741

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