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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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11,600 miles · Sep 30, 2019
Visibility/wiper

VERY WEAK WINDSHIELD A VERY SMALL ROCK CAUSED A CRACK ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IT DIDN'T EVEN HIT IT DIRECTLY OR HARD.

NHTSA ODI #11265238

500 miles · Sep 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON A BAY BRIDGE 1 MONTH AFTER WE GOT OUR NEW SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT AND NO SIGNS OF ANY OBJECTS HITTING THE GLASS. IT WAS REALLY SUSPICIOUS AND WE DECIDED TO SEARCH FOR ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FOUND A LOT HERE, SO IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE SOME MANUFACTURER ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11258759

247 miles · Sep 16, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 40MPH ON A HOT DAY MID-SEPTEMBER WITH THE A/C GOING. THERE WAS A SUDDEN "POP" AND I NOTICED A CURVED CRACK HAD INSTANTLY APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WERE NO CARS NEAR ME. LOOKING AT THE WINDSHIELD, I DIDN'T SEE AN OBVIOUS IMPAC…

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THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 40MPH ON A HOT DAY MID-SEPTEMBER WITH THE A/C GOING. THERE WAS A SUDDEN "POP" AND I NOTICED A CURVED CRACK HAD INSTANTLY APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WERE NO CARS NEAR ME. LOOKING AT THE WINDSHIELD, I DIDN'T SEE AN OBVIOUS IMPACT BUT I COULD SEE NEAR THE DEFROSTER TRACES THE CRACK APPEARED TO FORM THERE. I'M CONCERNED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FROM THERMAL STRESS AND THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED THAT EASILY. THE CRACK APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE AND SOME OF THE GLASS SORT OF FLAKED WHEN I PROBED IT WITH MY FINGER.

NHTSA ODI #11255733

247 miles · Sep 16, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET ON HOT DAY WITH THE A/C ON WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD "POP". A DIAGONAL CRACK INSTANTLY APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE WINDSHIELD. NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 40MPH. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN WITH A WINDSHIELD SHADE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I'D …

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I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET ON HOT DAY WITH THE A/C ON WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD "POP". A DIAGONAL CRACK INSTANTLY APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE WINDSHIELD. NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 40MPH. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN WITH A WINDSHIELD SHADE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I'D BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WHEN I INSPECTED THE CRACK, IT APPEARED NEAR THE DEFROSTER AND APPEARED TO FLAKE A BIT WHEN I PROBED IT WITH MY FINGER. IT APPEARS TO BE A CRACK STARTING FROM THE INSIDE TO OUT. THIS COULD BE THERMAL STRESS AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CAR HAS UNDER 250 MILES ON IT AND NO WINDSHIELD SHOULD CRACK THAT EASILY.

NHTSA ODI #11255732

3,500 miles · Sep 11, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHEN I PARKED MY CAR AT MY WORKPLACE THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND WHEN I RETURNED AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK, OVER A FOOT LONG COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON INSPECTION, THERE IS AN EXTREMELY TINY POINT OF IMPACT FROM A TINY PEBBLE. THE WINDSHIELD IS SO FRAGILE. I SUSPECT THEY USE TH…

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WHEN I PARKED MY CAR AT MY WORKPLACE THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND WHEN I RETURNED AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK, OVER A FOOT LONG COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON INSPECTION, THERE IS AN EXTREMELY TINY POINT OF IMPACT FROM A TINY PEBBLE. THE WINDSHIELD IS SO FRAGILE. I SUSPECT THEY USE THINNER GLASS TO ALLOW EYESIGHT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I'VE HEARD OF PEOPLE NEEDING TO REPLACE WINDSHIELDS WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. IT'S CONCERNING WHEN SUBARU MARKETS THESE VEHICLES TO BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT EVEN STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND A TINY PEBBLE. I DRIVE THE SPEED LIMITS, NEVER TAILGATE, AND I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. I'M TRULY DISAPPOINTED THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD AND HAVE EYESIGHT RECALIBRATED, WHICH WILL BE VERY COSTLY, WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

NHTSA ODI #11254646

20,000 miles · Sep 10, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I PURCHASED A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, SPORT IN NOVEMBER 2018. IN MARCH/APRIL MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A SMALL ROCK THAT HIT IT ON A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD. I HAD TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY REPLACED. NOW FIVE MONTHS LATER, A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE TOWNSHIP ROAD, AND IT CRACKED AGAIN. I HAVE TO HAVE IT…

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I PURCHASED A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, SPORT IN NOVEMBER 2018. IN MARCH/APRIL MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY A SMALL ROCK THAT HIT IT ON A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD. I HAD TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY REPLACED. NOW FIVE MONTHS LATER, A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE TOWNSHIP ROAD, AND IT CRACKED AGAIN. I HAVE TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY REPLACED AGAIN AND PAY ANOTHER DEDUCTIBLE FEE. I'VE HAD OTHER, NON-SUBARU, VEHICLES AND MY WINDSHIELDS HAVE NEVER CRACKED WITH A ROCK HITTING THEM. THIS IS MY 2ND SUBARU VEHICLE. MY FIRST MODEL, A 2010 FORESTER ALSO HAD TO HAVE IT'S WINDSHIELD REPLACED DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE SIZE OF ROCK THAT HIT MY GLASS SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE THAT IT HAS, NOW MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11254557

2,500 miles · Sep 4, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN COLORADO AND WAS A GOOD DISTANCE FROM THE CARS AHEAD OF ME WHEN A ROCK CHIPPED MY WINDSHIELD. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE CHIP HAD CRACKED ACROSS THE GLASS.

NHTSA ODI #11253280

200 miles · Aug 29, 2019
StructureVisibility/wiper

MY 2019 FORESTER PREMIUM, 6 WEEKS OLD AND <200 MILES ON IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. IT WAS COLD OUT THAT NIGHT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR I TURNED IN THE HEATED WINDSHIELD AND REGULAR HEAT IN THE CAR. MOMENTS LATER AND WHILE STILL PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD HEATING ELEMENT HALFWAY…

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MY 2019 FORESTER PREMIUM, 6 WEEKS OLD AND <200 MILES ON IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. IT WAS COLD OUT THAT NIGHT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR I TURNED IN THE HEATED WINDSHIELD AND REGULAR HEAT IN THE CAR. MOMENTS LATER AND WHILE STILL PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD HEATING ELEMENT HALFWAY UP TO THE TOP. BROUGHT IT TO THE AUTO GLASS PLACE NEARBY, WHERE IT WAS NOTED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT NO IMPACT POINT WAS PRESENT. HE DOCUMENTED THIS ON MY WORK ORDER / RECEIPT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS ON BACKORDER FOR 3 WEEKS BUT WAS FINALLY INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11252216

15,000 miles · Aug 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper

SOMETHING HIT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED OVER HALF WAY TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT ON NB I65 NORTH OF MOBILE, ALABAMA. THE WINDSHIELD HAD SEVER PITS IN IT NOT SURE WHAT THOSE WERE CAUSED BY. SUBARU MAKES MONEY AS THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED AFTER A NEW WINDSHIELD IS INSTALLED. ONE…

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SOMETHING HIT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IT CRACKED OVER HALF WAY TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT ON NB I65 NORTH OF MOBILE, ALABAMA. THE WINDSHIELD HAD SEVER PITS IN IT NOT SURE WHAT THOSE WERE CAUSED BY. SUBARU MAKES MONEY AS THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED AFTER A NEW WINDSHIELD IS INSTALLED. ONE CRACK HAD BEEN REPAIRED ON 2/4819 MILEAGE WAS 6330

NHTSA ODI #11252087

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD DEFECT. IT JUST CRACKED BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE FORCE. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT MOTION. IT WAS AFTER BEING PARKED.

NHTSA ODI #11246594

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.

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