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2019 Subaru Forester Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 834 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Forester, most often about the visibility and wipers (49% of complaints, typically around 8,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Forester model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2019 Subaru Forester problems
Visibility and wipers
406 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 8,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield.
Front windshield has numerous rock chips, quality of the glass is not up to par and I'm afraid that cracks will start to form soon. Please investigate as Subaru needs to be aware that the current glass needs to be replaced with a durable glass and be able to resist everyday hits from small debris on the freeway.
Just yesterday my Subaru experienced an inexplicable sudden windshield fracture. The car was parked in my driveway warming up and I turned on the front defroster and suddenly, from the bottom center of the windshield, a giant crack appeared out of nowhere. My Forester currently has 7600 miles on it and a rock/stone…
Other or unspecified
144 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 6,500 miles.
I was backing out of parking space, approximately 5 MPH. Rear view mirror fell off windshield. Windshield at place of mirror attachment had broken so a large chunk of the windshield was still attached to the mirror. Was not a full thickness break but created a divot in the windshield approximately 2 inches in…
As I was driving in the right hand lane on the interstate, my back side door window spontaneously shattered. I had been driving for one hour, temperature was around 80 degrees.
Electrical
134 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 8,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, propulsion system.
Twice last winter I needed to jump start the vehicle because the battery had been drained. This occurred after the vehicle was unused for a period of time. We later realized that the controller area network (can) was operating even when the vehicle was turned off. We learned this when we heard a whirring noise coming…
The car battery goes stone cold dead if the car sits for more than a week without driving. Last guy who jumped the car had a hard time getting it to charge. The car was sitting for 2 months while I was away.
Engine
111 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles.
Whistling or whining noise coming from A/C system after having A/C or heat running. This condition is from the expansion valve according to Subaru of america. Dealer states a new expansion valve for the A/C system is coming but not yet available.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started hesitating while depressing the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact activated the hazard lights and coasted the vehicle off to the shoulder. Due to the failure, the vehicle…
Driver assistance
52 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, adaptive cruise control, warning.
The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that all the automatic safety features failed on the vehicle. While driving between 50-55 MPH and changing lanes, the lane departure warning failed. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the forward collision avoidance system erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of roadway. The contact indicated that during the failure, there was no objects or vehicles nearby to…
Transmission
38 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while at a complete stop at the car wash waiting for his turn, the vehicle accelerated suddenly and unintendedly, and crashed into a concrete brick wall. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained a whiplash, laceration on the left arm, muscle injuries in…
The contact's wife owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that as his wife attempted to park her vehicle into a parking spot, the vehicle independently accelerated while her foot was on the brake pedal without warning. The contact's wife steered the vehicle to avoid hitting other vehicles as the acceleration…
Speed control
27 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
I was parking at a busy ski center, car in drive as I was slowly pulling into an open space, car in first row of vehicles facing a small road. The road connects the parking lot with the ski shop . 5 MPH would be normal speed on this road, where pedestrian skiers walk from the lot to the ski shop. Before I could stop…
Base model Subaru Forester 2019, driver experienced unintended acceleration when starting to drive following a green light in an interception. Driver had to use an evasive maneuver (veer to the left) to avoid hitting a vehicle in the front of it. The vehicle continued to accelerate without driver engaging the gas…
Brakes
26 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 22,500 miles.
The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal needed to be depressed to the floorboard to stop the vehicle. Additionally, the steering wheel would jerk out of the contact's hand while at a stoplight. The dealer was made aware of the failure but…
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while stopping, the contact went to park in a parking lot and the vehicle had launched forward while the foot was still on the brake pedal which caused the contact to crash into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was going 1 MPH. No warning…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2019 Subaru Forester recalls
Suspension: rear
Risk: Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: crankcase (pcv)
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2019 Subaru Forester
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Forester?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (406 complaints, typically around 8,500 miles); other or unspecified (144 complaints, typically around 6,500 miles); electrical (134 complaints, typically around 8,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Forester have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 15, 2021 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2019 a bad year for the Subaru Forester?
- It is the most complained-about Forester model year since 2000, with 834 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.