2019 Subaru Forester problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2019 Subaru Forester include 1 fatality report, 37 crashes and 11 fires across 834 filings.

834
Complaints
3
Recalls
37
Crash reports
11
Fire reports
21
Injuries
51.7
Severity index

Severity index 51.7 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 51.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 69 of 125 by severity index among 2019 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 45% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2019 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 370 complaints (44.4%)370 44%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 144 complaints (17.3%)144 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 134 complaints (16.1%)134 16%EngineEngine: 106 complaints (12.7%)106 13%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 43 complaints (5.2%)43 5%Power TrainPower Train: 38 complaints (4.6%)38 5%VisibilityVisibility: 38 complaints (4.6%)38 5%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 27 complaints (3.2%)27 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
VISIBILITY/WIPER37044.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER14417.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13416.1%
ENGINE10612.7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE435.2%
POWER TRAIN384.6%
VISIBILITY384.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL273.2%

Complaints filed per year

01052102018: 12019: 1852020: 2032021: 1362022: 1162023: 962024: 522025: 322026: 13 (partial year)181920203212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20181
2019185
2020203
2021136
2022116
202396
202452
202532
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (180 against 455).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V26300015/04/2021SUSPENSION:REARSubaru 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.
19V85600002/12/2019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)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.
19V06500006/02/2019STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMSubaru 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.

Other Subaru Forester model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.