2019 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,084 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Subaru Forester, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 8,850 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2019 Subaru Forester sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1998–2000, 2002, 2005–2008, 2012–2013, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2019 sits among all Forester years
What owners report
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Forester
“Went over a set of train tracks and the next day my windshield was cracked. Replaced winshield”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Forester
“Car is continually draining battery, causing vehicle to fail twice now due to a completely dead battery, once was while parked, once while idling with car in drive on road.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Forester
“Thermo control valve failure, P26A3 code, eyesight safety assistance warning light ,check engine light, pre collision braking light, lane assist light.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Forester
“The temperature control valve (TCV) has gone bad and so the check engine light is on and reverse automatic braking and the Eyesight system is disabled. The problem with the temperature control valve is unrelated to the safety systems, however, when this valve goes bad, these safety systems are…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Forester
“Power Control Valve malfunctioning at 26,000 miles. Causing all safety features (auto braking & lane departure) to be shut off.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Forester
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 510 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 10,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 3,800 and 17,600 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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,…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?
The 2019 Subaru Forester drew 1,084 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2019 Subaru Forester problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 Subaru Forester are visibility & wipers (409 complaints), other (157), and electrical (137).
At what mileage do 2019 Subaru Forester problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 Subaru Forester problems around 10,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 3,800 and 17,600 miles.
Does the 2019 Subaru Forester have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2019 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.