2019 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 1,089 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Forester. Wipers, windshield & visibility is the most reported problem area, at 38% of complaints. After that come electrical system (12%) and engine (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,089 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 38% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 67 and 26
- Injuries and deaths
- 31 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 9,000 miles 555 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 440 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 83 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 10 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 555 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 9,000 miles. For wipers, windshield & visibility specifically, the median reported mileage is about 8,000 miles (300 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 67 complaints mention a crash; 26 complaints mention a fire; 31 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2019 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Subaru Forester with enough data (1,026 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
There was a front-end collision into a stone wall. It appears the driver seatbelt failed and ripped upon impact. The driver died as a result of injuries sustained. There was a front passenger in the vehicle as well who was belted. The seatbelt for the front passenger worked correctly. That passenger had serious injuries but survived the collision. This fatal collision was investigated by Hillsborough, NJ Police, case # [XXX].
Tl* 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 fractured sternum that required medical attention. The contact was able to exit the vehicle before it caught fire and burned to the ground. The fire department extinguished the fire.
Got my new forester 8/1/19. On 9/20/19, the windshield cracked while on the highway. We did not hear anything hit it. The crack grew to about 2 feet, and the windshield had to be replaced on 9/25/19. About 10/25/19, I got 2 dings from rocks that had to be repaired. I drove a toyota for 12 years and had one ding. I don't think the subaru windshields are strong enough, and I think they present a hazard.
Windshield cracked from normal road debris. This is the second crack in as many months (not due to negative driving habits). The windshield is unable to protect the vehicle from road debris as it cracks from minimal debris impact and becomes unstable.