Complaint volume
831 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2019 Subaru Forester Complaints
831 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Subaru Forester, grouped by component category.
831 Total complaints
35 Crash reports
11 Fire reports
15 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 35 crash reports, 11 fire reports, 15 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 467 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 13,263 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2019 Subaru Forester?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2019 Subaru Forester
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Subaru Forester complaints?
35 Crash
11 Fire
15 Injury
1 Fatality
37 Towed
11 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Subaru Forester complaint categories?
VISIBILITY/WIPER 346
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 98
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 73
ENGINE 35
VISIBILITY 32
POWER TRAIN 11
STRUCTURE 11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 10
ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER 10
831 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A POP SOUND. THEN NOTICED A CHIP FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I'VE HAD WINDSHIELDS GET CRACKS BEFORE FROM A ROCK IMPACT AND LEAVING A CHIP THEN THE CRACK FORMS. THERE WAS NO IMPACT AND THE WINDSHIELD JUST STARTED TO CRACK. IT WAS COLDER OUTSIDE AND WE WERE RUNNING THE HEATER AND THAT'S IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A SMALL ROCK IMPACTED AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER - PREMIER SUBARU OF FREMONT (5601 CUSHING PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538, (510) 319-5500) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,700. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,700 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, I TOOK IT TO GET FIXED 3 TIMES AND IT WOULD CONTINUE TO CRACK. I KNOW HOW MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD CRACKED SELL SIDE TO SIDE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT KNOWN CAUSE 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING NEW. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,850 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT KNOWN CAUSE. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD ON THE CAR THAT HAS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW, A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,340 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD, ONE IS 7 INCHES LONG, OTHERS ARE SMALLER | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,700 |
| Mar 2021 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | HAVE A 2019 SUBARU FORRESTER. HAD 30,000 MILE SERVICE RECENTLY AT DEALER. SINCE THEN, MULTIPLE ELECTRIC MALFUNCTIONS. FIRST ABS TURNED OFF, THEN AUTO START STOP STARTED MALFUNCTIONING FOR 2 WEEKS, TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME "HOOD SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING, AND BRING IT BACK IN 4 WEEKS WHEN PART ARRIVES." FOUR DAYS LATER, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY! WHOLE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH "EYESIGHT DISABLED" SIGN, ENGINE LIGHT ON. UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AT ALL. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH ENGINE DISABLED, FINALLY WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED HOOD SENSOR AND SAID "EVERYTHING IS FINE." MEANWHILE MULTIPLE ELECTRIC FAILURE ISSUES, PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT ALARM BEEPS EVEN THOUGH SEAT EMPTY, ABS SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. PLEASE BEWARE 2019 FORRESTER HAS CATASTROPHIC ELECTRONIC FAILURE THAT SUBARU IS FAILING TO ADDRESS PROPERLY AS A COMPANY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! IMAGINE CAR SHUTTING OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC REPEATEDLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, HAVE KEPT IT WELL SERVICED WITH OIL CHANGES. SUBARU SEEMS TO THINK THIS IS OK. THEY KEPT SAYING "IT'S JUST AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE," JUST AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY AND ACCIDENTS! HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WILL HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE SUBARU WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND FIXES THIS? | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,100 |
| Mar 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AUTO START WAS DISABLED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND SHUT-OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CIOCCA SUBARU OF ALLENTOWN (4611 HAMILTON BLVD, ALLENTOWN, PA 18103, (844) 210-1314) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HOOD SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 34,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING I HAVE GOTTEN TWO WINDSHIELD DINGS/CRACKS THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED . ANOTHER JUST APPEARED OUT OF NO WHERE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG AS THIS IS THE SAME AMOUNT AS IN ALMOST 50 YEARS OF DRIVING. NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A WINDSHIELD! | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| Mar 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | TL* 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 CAUSE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER ROYAL SUBARU LOCATED 3333 EAST 3RD ST, BLOOMINGTON, IN 47401 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,900. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,900 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH A FRONT WINDSHIELD WHICH I BELIEVE HAS SERIOUS ENGINEERING ISSUES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 26 MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 IN WASHINGTON STATE, WITHOUT A NOTICEABLE CAUSE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, WITH THE NEXT MOST RECENT OCCURRING IN JUNE 2020. ON THAT OCCASION, SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT IT WAS MINUSCULE, CAUSING A NOISE AKIN TO A LIGHT TICK. IT CERTAINLY DID NOT SEEM SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE CRACKING, BUT IT DID. I AM QUITE CONCERNED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF A ROCK LARGE ENOUGH TO CRACK A SAFER WINDSHIELD HITS MY VEHICLE. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,880 |
| Mar 2021 | ENGINE | THE ENGINE HAS OIL LEAKED ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH I REPORTED ON DEALERSHIP SERVICE LAST NOVEMBER 30 2020 AND WAS FIXED AND REPAIRED AT DECEMBER 8, 2020. I SOMETIMES CHECK AND POP UP THE HOOD TO SEE THE LEVELS OF WIPER WASHER, COOLANT, AND OTHER FLUIDS AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH AND NOTICED LAST WEEK MARCH 4 THAT THERE IS AGAIN OIL LEAKED ON THE SAME LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE SERVICE AND THE CAR WAS BROUGHT AGAIN YESTERDAY TO HAVE IT FIX. IT IS ONLY THREE MONTHS OR MAYBE LESS COZ I DID NOT CHECK THE ENGINE LAST 2 WEEKS OF FEBRUARY DUE TO COLD SNOWY WEATHER. MY WORRY IS THAT THE WARRANTY WILL END THIS NOVEMBER OF 2021 AND OIL LEAKED ON ENGINE WILL COME BACK ALL OVER AGAIN AND EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | WINDSHIELD CRACKED SOMETIME BETWEEN 2/16/21 AND 3/4/21. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED ON 2/13/21 FROM DEALERSHIP. CAME OUT TO GO TO WORK ON 3/4/21 AND FOUND LARGE CRACK ACROSS WINDSHIELD. I HAD NO INSTANCES OF OBJECTS HITTING WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED INITIAL CRACK. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED NUMEROUS SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAINING OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS IN MODEL YEARS FROM 2017 - 2019. COST TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND RECALIBRATE EYESIGHT FEATURE EXPECTED TO COST IN EXCESS OF $1,000. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS DUE TO MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CASE #1-66770999440 | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | MY CARS WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED FROM THE BASE UP OVER 12 INCHES. THE CURIOUS THING ABOUT IT IS I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT IN THREE WEEKS DUE TO FOOT SURGERY AND IT HAS BEEN PARKER. THERE ARE NO TREES OR POSSIBILITY OF DEBRIS NEARBY. I DIDN'T HAVE A CRACK BEFORE MY SURGERY, MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN NOR HAS IT BEEN TAMPERED WITH. I HAVE A CAMERA ON IT 24 HOURS A DAY THAT NOTIFIES ME IF ANYONE COMES NEAR. THE CRACK IS DEEP AND LONG AND SUBARU HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE SAFETY OF IT'S WINDSHIELDS BEING DEFECTIVE. SINCE I HAVEN'T DRIVEN ANYWHERE IT IS CONCERNING THAT MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED SO BADLY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I RAN THE REMOTE START ON MY CAR TO DEFROST IT WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING. LESS THAN 10 MINUTES LATER I GOT IN AND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK GROWING UP THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WENT VERTICAL ROUGHLY 9 INCHES THEN CURVED HORIZONTALLY ABOUT FOUR INCHES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,225 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR, IT WAS OFF. THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NO EXPLANATION, NOTHING HAPPENED, NO CARS DROVE BY, THE CAR WASN'T ON. I HAD JUST GOTTEN IN A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TO LEAVE MY JOB AND WAS ON THE PHONE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Feb 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | THERE IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF. WE HAD EYE DROPS STORED IN THE SUBARU CONSOLE IN THE NOOK BY THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. WHILE WE WERE DRIVING, THE WEIGHT OF A PURSE MUST HAVE PUSHED DOWN ON THE DROPS CAUSING IT TO ACT LIKE LEVER AND PULL UP ON THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON. THE BRAKES ACTIVATED WITH THE CAR COMING TO A VERY ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING US (TOO CLOSELY) REAR ENDED US. $15,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO A 2019 SUBARU. SUBARU IS NOT THE ONLY MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE PARKING BREAK BUTTON IN THE CONSOLE WHERE IT IS A CONVENIENT SPOT FOR EYE DROPS, CHAP STICK, OR MAKE-UP. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 17,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AT MY RESIDENCE. UPON GETTING IN THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL STATIONARY. THE CRACK WAS NOT PRESENT THE PREVIOUS DAY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SECURE FROM ANY FALLING OBJECTS. THE CRACK ORIGINATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE CENTER, TRAVELS VERTICALLY UP, TURNS TOWARDS THE DRIVER (LEFT) SIDE, AND TURNS UP. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AN IMPACT. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED FROM A DEFECT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,840 |
| Feb 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN SLOWLY PULLING INTO APARKING SPOT. CAR RAN OVER AND DISLODGED A PARKING CURB. THE CAR ENDED UP RESTING AGAINST A FENCE. A TOW TRUCK HAD TO PULL THE CAR BACKWARDS TO GET THE CAR OVER THE CURB. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY A THIRD PARTY WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1000 | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,247 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED SUMMER 2020 DUE TO A MAJOR CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. HERE WE ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF 2021 AND I HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT WILL REQUIRE A FULL REPLACEMENT | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,400 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDOW CRACKING WAY TO EASY 2 CRACKS NOW WITH ONLY 6K MILES | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,158 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AWAY FROM TRAFFIC, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,900. | Crash: No Fire: No | 35,900 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON 2/9/21 I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE LOWER CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. IT WASN'T HIT BY ANY OBJECT AND THERE'S NO POINT OF IMPACT FROM A ROCK OR OTHER ITEM. IT JUST BEGAN TO CRACK BEHIND THE WIPER. THIS IS THE 5TH WINDSHIELD I HAVE HAD ON THIS VEHICLE. 4 WINDSHIELDS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL PROBABLY NEED REPLACED TOO. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 3 SMALL DEFECTS/ CRACKS IN THIS WINDOW ALONG WITH THIS NEW UNEXPLAINED CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 61,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND DETECTED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,011. | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,011 |