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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND FELT SOME ROUGH SPOTS THAT WERE CRACKS ON THE GLASS. THE CONTACT CALLED KEARNY MESA SUBARU (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A WINDOW REPAIR COMPANY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,731. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,731 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DEFECTED WINDSHIELD, WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ATTACHED PHOTOS ARE THE SAME TODAY AS THE DAY IT HAPPEN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,800 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE HOMELINK GARAGE DOOR OPENER DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A WOMAN, DRIVING INTO HER GARAGE, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE WHERE THE WALL BUTTON IS LOCATED. THE DRIVER, KNOWING THAT THE OPENER IS INOPERATIVE WITHOUT THE IGNITION ON, CAN HIT THE HOMELINK BUTTON WHILE THE CAR IS STILL ON. HOWEVER, WHAT IF THE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED BEFORE SHUTTING THE CAR OFF BY SOME OTHER FACTOR, LIKE THE PHONE RINGING OR A FIRE TRUCK GOING BY? THE DRIVER NEGLECTS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GOES INTO THE HOUSE, WITH POSSIBLE DISASTROUS RESULTS. WITH EVERY OTHER CAR (AND OTHER SUBARU MODELS AS WELL) THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALWAYS POWERED, AND YOU PULL INTO THE GARAGE, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THEN CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FORESTER HAS IT ASS-BACKWARDS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING A SMALL STONE FLEW UP HIT THE WINDSHIELD & IT CRACKED NOT A CHIP A CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,356 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | OVER 8,200 MILES OF DRIVING MY 2019 FORESTER, MY WINDSHIELD HAS EXPERIENCED THREE STONE CHIPS, ONE REQUIRING THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF MY WINDSHIELD. ONE CHIP (AND ONE DAY LATER, A CRACKED WINDSHIELD) WAS WHILE SITTING STATIONARY ON A HIGHWAY; A SECOND WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A LOCAL CITY ROAD; AND THE THIRD WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. COMPARE THIS TO ONE STONE CHIP WHILE IN MOTION, ON MY 2009 FORESTER, COVERING OVER 80,000 MILES AND TEN YEARS OF DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,200 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CHIPPED WHEN DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT (35MPH). | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,600 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | AUTOMATIC REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN (WITH EITHER KEY FOB OR INSIDE AUTO RELEASE). BEEPS THREE TIMES AND STILL WILL NOT RELEASE. (THIS STARTED ON 12/15/19). ALSO, LOCKS APPEAR TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT (I.E. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY WON'T). AT TIMES, TOUCHING THE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN/LOCK THE DOORS AND UNLOCK MUST BE PRESSED ON FOB INSTEAD. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR PAST 5-6 MONTHS. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY FOR ALL ISSUES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS I HAVE HAD 2 CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD FROM SMALL UNKNOWN OBJECTS STRIKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND UNDER 45 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE ON THE OFF RAMP OF AN INTERSTATE CAUSING A SMALL CHIP. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE ON A STATE ROUTE AND IN THE PASSING LANE. SMALL UNKNOWN OBJECT STRUCK WINDSHIELD CAUSING QUARTER INCH CHIP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,330 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING TO OUR PARKED VEHICLE AND AND THERE WAS AN APPROXIMATE 18 INCH CRACK APPEARING ON THE LOWER DRIVERS SIDE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO CRACK OR ANY SIGN OF DAMAGE WAS VISIBLE BEFORE THAT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A SMALL ROCK WHILE DRIVING. FROM A CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD THE CRACK IS NOW ABOUT 1/3 -1/2 OF THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD, AS IT CONTINUES TO EXPAND. CRACK GREW ABOUT 2IN WHILE SITTING INSIDE MY GARGE OVERNIGHT. CRACK CONTINUES TO EXPAND WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,500 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I PURCHASED MY 2019 FORESTER NEW. AFTER 3,500 MILES THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED THE CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND QUICKLY SPREADING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ACTUALLY HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD IT REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SUBARU MANUFACTURED WINDSHIELD JUST AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. LAST WEEK, A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO I95. THE CRACK SPREAD QUICKLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND I NOW NEED TO REPLACE A SECOND WINDSHIELD, WHICH IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD. WHILE INSURANCE HAS PAID FOR MOST OF THE REPLACEMENT, MY DEDUCTIBLE WAS $500 FOR EACH WINDSHIELD. ANY SAVINGS REALIZED FOR PURCHASING A FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLE HAS BEEN ERASED WITH THESE UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | STOPPED TO GET GAS AND WHILE WASHING WINDOW NOTICED A 12 INCH CRACK ON WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM REARVIEW MIRROR DOWN. UNSURE WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS CRACK AS WE HAVE ONLY OWNED OUR 2019 FORESTER FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,500 |
| Dec 2019 | SEATS | FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SHAKES ON UNEVEN SURFACES, WHEREBY APPEARING UNSTABLE AND INAPPROPRIATELY SECURED TO FOUNDATION OF VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | IN UNDER 8 WEEKS MY WINDSHIELD HAS HAD 3 CHIPS AND FINALLY IT HAS CRACKED TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. AFTER THE 2ND CHIP I REALIZED THIS WAS NOT BAD LUCK BUT FAULTY PRODUCT. I CONTACTED MY DEALER & THE SUBARU FACTORY WITH NO HELP. THE FIRST 3 CHIPS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE 4TH JUST WARMING UP THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND PEBBLES HIT YOUR WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING BUT THE 4TH TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR WAS STATIONARY | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,500 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A SMALL PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD ON THE FREEWAY ON THE BOTTOM DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, THIS NOT ONLY CAUSE A CHIP, BUT ALSO A CRACK OVER 12 INCHES LONG. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD WITH SUCH A LARGE CRACK FROM SUCH A SMALL CHIP. I SUSPECT THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 2019 FORESTER PURCHASED 4/19, WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY ON 12/13/19 | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,500 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | JUST AS OTHERS SAID, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET WITHOUT ANY BIG RIG / TRUCK IN SIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WINDSHIELD GOT A SPOT CRACK, ABOUT PENNY SIZE. CAR IS 2019 SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,600 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING. SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND LEFT A SMALL CRACK THAT SPREAD QUICKLY. REPLACED WINDSHIELD AT SAFELITE. NOW EYESIGHT SYSTEM TURNS OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | 1. WHEN START THE VEHICLE COLD OR WARM, THE ENGINE IS LOUD AND HIGH RPM FOR 60 SECONDS. VEHICLE SHAKES 2. AFTER 60 SECONDS, THE RATTLE/KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE KICKS IN AND STAYS ON. THE NOISE OCCURS 90% OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES STARTING THE VEHICLE. 3. HUGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE WHEN STARTUP THE ENGINE. SMOKE GRADUALLY REDUCE 4. REAR TAIL GATE DOES NOT OPEN WHEN USING BUTTON ON REMOTE, BUTTON ON THE VEHICLE AND BUTTON RIGHT ON THE TAILGATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WEATHER DISPLAY WON'T SHOW CITY WHERE I LIVE ( PHILADELPHIA) BUT WILL ONLY SHOW PRINCETON / TRENTON NJ. NO MATTER WHERE I DRIVE( DELAWARE) FOR EXAMPLE IT STILL SHOWS PRINCETON/TRENTON WEATHER. TOOK BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY WIPED OUT ALL SETTINGS ECT. MORE THEN ONCE. SAID IT WAS A SIRIUS XM PROBLEM. THEY | Crash: No Fire: No | 25 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | RETURNED TO VEHICLE FROM GROCERY STORE,PARKED FAR AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES. TEMP WAS 60 + DEGREES OUTSIDE. RETURNED TO CAR 1 + HRS. LATER TEMP DROPPED TO 30 + DEGREES TO 35. WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED FROM LEFT PLIER MID HEIGHT TO CENTER OF WINDSHIELD REAR VIEW MIRROR HEIGHT. NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR THE CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Dec 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,LANE DEPARTURE | 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. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. | Crash: Yes Fire: Yes Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 14,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE I GOT THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHERS WITH MY FORESTER: DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, GOT SMALL ROCK HIT RIGHT CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAPPENED THEN, NO CRACK, JUS TINY SPOT FROM THE ROCK. PARKED CAR OVERNIGHT INTO THE GARAGE AND DISCOVERED HUGE CRACK IN THE MORNING, ALL WAY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE GLASS. I HAD MANY OTHER ROCKS, BIG AND NOT HIT ME BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. FOR 20 YEARS OF DRIVING MY WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ONCE, JUST BECAUSE OF CHIP LOCATION (UNREPAIRED ZONE). THIS IS RIDICULOUS! SUBARU, TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,000 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A CRACK. NO STONE OR OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD. DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. CAME OUT AN HOUR LATER AND THERE WAS A 15" CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,200 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I PARKED MY 2019 SUBARU TOURING TRIM CAR IN MY COUSIN'S DRIVEWAY ON FRIDAY, NOV 29, 2019. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. I VISITED WITH HIM OVER LUNCH. I CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AT ABOUT 3:00PM AND ON SITTING IN MY DRIVER'S SEAT AND LOOKING OUT I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING FROM THE GLASS EDGE UNDER THE TRIM, GOING UP ABOUT 7 INCHES AND THEN TURNING AND GOING OVER ABOUT 7 MORE INCHES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND. THEY INSPECTED THE DAMAGE AND SAID THEY HAD DETERMINED IT WASN'T SOMETHING COVERED BY WARRANTY. WINDSHIELDS, PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND PROPERLY INSTALLED, DON'T JUST CRACK! INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IS PART OF THE CRASH PROTECTION FOR THE VEHICLE SO THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DISGUSTED, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *PM | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |