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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND DAMAGES EASILY. A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD AT A VERY LOW SPEED BUT SOMEHOW HAS DAMAGED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,102 |
| Jul 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, THE WINDSHIELD QUALITY IS SUSPECT. CAR WAS ONLY A MONTH OLD WITH LESS THAN 700 MILES WHEN A LARGE HORIZONTAL CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. NO VISIBLE SIGNS OR EVIDENCE OF IMPACT FROM A FOREIGN SOURCE. HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN PREVIOUS CARS IN OVER 20 YEARS OF DRIVING. WHAT MAKES MATTERS WORSE IS THAT AN EXPENSIVE OEM WINDSHIELD (AND CALIBRATION) IS REQUIRED AS A REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 700 |
| Jun 2019 | STEERING | STEERING FLOATS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. IT IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND TWITCHY REQUIRING CONSTANT DRIVER CORRECTION. DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT PATH IN TRAFFIC LANES DUE TO CONSTANT CORRECTION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Jun 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | HOMELINK, THE IN CAR OPERATION FOR GARAGE DOOR OPENERS CHANGED CREATING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A HAZARD. THE CURRENT VERSION ONLY OPERATES WITH THE IGNITION ON WHILE PREVIOUS MODELS DID NOT HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEIR REPLY WAS "WORKING AS INTENDED". MY POINT IS THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOW START THEIR CAR IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE (CLOSED GARAGE) BECAUSE THE HOMELINK WON'T OPEN THE DOOR UNTIL IGNITION IS ON? I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN TURN IGNITION ON WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND OR TAKE THE EXTRA STEP TO DO THAT? | Crash: No Fire: No | 10 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD QUALITY - 2019 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT WINDSHIELD CHIP VERY EASY. CAR PARKED ON DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS HAILING FOR 2 MINUTES; COUPLE TINY CHIPPED/PITTED WERE FOUND ON WINDSHIELD; NO CRACK. THIS ONLY HAPPEN TO THE SUBARU, BUT NOT THE OTHER VEHICLES I OWNED (VOLVO AND HONDA). SUBARU WINDSHIELD CHIP/PITTED EASILY ON VEHICLE WITH EYE SIGHT EQUIPPED. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS THINNER COMPARE TO OLDER MODEL AND OTHER VEHICLE BRANDS. THIS ISSUE ALSO APPLIED ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AS ANY TINY OBJECT WILL CAUSE CHIPPED ON WINDSHIELD EASILY WHERE THIS DOES NOT APPLIED ON OTHER VEHICLES. REPLACEMENT IS EXPENSIVE AS WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE SUBARU CERTIFIED OTHERWISE EYE SIGHT WILL NOT WORK. FURTHERMORE, EYE SIGHT CALIBRATION IS AN ADDITIONAL COST ON TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT AND IT IS NOT COVER BY DEALERSHIP WINDSHIELD WARRANTY PACKAGE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING ON EMPTY HIGHWAY AT APPX 55MPH, WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT 15 INCHES. NO ROCK OR OTHER FOREIGN OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CAR IS 5 WEEKS OLD WITH 1,070 MILES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,070 |
| Jun 2019 | STEERING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ANGLED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LITHIA RENO SUBARU (LOCATED AT 2270 KIETZKE LN, RENO, NV 89502, (775) 800-5534) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Jun 2019 | STRUCTURE | HAVE TAKEN MY BRAND NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS REGARDING THE REAR HATCH NOT OPENING. THEY STATE TO RESET IT I NEED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND LET IT DISCHARGE, THEN CONNECT THE TERMINALS. THIS IS A HEADACHE AND A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE LOADS OF ITEMS YOU NEED TO LOAD INTO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY SUBARU TO FIX. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS ON A FLAT SURFACE OR IF IT IS AT AN INCLINE. THE REAR HATCH WILL GET STUCK AND CAN'T OPEN IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 700 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | REAR SIDE WINDOW ON THE LEFT (DRIVER'S) SIDE BURST WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. SHATTERED INTO LARGE AND SMALL PIECES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING ON THE LOCAL HIGHWAY IN GREENSBORO SUNDAY JUNE 16TH, WHEN A SMALL PEBBLE FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING A LARGE CRACK RUNNING ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED IN MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT WE HAD ONLY HAD FOR THREE WEEKS AT THE TIME. OUR OTHER FORESTER WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS, ENCOUNTERING SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE AS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH MINIMAL IMPACT FROM A VERY SMALL OBJECT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 450 |
| Jun 2019 | STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | STEERING IS VERY SENSITIVE ON HIGHWAY SPEED -- ABOVE 50MPH. CAR IS RESPONDING TOO MUCH AND UNPREDICTABLE ON ANY SMALL MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 600 MILES ON NEW CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET LESS THAN 45MPH AND A SMALL PEBBLE KICKED UP AND CHIPPED MY WINDSHIELD. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED SO EASILY BECAUSE I'VE HAD CARS FOR YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED A WINDSHIELD CHIP SO EASILY. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF NEW FORESTER WINDSHIELD COMPLAINTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| Jun 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2019 SUBURU FORRESTER ON FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2019. LESS THAN 3 DAYS LATER THE ENTIRE STARLINK COMMAND HEAD UNIT FAILED LEAVING THE BACKUP CAMERA, RADIO, AUDIO, CELL PHONE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. A NEW UNIT MUST BE ORDERED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON 5/12/2019, A 6-INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE CAR SAT IN A DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. IT WAS IN A RURAL AREA WITH NO TREES OVERHEAD. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A CHIP OR DENT PRECIPITATING THE CRACK, NOR DO I (THE DRIVER) RECALL HEARING ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD RECENTLY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CRACK BEGAN AT THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC COVER AND FORMED A LARCH "S" SHAPED CRACK. CRACKS INTERFERE WITH THE EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM AND VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD WITH 1600 MILES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,600 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT THREE WEEKS, TWO DIFFERENT WINDSHIELDS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY VERY SMALL ROCK CHIPS THAT VERY RAPIDLY TURNED INTO LARGE CRACKS. THE FIRST OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY, IN TRAFFIC, AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (APPROX 35MPH). I HEARD A SLIGHT TICK AND NOTICED A VERY SMALL CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BUG). I MADE A NOTE THAT I WOULD NEED TO ARRANGE A REPAIR AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR, I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED I HAD AN 18 INCH CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD, DIRECTLY IN MY LINE OF SIGHT. I MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A REPLACEMENT WHICH WAS DELAYED, I WAS TOLD, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF FORESTERS AWAITING WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, AGAIN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I RECEIVED ANOTHER CHIP, WHICH TURNED INTO A 2 FOOT CRACK WITHIN ABOUT 2 MINUTES. THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE DUE TO SUBARU'S "EYESIGHT" SAFETY SYSTEMS. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED THE COST OF OWNERSHIP ON A VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED SPECIFICALLY FOR ITS PERCEIVED LOW RUNNING COSTS. IN MY 25 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR A FEW ROCK CHIPS BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD. NOW I WILL HAVE REPLACED TWO ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT SUBARU HAS USED EXTREMELY LOW GRADE OR DEFECTIVE GLASS THAT EASILY CRACKS, CREATING A VISIBILITY SAFETY HAZARD AND UNDUE EXPENSE FOR FORESTER OWNERS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,500 |
| Jun 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOWHERE NEAR ANOTHER CAR, WHEN MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. IT'S A HORIZONTAL CRACK ACROSS ALMOST HALF OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ABOUT 19 INCHES LONG AND 14 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM. I WAS OUT IN THE OPEN, NO TREES, NO OVERPASS, NO OTHER CARS NEARBY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,115 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE DURING A DRIVE ON A COUNTY MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD GOING 30MPH. RECEIVED FIRST CHIP AFTER 3 DAYS OF USE ON AN INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH. AFTER LOOKING INTO COST FOR REPAIRS DISCOVERED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RECENT SUBARU VEHICLES INCLUDING A LAW SUIT IN CANADA AGAINST THE OUTBACK MODEL VEHICLES FOR SHATTERING GLASS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD ON A VEHICLE BEFORE AND NOW MUST DO SO WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, IF THE WINDSHIELDS ARE THIS THIN IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH FORCE TO HAVE OBJECTS COME FLYING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Jun 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A CRACK HAS DEVELOPED IN WINDSHIELD. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEGUN BELOW THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. AND IS TRAVELING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, IN THE SIGHT LINE OF THE DRIVER.. THE CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 36" LONG AND GROWING. YES, I KNOW WINDSHIELDS CAN READILY CRACK IF HIT BY AN OBJECT. BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A DIFFERENT ISSUE BECAUSE: 1) THE VEHICLE IS NEW, ABOUT 2 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES. 2) I KNOW OF NO SOLID OBJECTS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD 3) THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE BEGUN IN AN AREA PROTECTED BY THE HOOD LINE. IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY A STONE OR OTHER OBJECT ON THE ROAD COULD BE THROWN UP AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADES. 4) WE FIRST NOTICED THE CRACK AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN STATIONARY, PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, FOR 3 DAYS. 5) WE HAVING THE FIRST HOT DAYS OF THE YEAR (90+ DEGREES F). 6) AND YES, THE INTERNET HAS A NUMBER OF VERY SIMILAR STORIES INVOLVING 2019 SUBARU FORESTERS ENDURING CRACKING WINDSHIELDS WHEN STATIONARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,560 |
| Jun 2019 | SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE | STRANGE RATTLING NOISE AT THE REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT COMPARTMENT AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT. NOISE IS ONLY HEARD WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT OR SURFACES. NOT NORMAL FOR A 2-MONTH OLD VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,389 |
| May 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE REAR, AUTOMATIC TAILGATE PERIODICALLY FAILS TO OPERATE AND EFFECTIVELY LOCKS ONE OUT OF THAT AREA. THERE IS NO KNOWN BY-PASS OR WORKAROUND AND BASED ON SUBARU USER SITE, APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT SUBARU ITSELF DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND HAS MANY EXPLANATIONS BUT NO SOLUTION OR WORKAROUND. IT REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD A PET BE IN THE BACK OR PERHAPS A PERSON AFTER A CRASH. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ELECTRONIC KEY, DASHBOARD BUTTON AND BUTTON ON THE GATE ALL FAIL TO OPERATE AND ONE IS EFFECTIVELY LOCKED OUT FROM THAT PART OF THE CAR. THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" QUESTION NEEDS TO HAVE MULTIPLE ANSWER OPTIONS. MY WIFE AND I BOTH OWN A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER TOURING AND WE BOTH ARE HAVING ISSUES. INCIDENTS RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE AT THE END OF APRIL 2019 AND THROUGH 5/31/2019 PER CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| May 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | VEHICLE STATIONARY, TURNED WINDSHIELD HEATER ON AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK COMING BELOW WIPER AREA AND TRAVELED TO MIDDLE AREA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,200 |
| May 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE MOONROOF SLIGHTLY OPEN. RAINWATER GOT INSIDE THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION . | Crash: No Fire: No | 5 |
| May 2019 | SEATS | THE SEATBELT IN THE BACKSEAT GETS TANGLED AND LOCKS IN AN UPPER POSITION MAKING THE SEATBELT INOPERABLE.I HAVE HAD THE CAR SEVEN MONTHS AND IT HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER , THEY PULL THE STUCK BELT OUT FROM UNDER THE METAL ROLLER,BUT IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN.*DT*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,000 |
| May 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | NEW CAR - 3 WEEKS OLD AND A 1,000 MILES. DRIVING TO WORK ON A ROUTE I'VE TAKEN FOR 5 YEARS. I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I-195 ON A RAINY MORNING, AND I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHILED BUT I COULDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE. AFTER WORK WALKING BACK TO MY CAR I SEE A ONE FOOT CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH HAS NOW GROWN TO TWO FEET RUNNING HORIZONTAL. THERE IS A SMALL CHIP JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER. THE CRACK HAS GROWN FROM THAT CHIP. VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE GLASS BREAK AND CRACK SO EASILY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I SAW THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH FORESTER GLASS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |