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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I PURCHASED MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER SPORT ON FRIDAY, 4/19/19. ON SATURDAY, 4/20/19 I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE RIGHT LANE WITH A PICKUP TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER AHEAD AND IN THE LANE TO MY LEFT. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING, BUT HEARD A CRACK AND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE TOP JUST A FEW INCHES FROM CENTER TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE DOWN TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD IT APPEARED THAT A SMALL ROCK MAY HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE TOP IN THE SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS BLACK. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS HIT BY SOMETHING AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE MONDAY, 5/6/19 AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. ON WEDNESDAY, 5/8/19 WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WITH NOBODY IN FRONT OF ME, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER UP TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY IMPACT DAMAGE CAUSING THE CRACK. THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON TUESDAY 5/14/19 AFTER THE SECOND WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. AS OF TODAY, THURSDAY 5/16/19 THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE, ALTHOUGH WITH HAVING TWO WINDSHIELDS REPLACED WITHIN LESS THAN ONE MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, IT APPEARS THERE IS SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN OF THE SUBARU VEHICLES AND/OR WINDSHIELDS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| May 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | I HAD THE NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FOR NOT EVEN A MONTH YET, AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 TIMES REGARD OF POWER REAR GATE NOT OPENING AND CRACKED RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS, WHICH OF THE TWO I CONSIDERED MANUFACTURER DEFECTS, BUT THEY DENIED ON BOTH ISSUES BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ME THE REASON AND PROPER WAY OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS NUMEROUS ROCK CHIPS, QUALITY OF THE GLASS IS NOT UP TO PAR AND I'M AFRAID THAT CRACKS WILL START TO FORM SOON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS SUBARU NEEDS TO BE AWARE THAT THE CURRENT GLASS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A DURABLE GLASS AND BE ABLE TO RESIST EVERYDAY HITS FROM SMALL DEBRIS ON THE FREEWAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,500 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM A SMALL PEBBLE AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, TRAVELING LESS THAN 40 MPH WHEN A PEBBLE HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND PEBBLES BEING THROWN UP FROM THE ROAD. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WINDSHIELD CANNOT HANDLE DEBRIS HITTING IT. NO DIVOTS OR PITTING IN THE WINDSHIELD, JUST AN IMMEDIATE CRACK THAT GROWS. VERY DISAPPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 360 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD BROKE | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | HAD CAR ONLY THREE MONTHS. NOW IN ADDITION TO A CHIP THERE IS A GIGANTIC CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT WILL REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE OEM REPLACEMENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Apr 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A VERY SMALL PEBBLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SKITTLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND NEEDS A FULL REPLACEMENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Apr 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDSHIELD IS WEAK AND CRACKS VERY EASILY. HAVE HAD IT REPLACED AND FIVE DAYS LATER IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN DUE TO CRACK. BOTH TIMES FROM A SMALL ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD ON THE HIGHWAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Apr 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | IN OUR 2 WEEK OLD 2019 FORESTER, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND FELT A SUDDEN JOLT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF: THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE ACCELERATOR WASN'T WORKING. WE GUIDED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY AND SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER'S MASTER MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY CODE THAT TELLS THEM WHAT IS WRONG SO THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. THIS WAS A LIFE-THREATENING EVENT SO WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR FOR OURSELVES AND OTHER CARS ON THE FREEWAY. SUBARU IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. WE READ THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER "CAR STALL" PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO OURS WITH FORESTERS FROM OTHER YEARS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING ON A 3 HOUR DRIVE HOME GOING 65MPH I GOT SMALL ROCKS HIT THE WINDSHIELD AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES AND IMMEDIATELY CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS GOING 45MPH ON ONE AND 65MPH ON THE OTHER. SEEMS TO BE A BAD DESIGN OR JUST BAD WINDSHIELDS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,100 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING A SLIGHT NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE APPEARANCE OF A HORIZONTAL CRACK WHICH SPREAD TO APPROXIMATELY 15". VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A US HIGHWAY. BOTH SAFELITE AND THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAVE ADVISED THAT REPLACEMENT GLASS IS ON HOLD / NATIONAL BACKORDER. IT HAS BEEN BROKEN AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATE OF WHEN OR IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WITHIN THIS VEHICLE'S FIRST 500 MILES SOME WIND WHIPPED UP SAND PARTICLES ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A "POP POP POP" AND WHEN I GOT OUT NOTICED THREE SMALL CHIPS ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD CARS FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AND NEVER A CHIP. I AM NOW FEARFUL OF TAKING THIS CAR ON GRAVEL ROADS WHICH IS WHY I PURCHASED IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CAR WAS MOVING AND HIT BY A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CHIP GREW HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE LINE OF SIGHT. NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS MODEL. THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE, A LEGAL ISSUE, AND A CONVENIENCE ISSUE. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE I SEE WHERE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE CARS SHOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IF THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS A WINDSHIELD. THIS "SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE" IS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. SMALL ROCK CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD TO HALF | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,000 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD AFTER DRIVING ONLY 1500 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD WHEN WE HEARD IT CRACK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHEN DRIVING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP FROM MY WINDSHIELD BUT FORGOT ABOUT THAT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. TODAY THAT CRACK EXTENDED BY SEVERAL INCHES. ACCORDING TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP, THERE IS A VERY LONG BACK ORDER FOR 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Apr 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE FORESTER ARRIVED TO US FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT WAS CRACKED WITHIN A DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WINDSHIELDS. BOTH TIMES OF INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IMPACTED BY A VERY SMALL ROCK - YET THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BECAME DAMAGED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Mar 2019 | AIR BAGS | I WAS DRIVING MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT DID END UP REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH PUSHED HER INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE IMPACT WAS AT LEAST 30-35 MPH AND THE CAR IS TOTALED. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 3,700 |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF ONTARIO (888-905-4875, LOCATED AT 1195 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Mar 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. ST. CLOUD SUBARU (141 PARK AVE S, ST CLOUD, MN 56301) STATED THAT WATER MAY HAVE CONTACTED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD AND CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS WORKING ON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AND RECEIVING A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Mar 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A CRACK APPEARED SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD CLOSE TO THE WIPER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD DUE TO BACKORDER AND UNAVAILABILITY OF SUBARU WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENTS FOR A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE BECAUSE SUBARU DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT PART. I HAVE REQUESTED A SUBSTITUTION OF COLLATERAL FOR THIS REASON AND AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM SUBARU. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL SUBARU. IS THE PART UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE SO MANY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS ARE NEEDED? | Crash: No Fire: No | 200 |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | BOUGHT THE CAR 11/23/2018, AND IN JANUARY 2019 THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND BRANCH OUT FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PARKED INSIDE OF OUR GARAGE. CONTACTED SUBARU HQ AND DEALERSHIP SUBARU OF ONTARIO CALIFORNIA, BOTH DENIED THE WINDSHIELD HAS ANY DEFECT. AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ONLY LOOKED AT IT 2 SECONDS AND SAID IT'S IMPACTED!! | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,700 |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACK AND ROCK CHIP. THE SUBARU OEM WINDSHIELD IS VERY WEAK AND I'VE ALREADY NOTICED A CHIP ON THE WINDSHIELD FOR A CAR THAT IS 5 MONTHS OLD. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS, AND ITS THE SAME FOR 2019 AS WELL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 65 |
| Mar 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING (HEAT ON HIGH). PARKED IT IN A PRIVATE LOT FOR ABOUT 5 HRS. THERE WAS LIGHT SNOW/ICE THAT DAY. I GOT OUT TO DRIVE AND SEE A HUGE CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD SPANNING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THROUGH TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE PREVIOUSLY NO DISCERNABLE NICKS ON THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED SUBARU, ALL FORESTER WINDSHIELDS ARE BACKORDERED. SOME ON THE FORESTER FORUMS HAVE WAITED OVER A MONTH FOR THEIR WINDSHIELD. MINE WILL SUPPOSEDLY TAKE AT LEAST 3 WEEKS. NOT ACCEPTABLE TO BE DRIVING WITH A DEFECTIVE AND ALREADY CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THEIR WINDSHIELD ISSUE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF YET. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Mar 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THERE WERE SOME BUMPS ON THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY A CRACKLING NOISE AND A VERTICAL CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACKED RUN FROM THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHILED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |