Subaru · Forester · 2019
2019 Subaru Forester
3
Recalls
829
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2019 Subaru Forester has 3 recalls and 829 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: visibility/wiper (346 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2019 Subaru Forester page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is visibility/wiper with 346 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to see whether the 2019 Subaru Forester reports cluster around one repeated symptom or spread across multiple systems.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2019 Subaru Forester currently shows 3 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 829 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are visibility/wiper (346), unknown or other (97), electrical system (73).
- Vehicle
- 2019 Subaru Forester
- Recalls
- 3
- Complaints
- 829
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
16.9% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 21V263000April 15, 2021
SUSPENSION:REAR
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
Remedy Status
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
NHTSA ID: 19V856000December 02, 2019
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Remedy Status
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUW-08.
NHTSA ID: 19V065000February 06, 2019
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Remedy Status
None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC-88.
Owner Complaints
829 totalELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 3, 2026
We have replaced the battery twice and likely will need a third battery soon. I have learned that there is a known issue with the DCM trying to connect using 3G. This is causing a parasitic drain on the battery. The vehicle will fail to start. This has occurred many times over th...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRASHMar 7, 2026
Dear National Transportation Safety Board, I would like to bring a situation that happened to me while driving my 2019 Subaru Forester last Saturday March 7th, 2026 at 10:40am. I was coming back to my house from an errand. While waiting for my garage door to go all the way up,...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, with several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mech...
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Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle)
Feb 2, 2026
Pipa Rx Aire base latch system appeared to latch when it wasn’t secured to the anchor. I moved the base between vehicles. When reattaching the base, the right indicator clicked and turned green without actually being attached to the anchor. The seat felt secure, but shifted when ...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 4, 2026
The Thermal Control Valve on my Subaru Forester failed while I was driving recently. The failure caused the car to stop while making a turn. It was a very frightening experience. Luckily at that time the traffic was light. The car was towed to a Subaru dealer, and the Thermal Con...
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ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Jan 3, 2026
Engine lost power and was misfiring while many warning symbols appeared on the dash. There was a divider separating the lanes. The car coasted to almost to a stop, but the engine chugged enough to slowly turn left at the first opening in the divider and just barely made it off th...
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WHEELS
Dec 11, 2025
I had a tire rotation at my Subaru dealer in 12/2024. Two weeks later I had a flat and could not break two lug nuts. Tire repair dealer found that the lug bolts had been stripped. I had the remaining lug bolts examined by the dealer and a 3rd was found stripped. All three had...
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AIR BAGS
CRASH2 injuriesDec 10, 2025
The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving and merging onto the highway in the rain approximately 62 MPH, the contact’s vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle that was driving erratically. Due to the impact, the vehicle spun out of control ...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Nov 30, 2025
Subaru Forester 2019 January - February of 2025: issue initially presented as the hatch beeping, indicating that it was not closing fully. The hatch would not pop back up as if something was in the way, just remain down & continue beeping. The car would then not start, with only ...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Nov 17, 2025
I have reported this before but it never went anywhere. When at a red light or in a traffic slowdown, the car will activate the auto start/stop system. Three times in the past 2 days, the car would not turn back on and required me to turn the car off and back on again. You can im...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 829 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2019 Subaru models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Subaru Forester Years
2020 Subaru ForesterCompare this year against 2019 for complaint and recall shifts.588c2018 Subaru ForesterCompare this year against 2019 for complaint and recall shifts.3r481c2021 Subaru ForesterCompare this year against 2019 for complaint and recall shifts.200c2017 Subaru ForesterCompare this year against 2019 for complaint and recall shifts.1r567c2022 Subaru ForesterCompare this year against 2019 for complaint and recall shifts.1r91c2016 Subaru ForesterCompare this year against 2019 for complaint and recall shifts.3r401c
More 2019 Subaru Models
2019 Subaru OutbackAnother 2019 Subaru option for same-year comparison.3r1,023c2019 Subaru AscentAnother 2019 Subaru option for same-year comparison.8r431c2019 Subaru CrosstrekAnother 2019 Subaru option for same-year comparison.7r274c2019 Subaru ImprezaAnother 2019 Subaru option for same-year comparison.5r187c2019 Subaru LegacyAnother 2019 Subaru option for same-year comparison.3r120c2019 Subaru WRXAnother 2019 Subaru option for same-year comparison.2r28c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Forester have?
The 2019 Subaru Forester has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2019 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA has received 829 owner-reported complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2019 Subaru Forester?
The 2019 Subaru Forester received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2019 Subaru Forester are visibility/wiper (346 reports), unknown or other (97 reports), electrical system (73 reports).
Does the 2019 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2019 Subaru Forester. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.