Your vehicle report
2019 Subaru Forester
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 834
- Received Dec 2018 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Glass shatters or cracks without impact443 complaints · 53% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Battery drains and dies when parked47 complaints · 5.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine suddenly shuts off while driving45 complaints · 5.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #21V263000Subaru 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.
- Recall #19V856000Subaru 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Battery drains and dies when parkedFirst signal: May 2021
- Engine suddenly shuts off while drivingFirst signal: Sep 2022
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 37 crashes, 11 fires, 21 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
- Battery drains and dies when parked
- Vehicle catches fire from wiring
- Ignition key sticks or will not turn
1 more problem
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed
- Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps
- Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 185 |
| 2020 | 203 |
| 2021 | 136 |
| 2022 | 116 |
| 2023 | 96 |
| 2024 | 52 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 13 |
| Total | 834 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 443 | 53% | – | |
| Battery drains and dies when parked | 47 | 5.6% | 9.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.8% |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 45 | 5.4% | 7.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.7% |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 29 | 3.5% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 18 | 2.2% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 16 | 1.9% | 5.8× | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 15 | 1.8% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 14 | 1.7% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 11 | 1.3% | – | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 10 | 1.2% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 8 | 1.0% | – | |
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 7 | 0.8% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 6 | 0.7% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 6 | 0.7% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 5 | 0.6% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 4 | 0.5% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 3 | 0.4% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 0.4% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 3 | 0.4% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 3 | 0.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #21V263000April 15, 2021408,271 vehicles affected
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.
Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 recall #19V856000December 2, 201951,613 vehicles affected
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.
An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 recall #19V065000February 6, 201910,417 vehicles affected
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.
Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2019 Subaru Forester.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN