Lemon Law Check › 2019 Subaru Forester

2019 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2019 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 831 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in visibility/wiper. Owners whose Forester has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 831 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Forester:

Visibility/wiper349 complaints
Unknown or other119 complaints
Electrical system117 complaints
Engine55 complaints
Power train38 complaints
Visibility38 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"All of a sudden, the eyesight and collision prevention stopped working, the check engine light came on, the blue light thermostat indicator came on. we had no heat. the flashing "s" (sportsmode indicator) came on. we were driving on the highway and still over an hour from …"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2023
"The contact owns a 2019 subaru forester. the contact stated that the battery would become drained after three days of the vehicle not being driven. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed him that the failure was not due to the battery. the contact stated…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2021
"The car has 12600ish miles. there are no rock chips, etc. the windshield cracked for no apparent reason. it didn't have any when we parked last night and now there is a 6 inch crack coming from the bottom center. there were no instances of rocks, driving over bumps, etc.the ca…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2020

NHTSA recall campaigns (3)

Suspension:rear
15/04/2021 · 21V263000
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.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
02/12/2019 · 19V856000
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 …
Steering:electric power assist system
06/02/2019 · 19V065000
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.

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Forester been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Forester has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Forester?

Based on 831 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2019 Subaru Forester are visibility/wiper, unknown or other, electrical system.

How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Forester has had visibility/wiper or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2019 Subaru Forester.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.