Car · Subaru problems

2019 Subaru Forester problems

834 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Forester. The most reported area is visibility and wipers (49% of them). NHTSA also lists 232 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 21. Deaths: 1.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 834 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Visibility and wipers406 · 49%
• Other or unknown144 · 17%
• Electrical system134 · 16%
• Engine and engine cooling111 · 13%
• Forward collision avoidance43 · 5%
• Power train (transmission and drive)38 · 5%
• Speed control and throttle27 · 3%
• Service brakes26 · 3%

14 smaller areas not shown (135 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 232 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2019 Subaru Forester. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 12-269-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   The service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area.This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

2. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

3. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

4. 15-322-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen 3.1 Head Unit used in the listed models and model years...

5. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

6. 18-244-26Received October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   Additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circuit.

7. 05-62-18RReceived September 3, 2026

   Body and structure

   A procedure to address customer concerns of surface rust accumulating in the top center retaining nut area of the front strut mounts.

8. 15-308-23RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to...

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer.

1. 19V856000December 2, 2019

   Engine and engine cooling

   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.

2. 21V263000April 15, 2021

   Suspension

   The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.

3. 19V065000February 6, 2019

   Steering

   A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.

See all 3 recalls for the 2019 Subaru Forester, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Forester will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Visibility and wipers 406 complaints · 49%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 134 complaints · 16%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Engine and engine cooling 111 complaints · 13%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Power train (transmission and drive) 38 complaints · 5%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2019 Subaru Forester: questions

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

Of the 834 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Forester, 406 (49%) name visibility and wipers, and 134 (16%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 37 of the 834 complaints as involving a crash and 11 as involving a fire. They also reported 21 injuries and 1 death. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 232 repair bulletins for the 2019 Subaru Forester.

More

• 2018 Forester problems
• 2017 Forester problems
• 2016 Forester problems
• 2015 Forester problems
• 2014 Forester problems
• 2010 Forester problems
• 2019 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.