Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 833 safety complaints
about the 2019 Subaru Forester with the US government. Of those, 37 describe a crash, 11 mention a fire, 21 people were injured and 1 death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.
The most complained-about system is visibility and the wipers,
named in 370 complaints, 44% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 8,575 miles,
the median across the 468
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers December 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
833 complaints on file
833
Complaints
37
Describe a crash
11
Mention fire
21
People injured
1
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
VISIBILITY/WIPER 370 · 44%
370 44%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 144 · 17%
144 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 134 · 16%
134 16%
ENGINE 106 · 13%
106 13%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 43 · 5%
43 5%
POWER TRAIN 38 · 5%
38 5%
VISIBILITY 38 · 5%
38 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 27 · 3%
27 3%
STRUCTURE 25 · 3%
25 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22 · 3%
22 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 22 · 3%
22 3%
AIR BAGS 17 · 2%
17 2%
0150300
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 833.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2020 at 203.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2019 Subaru FORESTER, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
16.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
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.
The risk
Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 408,271 vehicles across all model years covered
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
19V856000 · December 2, 2019
The defect
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.
The risk
An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 51,613 vehicles across all model years covered
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
19V065000 · February 6, 2019
The defect
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.
The risk
Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 10,417 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
SEAT BELTS
1 death · 1 injured · crash · towed
There was a front-end collision into a stone wall. It appears the driver seatbelt failed and ripped upon impact. The driver died as a result of injuries sustained. There was a front passenger in the vehicle as well who was belted. The seatbelt for the front passenger worked correctly. That passenger had serious injuries but survived the collision. This fatal collision was investigated by Hillsborough, NJ Police, case # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11569674. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed · 12,000 miles
I WAS INVOLVED IN A 4 CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS REAR ENDED BY TWO VEHICLES BEHIND ME WHICH SENT ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY 2019 SUBARU FORESTER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME; THEREFORE, I WAS THROW INTO THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT POST AND SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY SUBARU AND PRAY FOR OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THIS VEHICLE! NEW BERN, NC
NHTSA complaint 11255731. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed
2019 Subaru Forester was stopped with left directional signal on to make a left turn. Waiting for oncoming traffic to pass. Vehicle was hit multiple times from the front, back AND side. Airbags did NOT deploy. Driver of the vehicle which hit us said he was “distracted” when he hit us and that it was his fault.
NHTSA complaint 11419216. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed · 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at 55 mph, the vehicle spun a couple of times, then crashed into the median wall. The median wall brought the vehicle to a complete stop. The contact's driver's side seatbelt did not lock the contact into her seat during impact, which caused injuries to the contact's right arm, wrist, and hand. No air bags deployed upon impact. The contact and passenger were transported by ambulance to the hospital. The passenger sustained injuries to her left foot and bruising to her chest from the passenger side seatbelt, locking her into her seat during impact. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to …
NHTSA complaint 11438546, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed
On 9/2/2016, my 2019 Subaru Forester was involved in a right-front collision. During the collision, the driver's frontal airbag did not deploy. Actually none of the airbags deployed. As a result, the driver's chest and upper abdomen struck the steering wheel.And sustained significant bruising and other injuries and required evaluation and treatment at an emergency department. The vehicle has substantial damage and may be considered a total loss. I am reporting this because the driver's frontal airbag did not deploy during an injury-producing collision. Actually no airbags deployed. I would like NHTSA to document the incident and determine whether the airbag/SRS system may have malfunctioned …
NHTSA complaint 11762369, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
crash · towed · 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the engine revved loudly, the vehicle continued to accelerate and collided with the rear of a minivan. The contact was able to steer the vehicle to the side of the bridge and stopped the vehicle. The side air bags deployed after the crash. No injuries were reported. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard by the Port Authority Police. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact retained legal counsel. The …
NHTSA complaint 11758532, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car swirving as if someone grabbed the steering and pulled right left quickly when applying breaks. First incident happened on interstate which nearly caused an accident. Carriage makes a “clunk” sound when moving forward or backwards and you feel the cabin continue in motion when first stopping. When taken to Subaru, “trailing arm” was not attached to vehicle. Car is currently being fixed at Subaru of Olympia.
NHTSA complaint 11738249. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
I am reporting a serious safety issue involving my 2019 Subaru Forester related to failure of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. Since April 21, 2026, I have been in communication with Subaru of America regarding whether this issue is related to an existing safety recall (WUC-88). During this time, I provided detailed information about multiple occurrences of EPS warning light activation and intermittent loss of steering assist while driving. A local repair shop also inspected the vehicle and confirmed EPS-related diagnostic trouble codes (including B2811 and C2512), which are consistent with known EPS issues. This information was shared with Subaru of America; however, I did not …
NHTSA complaint 11737088, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 the last few years. We have just learned of the problem.
NHTSA complaint 11729108. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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 mechanic, where it was diagnosed with thermal control valve failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the thermal control valve needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint 11723269. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed April 15, 2021.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst