"How reliable is the 2019 Subaru Forester?"

"Based on 1081 NHTSA complaints, the 2019 Subaru Forester has a median complaint mileage of 8743 miles. The most common issue is Visibility/Wiper."

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

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester is Visibility/Wiper, accounting for a significant portion of the 1081 total complaints filed."

2019 Subaru Forester: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1081 complaints

1081

Total Complaints

8,743mi

Median Mileage

Visibility/Wiper

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

3,000 25th Percentile

8,743 Median Mileage

16,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Visibility/Wiper

370

Unknown Or Other

143

Electrical System

131

Engine

106

Power Train

Windshield

Automatic Emergency Braking

Vehicle Speed Control

Body

Service Brakes

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TAKATA RECALL, WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER FROM A SUBARU DEALER IN BERLIN VERMONT. IT DEVELOPED AN EXTREMELY LOUD SQUEAL WITH UNDER 2000 MILES. THIS WAS A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE BRAKE MATERIAL ON THE RIGHT REAR INNER BRAKE PAD BREAKING LOOSE FROM THE BRAKE PAD AND LODGING BETWEEN THE R..."

"THE 2019 SUBARU FORESTER WITH THE ELECTRIC REAR DOOR, HAS AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE MANUAL RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE INTERIOR REAR HATCH DOOR (THE 5TH DOOR AT THE REAR). A LITTLE PANEL HAS TO BE REMOVED USING A SCREW DRIVE TO ACCESS THE MANUAL RELEASE. THERE IS NO SIGN OR INDICATION THAT THE PARTICULAR..."

"I AM HERE TO REPORT MY 2019 SUBARU FORRESTER WINDSHIELD CRACK. I THE CAR IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD AND WE FOUND THE CRACK IN THE MORNING WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS ON 2015 OUTBACK I CALLED THE SHOP AND THEY TOOK PICTURES AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANY CHIPS THAT WOULD INDI..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Visibility/Wiper 370 complaints

25th: 2,815 mi Median: 8,000 mi 75th: 13,000 mi

Unknown Or Other 143 complaints

25th: 2,150 mi Median: 6,579 mi 75th: 15,591 mi

Electrical System 131 complaints

25th: 1,258 mi Median: 7,850 mi 75th: 18,250 mi

Engine 106 complaints

25th: 6,350 mi Median: 18,253 mi 75th: 40,725 mi

Power Train 37 complaints

25th: 2,650 mi Median: 10,250 mi 75th: 24,750 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 131 NY: 91 PA: 64 TX: 61 WA: 49 NJ: 43 IL: 40 CO: 38 MI: 37 FL: 36

Who Files Complaints?

0.3%

Original Owners

99.7%

Second+ Owners

Subaru Forester — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1998	138	98,000	Vehicle Speed Control	9
1999	156	72,000	Automatic Transmission	6
2000	95	80,000	Wheel Bearing	7
2001	169	60,000	Vehicle Speed Control	39
2002	109	93,000	Vehicle Speed Control	29
2003	238	85,000	Fuel System, Gasoline	28
2004	268	96,000	Fuel/Propulsion System	19
2005	105	80,000	Suspension	23
2006	121	51,000	Vehicle Speed Control	20
2007	89	59,187	Suspension	16
2008	67	87,950	Suspension	8
2009	228	60,000	Air Bags	25
2010	305	60,000	Seats	28
2011	195	54,000	Engine	41
2012	139	42,513	Engine	22
2013	94	47,000	Engine	17
2014	575	50,000	Suspension	84
2015	883	42,206	Engine	89
2016	601	39,000	Air Bags	77
2017	773	30,000	Air Bags	63
2018	660	14,635	Visibility/Wiper	53
2020	791	6,000	Visibility/Wiper	44
2021	267	8,250	Visibility/Wiper	28
2022	132	2,900	Visibility/Wiper	11
2023	94	9,000	Unknown Or Other	10
2024	34	-	Unknown Or Other	4
2025	82	2,750	Visibility/Wiper	13

Active Recalls (3)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Rear

Campaign 21V263000 | 15/04/2021

Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Crankcase (Pcv)

Campaign 19V856000 | 02/12/2019

An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

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

Electric Power Assist System

Campaign 19V065000 | 06/02/2019

Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

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

Maintain Visibility

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Replace wiper blades every 6-12 months
Keep the washer fluid reservoir full — use winter-rated fluid in cold climates
Clean the inside of the windshield quarterly to reduce glare
Address windshield chips immediately — they spread with temperature changes

Vehicle Rankings

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28