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2019 Subaru Forester

Gas Compact SUV

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100
CSafety Signal · 76 / 100
3Recalls · NHTSA campaigns
833Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
29 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2019 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV. The most efficient version, the Forester AWD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 833 complaints, most often about visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Forester AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263329$2,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2019 Subaru Forester is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Suspension

high
408,271 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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 campaign 21V263000 · reported Apr 15, 2021 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Engine And Engine Cooling

high
51,613 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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 campaign 19V856000 · reported Dec 2, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Steering

high
10,417 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

NHTSA campaign 19V065000 · reported Feb 6, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

833 complaints filed

37 involved a crash, 11 a fire, 21 injuries, 1 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2018: 1 · 2019: 185 · 2020: 203 · 2021: 136 · 2022: 116 · 2023: 96 · 2024: 52 · 2025: 32 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

  • Visibility/Wiper — 370
  • Unknown Or Other — 144
  • Electrical System — 135
  • Engine — 106
  • Forward Collision Avoidance — 60
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ELECTR…”Mar 25, 2019 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A CRACK APPEARED SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD CLOSE TO THE WIPER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD DUE TO BACKORDER AND UNAVAILABILITY OF SUBARU WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE CONDITIO…”Mar 24, 2019 · Unknown Or Other · NHTSA owner report
“BOUGHT THE CAR 11/23/2018, AND IN JANUARY 2019 THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND BRANCH OUT FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PARKED INSIDE OF OUR GARAGE. CONTACTED SUBARU HQ AND DEALERSHIP SUBARU OF ONTARIO CALIFORNIA, BOTH DENIED THE WINDSHIELD HAS ANY DEFECT. AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ONLY LOOKED AT IT 2 SEC…”Mar 15, 2019 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Forester model years

B

2026 Forester

3 recalls · 19 complaints

D

2025 Forester

4 recalls · 90 complaints

C

2024 Forester

2 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2023 Forester

1 recalls · 73 complaints

A

2022 Forester

1 recalls · 97 complaints

A

2021 Forester

0 recalls · 207 complaints

A

2020 Forester

0 recalls · 598 complaints

C

2018 Forester

3 recalls · 493 complaints

A

2017 Forester

1 recalls · 584 complaints

C

2016 Forester

3 recalls · 411 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 40381). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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