2019 Subaru Forester engine problems
111 of the 833 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Forester name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 94 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database7 of the 111 reports a crash · 7 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 34 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 2
Half of the 23 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 10,000 and 66,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
833 complaints in all about the 2019 Subaru Forester, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Forester engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Unintended acceleration when slowly pulling into aparking spot. Car ran over and dislodged a parking curb. The car ended up resting against a fence. A tow truck had to pull the car backwards to get the car over the curb. The dealer had the car inspected by a third party who found nothing wrong with the car.
Whistling or whining noise coming from A/C system after having A/C or heat running. This condition is from the expansion valve according to Subaru of america. Dealer states a new expansion valve for the A/C system is coming but not yet available
When driving in the highway the vehicle starts to jerk very strong and highway speed is lost making it dangerous to drive and potentially causing an accident. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer and they will do nothing about it. It is a known issue for this vehicle model and Subaru is not fixing the issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the windshield cracked and was replaced three times in a six-month period. The contact was concerned that the design of the hood and the thickness of the glass in the windshield was a contributing factor to the failures.
2 issues 1. The windshield cracked and the car is less than a year old. 2. The engine pulses as if stuck between gears when doing 75+mph, especially when going uphill. There are fluctuations in acceleration that make it feel like it is about to stall
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 19V856000 HighDec 2, 2019 · 51,613 vehicles
- 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.
94 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P26A3 P26A6 P2404 P0087 P26A5 P0420 B1571 B1572
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Subaru Forester names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Subaru Forester
Source: the same files- electrical problems 135 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 111 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (13% of everything owners filed about it), and 94 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 19V856000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles; half of them between 10,000 and 66,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.