10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,154 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Subaru Forester miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2019 Subaru Forester Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #97

May 072022

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front windshield spontaneously cracked in my 2019 Subaru Forester. Car was parked in a parking lot when there was a popping sound and then a crack appeared starting from the bottom corner of the passenger side. NO impact marks on the exterior or interior. The crack has since spread to the center of the windshield. Based on Internet searches, there is a known issue with windshield cracking in Subarus. Subaru's "Customer Advocacy" department refused to pay for the repair (over $1300), claiming that the photos showed an impact mark and therefore it was the customer's responsibility. However, the Subaru dealership (Ramsey NJ) that did the physical inspection and took the photos said they saw NO impact marks. I invited Subaru Customer Advocacy to send someone to physically inspect the car; they declined. Subaru refuses to stand by their product. Instead of recalling the vehicles at risk and replacing the windshields at their cost, Subaru runs the risk of accidents caused by the spontaneous windshield cracking which could lead to bodily harm and/or death. And even with an actual case of spontaneous window cracking, Subaru claims to "see" impact marks in photos, when it is impossible to tell from photos alone, and refuses to conduct a physical inspection. Action should be taken against Subaru to ensure the safety of consumers purchasing their vehicles. Subaru should be required to issue a recall or at minimum cover the cost of replacing windshields that spontaneously crack. The spontaneous cracking occurred on 5/7/22. I brought my car to a Subaru dealership and spoke to Subaru's "Customer Advocacy" department on the same day. It took nearly 3 weeks of calls to Subaru for them to offer me a $750 coupon "as a one-time goodwill gesture" to cover half the cost of the repair. Subaru's customer service is unacceptable and their reluctance to take responsibility is a public safety issue.

- Montebello, NY, USA

problem #96

May 252022

Forester

  • miles
A crack appeared in my windshield on the passenger side starting from the bottom side slanting towards the middle of the passenger's vision. I do not recall anything hitting my windshield. In researching a replacement cost I read a lot of complaints from Subaru customers who had to replace their windshields, some several times, because of thinner glass used by Subaru. Several reports included the 2019 Subaru Forester with low mileage. I have a photo as I plan to have it repaired soon. I have not yet contacted my Striver dealer nor Allstate insurance agent. Please note: I loaded my 6mb photo but had to delete it to be able to continue.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #95

Apr 122021

Forester

  • miles
The car has a power assisted hatchback. When it fails to latch, the power is completely drained from the car, and there is zero indication of this happening, until the next day when an attempt is made to start the car. We've been stranded twice in our car and twice on the road. It's all due to the robotics not getting a signal to stop trying to keep it open. We notified the dealer twice by April of 2021. The second time they replaced the battery and we failed to convince them that this was a symptom, not the cause per many TSBs. In March of 2022 we were traveling and the hatch failed to latch. It would beep all the time. We took it to another dealer in Baton Rouge, who ordered a latch back in Atlanta. We drove it hundreds of mails beeping. The electrical system failed the next morning - again. We got the car started, made it back to Atlanta, and had the latch replaced by a 3rd dealer. Our original dealer says we are not eligible for the replacement hardware/software fix in the robotics (as distinct from the latch) to stop parasitic draining unlike identical cars made in this year. We do not trust this car until it's fixed.

- Brookhaven, GA, USA

problem #94

May 102022

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The battery drains while the vehicle is off. The car is frequently dead after being off for a short period of time, requiring jump starts and replacement batteries far more often than with a typical vehicle.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #93

Apr 282021

Forester

  • miles
2019 Subaru Forester My windshield has spontaneously cracked twice (August 28, 2021, April 18, 2022) without being hit by any object. Windshield was replaced after 2021 incident and will again require replacement after today's incident. It has chipped and required repair on 2 other occasions.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

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problem #92

Mar 282022

Forester

  • miles
Battery keeps on dying and doesn-??t hold charge. Vehicle has less than 8000 miles on it. 3 weeks ago my vehicle was parked in my garage for one week while I was on vacation and the battery was dead and needed to be jump started. Last week My vehicle was in the garage for 8 days and would not start again and needed to be jump started. Then 4 days had passed since the vehicle was jump started and this morning would not start again. Each time it was parked in my garage with nothing running inside, but the battery keeps failing. I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow to review.

- Wausau, WI, USA

problem #91

Feb 192022

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Windshield cracked for no reason.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #90

Feb 052022

Forester

  • miles
Over the weekend, the check engine light came on and I lost heat in my vehicle instantly (like flipping a light switch) after already driving with full heat for about 30 minutes. In addition to losing heat on a zero degree day, the vehicle also lost the capability to circulate and redirect coolant to the engine properly, causing a significant reduction in engine temperature causing it to run nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit less than optimal running temperature. Upon research, the only logical explanation was the failure of the "thermo control valve" which was added to the Subaru lineup starting in 2019, and this was just confirmed as the cause of this incident by the dealer. While coolant issues previously were managed easily in other vehicles, or a slow reduction in the ability of the heating system, having an electronic component control the diversion of coolant in the car for cabin heat and engine heat control seems to be harmful, not only potentially to the engine, but causing the heat to instantly stop to someone that may not be dressed to deal with it while driving in zero degree weather can cause potential significant health problems. This part should not be the sole source of control, let alone be failing without warning after a mere 3 years. In addition, a quick search online provides no information on the product, but many threads of individuals experiencing similar issues, as well as comments that Subaru has recognized it was originally inadequately built and have since produced a more Hardy product to replace them with. The other issue with this part, is that it is below the intake which needs to be removed to replace it. While the intake and other coolant system items are mentioned under warranty, this part is never mentioned. For this being a new addition starting in 2019, it is deeply concerning that there are many accounts for this, with no official messaging from Subaru, for such a critical part.

- Sandown, NH, USA

problem #89

Jan 032022

Forester

  • miles
My front windshield spontaneously cracked, originated from the center inside/below the visible site line under the rubber edging. This happened in the beginning of January when there was a combination of bitter cold and heavy snows.

- Murray, UT, USA

problem #88

Jan 062022

Forester

  • miles
I was on a sharp incline at idle behind a line of cars, waiting for the light to turn green and my Subaru Forrester surged forward, out of my control, and hit the back of the vehicle in front of me, causing damage to my vehicle and the one in front of me. I questioned the Subaru service center regarding it and they did not have a means to report the incident to Subaru for investigation, but offered to do a service check on the transmission of the car. Coincidentally (or of uncertain significance), I had been waiting on a back ordered part from Subaru for a malfunctioning thermal control valve that caused a check engine light to be continually displayed on my dash, disabling some of the safety features of the vehicle. They assured me that the malfunctioning part would have nothing to do with any surging problems and that it was safe to drive the car until the part could be replaced.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #87

Dec 292021

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Windshield broke on its own

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #86

Jun 242021

Forester

  • miles
I was on road driving at night when I heard a crack. When I got to a lit area I noticed 3 inch crack appeared in the lower center of the windshield. No debris hit the windshield all I heard was the distictive sound of the crack.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #85

Aug 152021

Forester

  • miles
on two occasions, when staring from a stop and starting to turn left, the car accelerated on its own. at least once the car's override brake system became active as i was slamming the brake.

- Waban, MA, USA

problem #84

Aug 112021

Forester

  • miles
My windshield cracked for no apparent reason. To the best of my knowledge, nothing hit the windshield itself. I was parking the car and all of a sudden I noticed the crack. Single line from the left edge. No chips or divots that I can tell

- West Chester, PA, USA

problem #83

Jul 162021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield Crack

- Whintey Point, NY, USA

problem #82

Jul 032021

Forester

  • miles
While driving on an expressway I heard what sounded like a tiny piece of gravel hitting my windshield. I did not see anything hit. Next thing I saw was a crack spreading across the driver side just above my line of vision. Within two or three minutes it was a foot and a half long. I-??m not sure anything hit my windshield or not. There were no other cars in my immediate vicinity and no construction debris. The road was clear. Very puzzling

- Elkins Park, PA, USA

problem #81

Jun 212021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield cracked for no reason lower passenger side

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #80

Jun 182021

Forester

  • miles
We bought our Subaru Forester after researching the cars with the best safety features. The car feels unsafe because of 2 problems: Engine hesitation and sudden acceleration. We have barely avoided an incident on two occasions in a parking lot. We were braking for a car heading toward us when our car lurched ahead coming close to hitting an approaching car. Another time we were braking for a stop sign and the car accelerated into moving traffic. We have not reported it to our dealer hoping it was a fluke. We are going to bring it to the dealer because it's obvious that there is something dangerously wrong with our car. I can't report dates - it happens each time we drive with no warning - no lights. Suddenly the engine hesitates acting like it has run out of gas or it lurches ahead, accelerating on its own.

- Concord, NH, USA

problem #79

Jun 052021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield cracked for no obvious reason.

- Takoma Park, MD, USA

problem #78

Apr 102021

Forester

  • 17,000 miles
Windshield spontaneously cracked. Huge crack from lower driver side of windshield arcing up towards center of windshield. Car was parked. No sign of damage to windshield other than large single crack.

- Denver, CO, USA

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