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2019 Subaru Forester

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
3
on record
MPG
—
combined

Fatalities reported

Owner complaints to NHTSA include 1 report involving a death. Read the complaint record closely.

Recalls3
Complaints831
Safety
Fuel

Vehicle Summary

2019 Subaru Forester

3 recalls
831 complaints
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Confirm all 3 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 35 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 831 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
3
Owner complaints
831
Complaints citing a crash
35

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

3 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 21V263000high

    Suspension issue

    SUSPENSION:REAR

    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.

  • 19V856000high

    Engine issue

    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)

    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.

  • 19V065000high

    Steering issue

    STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

    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.

Consumer complaints

831 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

831
Total
35
Crashes
11
Fires
20
Injuries

Most reported components

  • VISIBILITY397
  • ENGINE130
  • OTHER121
  • ELECTRICAL92
  • BRAKES23

Serious Concerns

831 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 1 report involves a death. 20 reports involve injuries. 35 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

visibility issues (wipers, defrost, mirrors)397
engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)130
miscellaneous issues121

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Unknown
Drive type
Unknown
Engine
0L 0-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Unknown
Seats
0

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Data sources

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Subaru Forester years

Common problems

Subaru Forester problems

3,993 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 21V263000

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

  2. Recall

    Recall 19V856000

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

  3. Recall

    Recall 19V065000

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