NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 833 owner complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester.
3Safety recalls
833Owner complaints
37Complaints citing a crash
11Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: suspension, engine and cooling, and steering. Most-reported area: visibility/wiper (370 complaints, 44%; median mileage when it happened: 8,000). Includes the Forester Hybrid.
3 safety recalls for the 2019 Subaru Forester
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles.
NHTSA listing: FORESTER. Subaru campaign WRD-21.
Engine and cooling
Dec 2, 2019
exhaust system · emission control · crankcase (pcv)
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent 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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles.
NHTSA listing: FORESTER. Subaru campaign WUC-88.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
The areas named in the 833 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Forester. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Visibility/wiper370 · 44%
Median 8,000 miles at failure (267 reports)
Electrical system134 · 16%
Median 8,700 miles at failure (41 reports)
Engine106 · 13%
Median 18,300 miles at failure (20 reports)
Forward collision avoidance43 · 5%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (27); warnings (22)
Powertrain38 · 5%
Visibility38 · 5%
Most named: windshield (33) · Median 15,000 miles at failure (33 reports)
Speed control27 · 3%
Most named: accelerator pedal (4) · Median 12,000 miles at failure (18 reports)
Unknown or other144 · 17%
Median 6,600 miles at failure (72 reports)
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Subaru Forester recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2019 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forester drew the most (525).
Owner complaints
2019: 833 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Complaints
2016
414
2017
587
2018
495
2019
833
2020
601
2021
207
2022
98
2023
73
2024
29
2025
93
2026
21
Safety recalls
2019: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Recalls
2016
3
2017
1
2018
3
2019
3
2020
0
2021
0
2022
1
2023
1
2024
2
2025
4
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Subaru Forester SUV AWD
Rollover risk 16.9%
Questions
What are the most common 2019 Forester problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: visibility/wiper (370), electrical system (134), engine (106). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2019 Subaru Forester safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Subaru Forester earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Forester has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: FORESTER.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.