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2019 Subaru Forester

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA833
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

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 the visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Forester AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263329$2,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 40381.

Factory warranty running out?

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)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Suspension

WRD-21
408,271 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskMissing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.FixSubaru 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 21V263000reported Apr 15, 2021Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

WUW-08
51,613 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskAn unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.FixSubaru 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 19V856000reported Dec 2, 2019Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Steering

WUC-88
10,417 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskLoss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.FixNone 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 19V065000reported Feb 6, 2019Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
833complaints filed

37 involved a crash · 11 a fire · 21 injuries · 1 deaths reported

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

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper370
Unspecified144
Electrical System135
Engine106
Forward Collision Avoidance60
Visibility39

What owners describe

“When I went to get in Forrester in the morning, the windshield has crack. Running from base of drivers side across to passenger side. It was not there night before Because it goes through drives side, it impairs drivers view of road”Jun 23, 2021 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“Windshield with at least 2-ft long cracked line on my 2019 Subaru Forester. Line appeared instantly after something (perhaps a small rock/pebble) hit the windshield. The cracked line is within the sight of vision of the driver. Getting multiple glares from the cracked line when sun light hits it on certain angles. Thus…”Jun 22, 2021 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“I’ve owned the vehicle for 21 months and have fewer than 24,000 miles on the car. During this time, I’ve sustained 2 windshield chips (both were promptly repaired), and now 1 windshield crack. This seems unusual and excessive.”Jun 21, 2021 · 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

Source: NHTSA NCAP
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 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 19 complaints

D

2025 Subaru Forester

4 recalls · 90 complaints

C

2024 Subaru Forester

2 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2023 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 73 complaints

A

2022 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 97 complaints

A

2021 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 207 complaints

A

2020 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 598 complaints

C

2018 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 493 complaints

A

2017 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 584 complaints

C

2016 Subaru 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. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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