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2019 Subaru Forester Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 834 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This model year has more owner complaints than most other years of the Subaru Forester

The 2019 model year has more NHTSA owner complaints than the average of the years compared below. Review the recalls and common complaints, and have any vehicle inspected.

F
30/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2019 Subaru Forester

The 2019 Subaru Forester shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
834
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
37
Crash Reports
11 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2019 Subaru Forester (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Suspension: Rear
Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #21V263000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Exhaust System: Emission Control: Crankcase (pcv)
An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #19V856000
🔧 Steering: Electric Power Assist System
Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #19V065000
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Most Common Problems — 2019 Subaru Forester

Based on 834 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Visibility/wiper
349
Unknown Or Other
119
Electrical System
117
Engine
55
Power Train
38
Visibility
38
Structure
18
Air Bags
15
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Subaru Forester — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2019 model year is highlighted.

2013 78 complaints 2014 403 complaints 2015 615 complaints 2016 415 complaints 2017 589 complaints 2018 498 complaints 2019 834 complaints 2020 602 complaints 2021 210 complaints 2022 99 complaints 2023 74 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2013, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2019 Subaru Forester

Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 Subaru Forester has 3 recall campaigns and 834 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2019 Subaru Forester have?
The 2019 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2019 Subaru Forester are: Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2019 Subaru Forester safe to buy?
The 2019 Subaru Forester has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Forester should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Forester are: 2013, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.