2019 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2019 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,084
- 586 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- 370 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 63 reported crashes · 30 injuries · 1 death · 26 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#342
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+902
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2017-2021
+804
median 280 complaints in 501 records
Top component share
34%
Visibility/Wiper: 370 complaints
What owners report fails — 2019 Subaru Forester
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 370
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 144
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 132
- ENGINE 106
- POWER TRAIN 37
3 recalls on record for the 2019 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 21V263000 · 2021 · SUSPENSION:REAR Missing bolts may allow the rear stabilizer bracket to shift, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V856000 · 2020 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V065000 · 2019 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2019 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2019 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 1,084 consumer complaints on record for the 2019 Subaru Forester and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is visibility/wiper (370 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2019 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility/wiper (370), unknown or other (144), electrical system (132), engine (106). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2019 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.