2019 Subaru Forester problems
Owners have filed 1,084 complaints about the 2019 Subaru Forester with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper accounts for 34.1% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of electrical system at 12.5%.
Complaints1,084
Crashes63
Fires26
Injuries30
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Visibility/wiper 34.1% · 370
Unknown or other 13.3% · 144
Electrical system 12.5% · 135
Engine 9.8% · 106
Forward collision avoidance 5.4% · 59
Power train 3.6% · 39
Visibility 3.6% · 39
Structure 2.5% · 27
Severity
Of those complaints, 63 describe a crash, 26 describe a fire, 30 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Subaru Forester in this data, 2019 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 149 in the last three years against 477 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 8,743 miles.
In owners' own words
I have experienced 2 cracks in my windshield in the 1st 10 months of ownership. Both instances occurred while I was driving on a highway. I heard a loud noise and later noticed that a crack appeared on my windshield. In our previous 30 years of driving, neither my wife nor I have experienced any windshield cracks and we believe that the windshield provided with our 2019 Subaru Forester (purchased new) is defective. Visibility/wiper · reported at 11,000 miles
While driving for the past 8 months I have had 2 chips in my windshield from small unknown objects striking the front windshield. Both incidents happened while driving straight and under 45 mph. First incident happened while on the off ramp of an interstate causing a small chip. Second incident happened while on a state route and in the passing lane. Small unknown object struck windshield causing quarter inch chip. Visibility/wiper · reported at 13,330 miles
Windshield has cracked twice. First time we had it replaced on 12/17/2019 probably due to a rock. 6359 Miles on vehicle. Second time it cracked on sept. 8, 2020. It was in a warm garage and pulled out on a cool morning. Driven a mile on neighborhood streets. Crack due to cooler temperatures or unknown. 8,700 Miles at time. This car is not driven much. Can not afford to replace second time at $1400. Visibility/wiper · reported at 8,700 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…