Are there open safety recalls?
3 open
Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.
FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
The 2019 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 831 owner complaints, and gets about 29 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA
2019 Subaru Forester
- Engine 4-cyl 2.5L
- Drive All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Regular
- Body Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Should you worry?
Be careful
Serious flags in the public record. Read below, and verify recall work was done.
What do owners report?
1 death reported
Out of 831 owner reports. Read the Owners section before you buy.
How did it score in crash tests?
5 out of 5 stars
5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.
Open recalls · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2019.
- 20171recall
- 20183recalls
- 2019 · this car3recalls
- 20200recalls
Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked July 28, 2026.
SAFETY
Will it protect people in a crash?
These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.
- Overall
- 5 / 5 stars
- Frontal
- 5 / 5 stars
- Side
- 5 / 5 stars
- Side pole
- 5 / 5 stars
- Rollover
- 4 / 5 stars
Factory safety & driver-assist equipment
- Stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane-departure warning
- Standard
Tested as: 2019 Subaru Forester SUV AWD
Open safety recalls
3 openA recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.
-
Suspension
15/04/2021
Subaru 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.
How they fix it: 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.
-
Engine And Engine Cooling
02/12/2019
Subaru 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.
How they fix it: 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.
-
Steering
06/02/2019
Subaru 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.
How they fix it: 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.
The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.
From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked July 28, 2026.
OWNERS
What problems do owners report?
People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.
Owner reports · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2019.
- 2017579reports
- 2018490reports
- 2019 · this car831reports
- 2020593reports
831 owner reports on file
35 crash mentions 11 fire mentions 20 injury mentions 1 death mentions
Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 831 total reports.
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 349 of 831
I started my car and turned on the windshield wipers and fluid to clear the windshield. Within a few seconds of wiping the windshield, I heard a pop and a crack directly down the center of the windshield starting at the top developed along
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 119 of 831
Car swirving as if someone grabbed the steering and pulled right left quickly when applying breaks. First incident happened on interstate which nearly caused an accident. Carriage makes a “clunk” sound when moving forward or backwards and
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 117 of 831
We have replaced the battery twice and likely will need a third battery soon. I have learned that there is a known issue with the DCM trying to connect using 3G. This is causing a parasitic drain on the battery. The vehicle will fail to sta
- ENGINE 55 of 831
Engine lost power and was misfiring while many warning symbols appeared on the dash. There was a divider separating the lanes. The car coasted to almost to a stop, but the engine chugged enough to slowly turn left at the first opening in th
- POWER TRAIN 38 of 831
The electrical system fails, and the battery is not charging sufficiently. When the auto start/stop engages, the car does not restart in traffic. Requested a battery test at the dealership in May 2025; was told it could not be done that day
- VISIBILITY 38 of 831
See attached document for complaint.
Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.
From NHTSA owner complaints · checked July 28, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.
FUEL COST
What does it cost to drive?
EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.
Combined MPG · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2019.
- 201725mpg
- 201828mpg
- 2019 · this car29mpg
- 202029mpg
$2,050
estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles
Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.
City driving 26 mpg
Highway driving 33 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 29 mpg
Over 5 years, compared to an average new car
This model is estimated to save about $500 on fuel.
Spends more Saves more
From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked July 28, 2026.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Factory details
What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.
Engine
4-cyl 2.5L
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (AV-S7)
Fuel
Regular
See all factory details (7)
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.5L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 2.5 L
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S7)
- Body
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Fuel
- Regular
From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked July 28, 2026.
What this free check does not include
We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 3 open NHTSA recalls (including the suspension). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Have a mechanic check the visibility/wiper
Owners report problems with the visibility/wiper more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
-
Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
-
Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
FOR SALE NEAR YOU
2019 Subaru Forester listings
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2019 Subaru Forester? +
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2019 Subaru Forester, including the suspension. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Subaru Forester get? +
The EPA rates the 2019 Subaru Forester at 29 mpg combined (26 city / 33 highway), about $2,050 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2019 Subaru Forester? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2019 Subaru Forester 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2019 Subaru Forester? +
Owners have filed 831 complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Subaru Forester, including 35 involving a crash. The most-reported area is visibility/wiper.
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