2019 Subaru Forester Problems: 10 Known Issues

On the 2019 Subaru Forester, on 2019 Foresters with the FB25 boxer engine, the aluminum PCV valve can separate during heating/cooling cycles, allowing valve fragments to enter the engine and cause a sudden loss of power while driving. Subaru recalled roughly 51,613 model-year 2019 Crosstrek, Forester and Ascent vehicles under NHTSA 19V-856 / Subaru WUW-08, with 33,383 of those being Foresters.

On the 2019-2024 Subaru Forester 2.5L FB25 direct injection (naturally aspirated), carbon can build up on the fuel injectors, intake valves, intake manifold and combustion chambers. Subaru links the deposits to engine misfire codes, black exhaust smoke, lack of power, knocking (ping) and rough idle, and names fuel quality and how the vehicle is driven as major contributing factors. It affects 2019-2024 Subaru Foresters with the 2.5L naturally aspirated direct-injection engine, as listed in Subaru bulletins 09-74-21R (revised July 18, 2024) and 02-193-24R (revised June 29, 2026). The bulletins are for cases where diagnosis points to carbon deposits.

On the 2019 Subaru Forester, subaru recalled 10,417 US 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles because a connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit was molded with small gaps in the plastic, leaving inadequate isolation between adjacent terminals. Those terminals can short, which shuts down electric steering assist. The driver keeps mechanical steering but effort jumps dramatically and without warning — a serious hazard at parking speeds and in an emergency maneuver. This is a manufacturing defect in the EPS gearbox assembly on the launch-year SK Forester and is a completely separate problem from the salt-belt EPS gearbox corrosion/cracking issue Subaru addressed by TSB and warranty extension on other model years.

On the 2019-2021 Subaru Forester, forester owners report the EyeSight pre-collision braking system applying hard braking with no obstacle present, including on open highways and curves, plus erratic lane-keep-assist interventions, all attributed to the windshield-mounted stereo-camera assembly. A class action over the EyeSight system received final court approval in November 2025; the settlement class covers certain 2014-2021 Foresters.

On the 2019-2022 Subaru Forester, subaru describes a windshield crack that starts at a small chip and spreads under continual stress from body-structure movement during driving (its "Type 3" damage). The bulletin does not cover star or spider-web breaks from flying debris, or scratches from wipers, metal contact or cleaning. It affects 2019-2022 Subaru Foresters with the genuine Subaru windshield. Warranty-extension bulletin 12-257-25R (revised February 13, 2025) provides a one-time replacement within 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the original warranty start date, so it has ended or is ending for the earliest vehicles.

On the 2014-2022 Subaru Forester, owners of Foresters with a moonroof report water dripping near the two front interior lights, or a wet front carpet after rain. The moonroof sits in a tray with drain tubes at its corners that carry water down through the body and out under the car. If a tube clogs with leaves, dirt or pollen, cracks, or comes off its fitting, water overflows the tray and runs into the cabin. One 2018 owner fixed the leak by clearing one moonroof drain and replacing another. A 2015 owner traced a wet front passenger carpet to a leak and fixed it. Owners of 2020 models have posted photos of a clogged drain hole and describe driver-side leaks in heavy rain. The drains are not the only way in on later cars: for 2019-2022 Foresters, Subaru bulletin 12-269-25 (August 2025) says water can get in along the sunroof frame, run down behind the A-pillar trim and reach the footwell. This only affects Foresters with a moonroof.

On the 2019 Subaru Forester, subaru recalled 2019 Forester (with 2018-2019 Crosstrek and 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid) — over 400,000 US vehicles — because initial variation in rear stabilizer bracket dimensions allowed the rear stabilizer bar bracket bolts to loosen in service and detach. With bolts missing the bracket can shift, and in Subaru's rough-road testing a shifted bracket could contact a brake pipe, which is why the recall lists an increased crash risk rather than only a noise complaint. Owners typically notice it first as a rear-end rattle or clunk over bumps, or find loose/absent bolts during an unrelated service. It affects the SK-generation Forester's launch model year only.

On the 2019-2022 Subaru Forester, owners report the rear tires wearing early on their inside edges, sometimes with cupping, on fairly new Foresters. In owner reports, retailers did a four-wheel alignment under warranty; one service manager blamed tie-downs during transport from the factory, which is not confirmed. It applies to 2019-2022 Subaru Forester models (fifth generation); the owner reports cover 2020, 2021 and 2022 models.

On the 2017-2023 Subaru Forester, the engine computer can set code P0420, Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1), and turn on the check-engine light. Subaru issued a step-by-step diagnostic procedure for this code that checks other possible sources first, such as other stored codes, white exhaust smoke, exhaust leaks and air/fuel sensor response. It affects 2017-2018 Foresters with the 2.5L engine and 2019-2023 Foresters, as listed in Subaru service information bulletin 09-110-23R (revised November 7, 2023). The bulletin does not list the 2.0L turbo (XT) Forester.

On the 2019-2023 Subaru Forester, subaru's Gen 3.1 head unit can fail in ways that leave a black or blank screen, a loss of audio, repeated rebooting, or CarPlay/Android Auto, navigation, Bluetooth or the touchscreen not working. The bulletin notes these faults may come and go. It covers 2019-2023 Subaru Forester models with the Gen 3.1 head unit, under warranty-extension bulletin 15-322-25 (January 28, 2025). Coverage for these head-unit faults is extended to 8 years or 150,000 miles, counted from the original warranty start date, and covers one replacement only. Physical damage such as water or screen impact is not covered. The one-year coverage Subaru gave all affected vehicles regardless of mileage ran from the 2025 owner letters and has ended.