2019 Subaru Forester Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 106about this part
- Share
- 13%of 834 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 18,253miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 106 complaints about the engine of the 2019 Subaru Forester, 13% of the 834 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 18,253 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Have a 2019 Subaru forrester. Had 30,000 mile service recently at dealer. Since then, multiple electric malfunctions. First ABS turned off, then auto start stop started malfunctioning for 2 weeks, took to the dealership, they told me hood sensor malfunctioning, and bring it back in 4 weeks when part arrives. Four days later, I was driving my car and in the middle of traffic, engine shut off completely! Whole dashboard lit up with eyesight disabled sign, engine light on. Unable to move the car at all. …”
NHTSA complaint #11403895, filed 2021-03, 30,100 miles“Leaving a parking lot getting ready to turn onto a divided 4 lane highway at a traffic light, as the light turned green the care did not go wile I pressed the accelerator down and I did it again and still nothing. Before I realized something was wrong the car drifted into the middle of the intersection with no power except the engine was running at idle speed and in gear but still no acceleration so I left the car drift to the other side of the road and the car started to go just before the light changed back. …”
NHTSA complaint #11375397, filed 2020-11, 5,900 miles“Traveling on highway, approximately 60 MPH, tapped brakes and anti locks activated, immediately afterwards entire dashboard lit up with every warning light possible on the vehicle. I took the first exit, traveling approximately a quarter of a mile from start of incident, into a parking lot, directly off the highway, when the car shut down. Tried multiple times to restart the car- it would catch and then shut off. Ended up getting it towed to my home dealer. The cause is unknown. It appeared to be a catastrophic failure of the computer which caused the entire cars systems to shut down. …”
NHTSA complaint #11287008, filed 2019-12, 10,000 miles“Unintended acceleration when slowly pulling into aparking spot. Car ran over and dislodged a parking curb. The car ended up resting against a fence. A tow truck had to pull the car backwards to get the car over the curb. The dealer had the car inspected by a third party who found nothing wrong with the car. Damage was estimated to be $1000”
NHTSA complaint #11396875, filed 2021-02, 12,247 miles“Whistling or whining noise coming from A/C system after having A/C or heat running. This condition is from the expansion valve according to Subaru of america. Dealer states a new expansion valve for the A/C system is coming but not yet available.”
NHTSA complaint #11390638, filed 2021-01, 27,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11034269Jun 30, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11034264Jun 26, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11033065May 13, 2026This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11033051May 1, 2026This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs B1571(REFERENCE CODE INCOMPATIBILITY IMMOBILIZER CM TO ECM) and B1572(IMM CIRCUIT EXCEPT ANTENNA CIRCUIT)…
- 11027982Jan 12, 2026This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the STARLINK® Remote Engine Start (RES).
- 11027978Jan 8, 2026This bulletin announces the design change made to the high-pressure fuel pump developed to prevent DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure – Too Low Bank 1).
- 11027090Dec 12, 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11027083Dec 8, 2025This Service Information Bulletin provides the Service Manual Correction to the diagnostic procedure for DTC B2A16 (Immobilizer Key Collation Diagnosis).
- 11027081Dec 8, 2025This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH…
- 11025790Nov 20, 2025This bulletin announces the diagnostic procedures to be used when DTCs P2096 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1) and P2097 (POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO RICH…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 5 | 7% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021 | 34 | 16% |
| 2020 | 81 | 13% |
| 2019 | 106 | 13% |
| 2018 | 32 | 6% |
| 2017 | 47 | 8% |
| 2016 | 60 | 14% |
| 2015 | 131 | 21% |
| 2014 | 69 | 17% |
| 2013 | 27 | 35% |
| 2012 | 27 | 25% |
| 2011 | 60 | 41% |
| 2010 | 34 | 13% |
| 2009 | 27 | 15% |
| 2008 | 7 | 14% |
| 2007 | 9 | 12% |
| 2006 | 11 | 13% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 23 | 11% |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2019 Subaru Forester
406 complaintsOther or unknown
145 complaintsElectrical system
134 complaintsForward collision avoidance
43 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
38 complaintsVehicle speed control
27 complaintsBrakes
26 complaintsBody and structure
25 complaintsFuel system
22 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsLane departure
16 complaintsSteering
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2019 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology