2019 Subaru Forester Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 3%of 834 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 3,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the fuel system of the 2019 Subaru Forester, 3% of the 834 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,500 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 5 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I leased this car late march 2019 and from day one I smelled a gasoline like odor when turning on the car for the first 5 to 10 min. I've had bmw forn10 years and Subaru is new to me. I thought the smell was normal because it's a 4wd. At my last vehicle service at Subaru I mentioned the smell to them. They ultimately discovered that the car has a faulty exhaust. They said the smell came from a plastic bag that they found inside the hood of the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #11308716, filed 2020-02, 1 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“While driving around 30mph the car will sometimes hesitate and then lurch if the gas pedal is very lightly pressed. Sometimes it will do it at higher speeds as well, around 50mph but not typically at freeway speed. Happens on mountain roads and city streets. Most noticeable when keeping speed with a car ahead. When pressing harder on the gas pedal it is usually not noticeable. When driving in 'sport' mode or with manual paddle shifters set at 4th gear or lower it does not happen. This is a CVT sport model. …”
NHTSA complaint #11253275, filed 2019-09, 6,500 miles“Vehicle quickly developed a surge, sputtering, jerk type action when coasting or maintaining speeds above 35mph. Also when braking, there is good and predictable speed reduction until about 10mph when the transmissions seems to unlock and the car lunges forward since there is suddenly not enough brake pressure because the transmission has shifted for some reason. Dealer has been able to replicate the issue but has no known fix. Brand new car 1 month old and it runs like a brand new car should, until you get to maintaining cruising speeds. …”
NHTSA complaint #11233927, filed 2019-07, 3,000 miles“On our way to a vacation in NJ, we were driving on the expressway and a deer jumped over the rail into the hood of the car. The car immediately started to smoke ( dark black). We got out of the car, retrieved two luggage bags, and the car burst into flames. All within 60 seconds of hitting the deer. About five years ago, same thing happened to my daughter driving a Subaru WRX…. Twice in the same family….no recall?”
NHTSA complaint #11537644, filed 2023-08Related service bulletins
- 11035660Jul 28, 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). (This is an revised…
- 11035654Jul 27, 2026This bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector in response to the DTCs listed. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- 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…
- 11034250Jun 25, 2026This bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector and fuel pipe in response to the DTCs listed DTC P030* / Engine Knocking / DTC P219C-D-E-F. (This is an revised…
- 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…
- 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…
- 11018914May 29, 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11017438Apr 14, 2025This bulletin provides updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components…
- 11014875Feb 24, 2025This 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).
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 9% |
| 2025 | 17 | 17% |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% |
| 2022 | 8 | 8% |
| 2021 | 7 | 3% |
| 2020 | 14 | 2% |
| 2019 | 22 | 3% |
| 2018 | 21 | 4% |
| 2017 | 11 | 2% |
| 2016 | 24 | 6% |
| 2015 | 57 | 9% |
| 2014 | 21 | 5% |
| 2013 | 2 | 3% |
| 2012 | 8 | 8% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 13 | 5% |
| 2009 | 10 | 6% |
| 2008 | 3 | 6% |
| 2007 | 12 | 16% |
| 2006 | 13 | 15% |
| 2005 | 22 | 24% |
| 2004 | 124 | 57% |
| 2003 | 57 | 30% |
| 2002 | 11 | 13% |
| 2001 | 10 | 7% |
| 2000 | 6 | 8% |
| 1999 | 5 | 4% |
| 1998 | 5 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2019 Subaru Forester
406 complaintsOther or unknown
145 complaintsElectrical system
134 complaintsEngine
106 complaintsForward collision avoidance
43 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
38 complaintsVehicle speed control
27 complaintsBrakes
26 complaintsBody and structure
25 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 30, 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