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2019 Subaru Forester problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 Subaru Forester. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 18% of relevant complaints.
Better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2019 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 145 of 833 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). For comparison, the 2018 scores 16% and the 2020 scores 19%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2019 compares with other Subaru Forester years
Of the 14 Subaru Forester years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (18%). The worst is the 2011 (65%), the best the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2019 drew 833 complaints (145 drivetrain), against 496 for the 2018 and 600 for the 2020.
Subaru Forester years to avoid and best years →
2010 Forester problems · 2011 Forester problems · 2012 Forester problems · 2013 Forester problems · 2014 Forester problems · 2015 Forester problems · 2016 Forester problems · 2017 Forester problems · 2018 Forester problems · 2019 · 2020 Forester problems · 2021 Forester problems · 2022 Forester problems · 2023 Forester problems
The rest of the picture on the 2019 Subaru Forester
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Subaru Forester said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 145 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2019 Subaru Forester engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2019 Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2019 Subaru Forester? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2019 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 145 of 833 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Forester?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Subaru Forester is visibility/wiper: 370 of 833 complaints (44%) name it, followed by electrical system (134) and engine (106). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 18% of the relevant total.
Is the 2019 Subaru Forester reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 18% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Subaru Forester years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2019 Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 19V856000 (engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Forester years are better?
Among the Subaru Forester years we track, the 2018 (16%) and the 2023 (16%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (18%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-forester
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.