SUVs are mostly bought by the crowd that is looking for a family vehicle to keep the drive as relaxed and easy as possible. The Subaru Forester is one such SUV that falls in the sub $25,000 price tag and yet provides great value as it’s known to balance performance and reliability very well. The same is the case for the 2019 Subaru Forester and the tiny 3 recalls only prove the car to be reliable. However, there have been 565 total registered complaints from the owners and that does let the completion like the Nissan Rogue, the Volkswagen Tiguan, and the Chevrolet Equinox have a better reputation in the market. Let’s analyze those complaints and see if they are red flags.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Tailgate – The tailgate button on the dashboard or the key fob failed to open the door and needed the battery to be disconnected for a while before reconnecting to get it working
- Instrument cluster – The entire lights on the dashboard and the cluster stopped working and this also killed the headlights and the turn signals. The mechanics weren’t able to find the issue with the car.
- Starlink – It was found that the Apple Car Play, radio, and navigation system becomes inoperable after starting the car using the mobile Starlink feature
- Infotainment – The touchscreen was said to be unresponsive at times making it a hassle to operate when driving.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The Forester has been reported to stall after trying to accelerate at traffic signals. It was also reported by multiple owners that during a crash, the engine area easily catches fire leading to the entire car burning down to crisp.
- Brakes - The forward collision avoidance system was seen to engage with sudden braking even though there weren’t any vehicles ahead. This car easily causes an accident if there are other vehicles behind.
- Fuel system – It was noted that the fuel system wasn’t functioning right which led to multiple jerks when accelerating the car. Sudden unexpected acceleration can increase the chance of a crash.
- Steering – The steering wheel was reported to lock up while the car was cruising at 60MPH. The driver had to pull over and restart the car to fix this issue.
- Suspension – The owner was driving on an interstate with a windy climate condition when he noticed the car swaying aggressively which is unsafe and increases the chance of a crash.
Safety Problems
- Lane keep assist – This safety feature was reported to read wrong makings on the road which automatically tried switching the lane with other cars in it before the driver could forcibly counter steer to avoid a crash.
- Airbags – The airbag sensor was reported to not register and activate when kids weighing 100 pounds were seated even after buckling up the seatbelt. There also were instances where the airbags failed to deploy during a crash.
Exterior Problems
- Windshield – Owners started to notice a crack in the windshield and some even claimed that the crack got larger over time.
Interior Problems
- Instrument cluster – The tire pressure monitor system does give out the information on the Starlink mobile app but does not display it on the instrument cluster.
Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
15th April 2021 |
21V263000 |
Rear stabilizer bracket bolts may detach |
The rear stabilizer bolts may loosen and detach which increases the risk of a crash. |
The dealers will retorque and replace any mission bolts. |
|
2 |
2nd December 2019 |
19V856000 |
PCV valve can separate |
Separation of the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve can allow the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power. |
PCV valve will be replaced. If it has already been separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced. |
|
3 |
6th February 2019 |
19V065000 |
Loss of electric power steering assist. |
The connector inside the electronic power steering unit may short circuit and cut the electric steering assistance completely. This would require the driver to use extra force to maneuver the car. |
Subaru notified the dealers about this issue even before the cars were sold to the customers. The steering assembly will be inspected and replaced if necessary. |
Should you buy the 2019 Subaru Forester?
With no major complaints or issues and a very limited recall from Subaru, the Forester is a car that would spend a slim time with the mechanics. The compact SUV segment has numerous players but the Subaru Forester will be a great purchase and we highly recommend checking this car out if you haven’t thought about it. This car has enough power and space that is required for an average family and the fact that the Forester comes with an all-wheel-drive as a standard feature makes it feel very stable and safe on the road. The Subaru Forester also has one of the best off-road ability and ground clearance in its segment.
