2019 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 32owner reports
- 6,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Oct 3, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
659 of the 833 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 32 of those describe infotainment.
Tick what matches of 32 reports
Infotainment on other Forester years
No other Forester model year has enough reports of infotainment for a sheet of its own. See every Forester year.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (21 reports) and the head unit or screen (9 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,000 and 17,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 14 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Subaru Forester that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
This Bulletin is to inform you of the availability of the new auxiliary USB terminal and adapter cord designed to address cases of intermittent communication loss when using Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto application connected via the auxiliary USB ...
This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for Harman Infotainment Systems when DTC B2255 is detected. This update should prevent unnecessary replacement of the head unit or USB cable.
This Service Bulletin is to inform you of the diagnosis procedure of the Harman Infotainment System when DTC B2255 is detected.
10 more on the 2019 Subaru Forester page.
What owners wrote
“Car was sitting outside for the day (with camera observing it). Windshield had no issues when the car was moved to the street in the morning. Windshield was cracked from driver side bottom corner all the way past the half way point and about half way up the windshield. Review of camera video confirmed that no one or thing touched the car during the day. Suspect that the windshield is defective.”
Filed Mar 19, 2024
“8 days ago I replaced the battery on this car as the lights/radio would come on but it would not start. Today the car is totally dead. It will have to be towed to the dealer whenever the towing companies can get around to it. I believe this one of the vehicles like those in the class action lawsuit.”
Filed Dec 27, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 32 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Windshield cracks or distorts 399 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 61 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 57 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 52 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 28 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 27 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports