2019 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Windshield cracks or distorts
- 399owner reports
- 9,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 7, 2024 · checked Oct 2, 2026
426 of the 833 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 399 of those describe windshield, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 Forester.
Tick what matches of 399 reports
Windshield on other Forester years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Many windshield complaints are about cracks owners can't explain: a line that starts at the edge of the glass, or a small chip that spreads. Nearly one in five of these complaints mentions it happening again or a second windshield.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (398 reports) and the camera recalibration (24 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the windshield and wipers covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
22 of the 399 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,200.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 4,000 and 16,000 miles, from the 291 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 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 announcement is in regard to settlement in a class action lawsuit for vehicles that will receive a limited warranty extension for original equipment Subaru windshields experiencing a qualifying crack.
This bulletin announces a design change made to the rubber protector located between the top edge of the rear gate garnish and the glass.
What owners wrote
“Since purchasing the vehicle in December 2018, we have had to replace the windshield twice, and there is a crack in the current windshield which I am speaking to the insurer about tomorrow. Attached are pictures of the 3 incidents. For comparison we also own a 2015 Nissan Rogue with 110,000 miles which has never had any such issues.”
Filed Apr 16, 2023 · 110,000 miles
“I have owned my certified pre-owned 2019 Subaru Forester for less than a year, with under 30K miles. Within the last 2 months Iâve gotten a crack and a chip in two different areas of my windshield. Nothing out of the norm happened to cause this. I only drive 20 miles round trip for work daily and some errands around town on the weekends.”
Filed Jan 22, 2022 · 30,000 miles
“Yesterday as I was driving home, I heard a âpopâ noise & I looked at my front windshield I saw a 6â crack in the lower section of my windshield underneath the left wiper blade. I have approximately 22,000 miles on the vehicle. I got it brand new on 7/3/2019.”
Filed Dec 12, 2021 · 22,000 miles
“Iâve owned the vehicle for 21 months and have fewer than 24,000 miles on the car. During this time, Iâve sustained 2 windshield chips (both were promptly repaired), and now 1 windshield crack. This seems unusual and excessive.”
Filed Jun 21, 2021 · 24,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 399 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
- 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
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 32 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 28 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 27 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports