2019 Subaru Forester Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

106Engine complaints

12.8%Of all 831 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

VISIBILITY/WIPER370 · 44.5%

Unspecified / other144 · 17.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM132 · 15.9%

ENGINE106 · 12.8%

POWER TRAIN37 · 4.5%

Share of the 831 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2019 Subaru Forester overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE…”NHTSA complaint 11270696 — filed 10/24/2019

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11253275 — filed 09/04/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Subaru Forester have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2019 Subaru Forester: 106 of 831 complaints on file (12.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2019 Subaru Forester have in total?

831 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 35 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.