40 complaints reported

2019 Subaru Forester Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
40
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2023

Multiple incidences approximately 8 since 2022. Stopped for 8 months with new battery. No issues are recorded in the computer in any of the troubleshooting visits. Normal Sequenced of events: Stopped at a stop light, Start/Stop engages, take foot off brake, start providing gas, car stalls, dashboard lights up, alarms, provides instructions to place the car into park and restart, and the car restarts after that is performed. Danger situations that this has caused: Aggressive car behind not paying attention to the stall and Green light with no one behind and car coming up behind quickly while you are attempting to restart the car. As this cannot be disabled without modification to the car this created a dangerous situation.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2023
May 2023

I was driving my 2019 Subaru Forester on 5/16 and it was operating normally that morning with no visible warning lights. I got back into the car later and it started fine. While getting onto a local highway, accelerating to highway speeds, multiple warning lights including the check engine light turned on. I was subsequently unable to accelerate and needed to coast to a stop on the closest off ramp, fortunately avoiding an accident. After turning the vehicle off and back on again the check engine light was still illuminated and the car would only make short lurching movements. I needed to have the car towed to a local Subaru dealership (Maita Subaru in Sacramento, CA) and they diagnosed it as a problem with the engine's thermo control valve. This was replaced under warranty and the vehicle is now working normally. The dealership told me this is a known issue with 2019 Foresters and that they've repaired other vehicles under similar circumstances. Multiple other owners have detailed similar experiences on an online forum as well. There does not appear to be a recall but this is a serious safety issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
May 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the temperature control valve (TCV) to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000. The consumer had to get the vehicle repaired due to this TCV valve issue all the security systems were not functioning causing safety issues.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2023
Jan 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed that the thermal control valve was faulty. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the thermal control valve was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 09-80-21 (Thermal Control Valve – Design Change) however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2023
Dec 2022

The Subaru Forester 2019 Thermo Control Valve (TCV) fails. It is responsible for cabin temperature but also engine temperature and can result in overheating. There are numerous reports that this is a frequent problem and dealerships want to charge $1200+ to replace. It is certainly a design flaw and should be issued for recall. Mine is available for inspection and has been inspected by the dealership. It was first detected by a check engine light.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2022
Dec 2022

2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD ILLUMINATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2022
Sep 2022

Keep getting check engine light. Blue cold engine light stays on. Getting code P26A5 Engine Coolant Bypass Valve 'A' Position Sensor Circuit Range. Parts are unavailable at the dealer. They can’t give me a time frame when they become available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2022
May 2022

Thermo electro valve failed, tripping check engine lights in the dashboard. I was told that the vehicle was undrivable until the part, which has been affected by supply chain issues, can be acquired by the dealer.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Dec 2021

Check engine light came on and code was for the TCV. The dealership said it would be $1500 to repair and was not under warranty…even though my car is a 2019 Subaru Forester with just 17,000 miles. The Subaru forums on Facebook show that numerous other people are also having this problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Nov 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,243.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2021
Oct 2021

THE ENGINE HAS OIL LEAKED ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH I REPORTED ON DEALERSHIP SERVICE LAST NOVEMBER 30 2020 AND WAS FIXED AND REPAIRED AT DECEMBER 8, 2020. I SOMETIMES CHECK AND POP UP THE HOOD TO SEE THE LEVELS OF WIPER WASHER, COOLANT, AND OTHER FLUIDS AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH AND NOTICED LAST WEEK MARCH 4 THAT THERE IS AGAIN OIL LEAKED ON THE SAME LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE SERVICE AND THE CAR WAS BROUGHT AGAIN YESTERDAY TO HAVE IT FIX. IT IS ONLY THREE MONTHS OR MAYBE LESS COZ I DID NOT CHECK THE ENGINE LAST 2 WEEKS OF FEBRUARY DUE TO COLD SNOWY WEATHER. MY WORRY IS THAT THE WARRANTY WILL END THIS NOVEMBER OF 2021 AND OIL LEAKED ON ENGINE WILL COME BACK ALL OVER AGAIN AND EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2020
Jan 2021

WHISTLING OR WHINING NOISE COMING FROM A/C SYSTEM AFTER HAVING A/C OR HEAT RUNNING. THIS CONDITION IS FROM THE EXPANSION VALVE ACCORDING TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. DEALER STATES A NEW EXPANSION VALVE FOR THE A/C SYSTEM IS COMING BUT NOT YET AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
Sep 2020

LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2020
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V856000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER LITHIA SUBARU OF FRESNO 5200 N BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710 (559) 540-7189 WAS CONTACTED IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2019
Oct 2019

TL* 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 VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GREGORIS SUBARU (575 W MERRICK RD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580, (516) 825-8700) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SEPARATED FROM THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO CONTACT THEM IF ANY FURTHER DEFECTS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 996. *LN*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 SUBARU FORESTER, Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2019

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Subaru Forester has 40 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.