BUY WITH CARE

The 2019 Forester carries a real federal engine recall, 19V856000 (Subaru's WUW-08; it also covers the 2019 Crosstrek and Ascent). Per the recall, the aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate and let the broken-off pieces enter the engine, causing a loss of power while driving -- which raises crash risk. The corpus backs it up: engine stalling and loss-of-power complaints cluster on the 2019-2020 cars. The dealer fix inspects and replaces the PCV valve free of charge, and if a separated valve's pieces cannot be found, replaces the short-block engine free of charge.

Check — On any 2019 Forester, run the VIN through Subaru's recall lookup and confirm 19V856000 (WUW-08) shows completed -- it is a free fix, up to a short-block replacement. Ask about any history of stalling or a sudden loss of power, and listen for rough running.

The defining complaint on the 2019-2024 Forester is a cracking windshield, and the problem carried over from the earlier generations. VISIBILITY/WIPER is the single largest complaint area on this generation by a wide margin, and close to 900 in-window complaints describe the windshield cracking -- many spontaneously or from trivial impact (a small stone, a temperature swing) with the crack spreading fast. Owners widely cite a Subaru class-action settlement over the glass. The signal is heaviest on the 2019-2020 cars. Because the EyeSight camera mounts to the windshield, a replacement also needs an EyeSight recalibration, so this is a recurring out-of-pocket cost, not a one-time chip.

Check — Inspect the windshield closely for chips and stress cracks; ask whether it is the original or already a replacement, and how many times it has been replaced. Budget for recurring glass plus EyeSight recalibration and carry comprehensive coverage.

The 2019-2024 Forester's EyeSight driver-assist suite can behave erratically: around 180 complaints name EyeSight and roughly 158 sit in the FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE and LANE DEPARTURE groups. Owners describe the automatic emergency braking triggering with no real obstacle -- an unexpected hard stop in traffic -- as well as the EyeSight and related safety functions abruptly disabling themselves and throwing dashboard warnings. A dirty, obstructed, cracked, or recently replaced (uncalibrated) windshield in front of the EyeSight camera can provoke this, which ties it back to the windshield issue.

Check — On the test drive, watch for any false forward-collision braking or warning, and for EyeSight/safety-system fault lights. Confirm EyeSight was recalibrated after any windshield replacement, and check that the camera's view is clean and unobstructed.

The 2019-2024 Forester has a recurring battery-drain problem: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is a top-few complaint area, and well over a hundred in-window complaints describe the battery going dead -- often repeatedly, sometimes leaving the car unable to start or even unlock, and frequently on cars only a year or two old. Owners describe a parasitic draw that kills the battery when the car sits. It is a service matter, not a recall, and it concentrates on the 2019-2020 cars. It is more a stranding-and-wallet risk than a driving-safety one, but a car that will not start is still a car you cannot rely on.

Check — Ask about any dead-battery or no-start history and how many batteries the car has been through; have the battery load-tested and ask a shop to check for a parasitic draw. Confirm it starts reliably after sitting for a few days.