YearToAvoid

2019 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 34 brake complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester, 4% of its 833 total complaints, tied to 9 crashes and 2 injuries. No brake-specific recall is listed for this model year.

Brakes complaints
34
4% of 833
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
14,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden brake failure with no pedal response, causing low-speed collisions into vehicles ahead.
  • Some describe the vehicle lurching or accelerating unexpectedly while the foot was on the brake pedal, leading to crashes into trees, poles, or other objects.
  • One owner reported the parking brake engaging on its own, triggered by an object shifting inside the center console and pressing the parking brake button.
  • A separate complaint described loud squealing from a right rear brake pad breaking apart and lodging between the rotor and dust shield, tied to a Takata-related purchase.
  • Reported failure mileage for brake-related issues ranged widely, with a median failure mileage of 14,000 miles across all complaint areas for this model year.

When 2019 Subaru Forester brake complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 27, 2018, latest Aug 21, 2026.

2019 Subaru Forester brakes complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2018Jul 2019Feb 2020Feb 2021Feb 2022Dec 2022Jan 2024Aug 2026
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Feb 2020 (4).

Brakes recalls for the 2019 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (15%)
  2. 201121 (14%)
  3. 201219 (18%)
  4. 201310 (13%)
  5. 201434 (8%)
  6. 201545 (7%)
  7. 201634 (8%)
  8. 201720 (3%)
  9. 201820 (4%)
  10. 201934 (4%)
  11. 202015 (2%)
  12. 20217 (3%)
  13. 202210 (10%)
  14. 20235 (7%)
  15. 20241 (3%)
  16. 20256 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2019 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 34 brake complaints for the 2019 Forester, which is 4% of the 833 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2019 Subaru Forester?
No brake-related recalls are listed in the data for the 2019 Forester.
Have the 2019 Forester's brake problems caused crashes or injuries?
Yes. NHTSA data ties 9 crashes and 2 injuries to complaints filed under the Brakes category for the 2019 Forester.
At what mileage do Forester brake problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure across complaints for the 2019 Forester is 14,000 miles, based on NHTSA data.
Is the 2019 Forester worse for brakes than other model years?
The 2019 Forester's brake complaints make up 4% of its total complaints, lower than earlier years like 2010 (15%) and 2012 (18%), but similar to 2018 and 2020.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.