YearToAvoid

2019 Subaru Forester Electrical System Problems

Owners filed 135 electrical system complaints for the 2019 Subaru Forester, 16% of all complaints for the year. NHTSA lists 7 crashes, 7 fires, and 1 injury tied to this area, with a median mileage at failure of 7,850. No related recalls are listed for this problem area.

Electrical System complaints
135
16% of 833
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
7,850 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires starting after low-speed collisions or animal strikes, with smoke and flames developing within about a minute in some cases.
  • Some describe fires starting while the vehicle was parked and turned off, with wiring in the door or under the center console suspected as the source.
  • Several owners report a total electrical shutdown while driving, losing power steering, dashboard lights, headlights, turn signals, and the accelerator at the same time.
  • Some report the auto start/stop feature malfunctioning at a stop, causing the car to roll backward unexpectedly when the brake was released.
  • One owner reported the rear gate door failing to open using the key fob or interior buttons, requiring the battery to be disconnected and reconnected to restore function.

When 2019 Subaru Forester electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 21, 2019, latest Apr 3, 2026.

2019 Subaru Forester electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter142019 Q12020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
135 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2022 Q1 (14).

Electrical System recalls for the 2019 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Forester model year

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

  1. 20053 (3%)
  2. 200610 (11%)
  3. 20078 (11%)
  4. 20086 (12%)
  5. 200924 (13%)
  6. 201016 (6%)
  7. 201114 (10%)
  8. 201211 (10%)
  9. 20137 (9%)
  10. 201450 (12%)
  11. 201593 (15%)
  12. 201697 (23%)
  13. 2017108 (18%)
  14. 201873 (15%)
  15. 2019135 (16%)
  16. 2020105 (17%)
  17. 202134 (16%)
  18. 202218 (18%)
  19. 202311 (15%)
  20. 20242 (7%)
  21. 202516 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2019 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA lists 135 electrical system complaints for the 2019 Forester, which is 16% of the 833 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Subaru Forester electrical system?
No related recalls are listed for the electrical system on the 2019 Forester in this data.
Did the 2019 Subaru Forester electrical problems cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area lists 7 crashes, 7 fires, and 1 injury for the 2019 Forester.
At what mileage do 2019 Forester electrical problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 7,850 miles.
How does the 2019 Forester compare to other years for electrical complaints?
The 2019 Forester's electrical complaints made up 16% of its total complaints, similar to 2018 (15%) and 2020 (17%), while 2016 was higher at 23%.

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.