2019 Subaru Forester Visibility/wiper Problems
Owners have filed 370 complaints with NHTSA about visibility/wiper problems on the 2019 Subaru Forester, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 8,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “windshield cracked” (31% of reports).
- 370visibility/wiper complaints
- 8,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 68%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Windshield cracked: mentioned in 113 of 370 complaints (31%)
- Small rock: mentioned in 29 of 370 complaints (8%)
- Large crack: mentioned in 21 of 370 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility/wiper repair on the 2019 Subaru Forester at $1,500, and half of them between $1,150 and $1,600.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2022), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility/wiper problems happen?
Based on 267 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 370 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Subaru Forester visibility/wiper complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility/wiper complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 5 | 18% | — |
| 2025 Forester | 13 | 13% | 1,000 |
| 2024 Forester | 5 | 17% | — |
| 2023 Forester | 11 | 15% | — |
| 2022 Forester | 20 | 20% | — |
| 2021 Forester | 76 | 36% | 2,000 |
| 2020 Forester | 252 | 42% | 5,000 |
| 2019 Forester | 370 | 44% | 8,000 |
| 2018 Forester | 135 | 27% | 18,000 |
| 2017 Forester | 104 | 18% | 31,000 |
| 2016 Forester | 20 | 5% | 36,350 |
| 2015 Forester | 23 | 4% | 26,000 |
| 2014 Forester | 9 | 2% | 25,000 |
| 2013 Forester | 1 | 1% | 27,000 |
| 2012 Forester | 2 | 2% | 40,496 |
| 2011 Forester | 3 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2010 Forester | 5 | 2% | 30,385 |
| 2009 Forester | 4 | 2% | 119,400 |
| 2008 Forester | 1 | 2% | 50,000 |
| 2003 Forester | 2 | 1% | 90,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists visibility/wiper for the 2019 Subaru Forester. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
In May 2025, I had the passenger-side mirror on my 2019 Subaru Forester replaced at a licensed Subaru dealership. I was told the replacement part would be factory-original and matched to the vehicleâs VIN, which specifies a dark metallic grey exterior. After the repair was completed, I noticed…
I started my car and turned on the windshield wipers and fluid to clear the windshield. Within a few seconds of wiping the windshield, I heard a pop and a crack directly down the center of the windshield starting at the top developed along the line of the eyesight system and rearview mirror mount…
I purchased this vehicle brand new in 2019, and since them i have had to replace my windshield once in January of 2023 (piece of gravel on highway), then in February of this year, my passenger front window busted out .. nothing hit it, it just blew out while i was driving. Weather that day was 53…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 Subaru Foresters have visibility/wiper problems?
No. NHTSA has 370 owner complaints about visibility/wiper for the 2019 Subaru Forester (44% of the 834 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Subaru Forester visibility/wiper?
No recall currently lists visibility/wiper for this vehicle.
At what mileage do visibility/wiper problems start?
The median reported mileage is 8,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix visibility/wiper problems on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $1,150 and $1,600), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility/wiper problems on the 2019 Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield cracked”, in 113 of 370 complaints, followed by “small rock” (29).
Other 2019 Subaru Forester problems
- Electrical System problems (134)
- Engine problems (106)
See all 2019 Subaru Forester problems or visibility/wiper problems across all Forester years.