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2019–2024 SK (5th generation)

2019–2024 Subaru Forester Common Problems and Years to Avoid

5 documented problems with the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 4 carry a recall or TSB number.

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We have 5 documented problems on record for the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester, none of them rated serious and 4 carry a recall or service bulletin. Every one below lists symptoms, the years most affected, and what the repair typically costs.

2019–2024 Subaru Forester recalls and service bulletins

Recall / TSBIssueSeverity
Subaru Service Bulletin 09-119-24 (Thermo Control Valve Warranty Extension)Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failuremoderate
Powell v. Subaru of America, Inc.Spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)moderate
In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.); Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-4935 (D.N.J.), pending as of 2026Parasitic battery drainmoderate
Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension)CVT chain slip / shudder carried into early productionmoderate

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the vehicle's age, mileage, or how many owners it has had. Check your VIN against the NHTSA database to see what is still outstanding on your specific vehicle, a recall listed here may already have been performed.

Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failure

moderate

Coolant vapor can intrude into the sensor portion of the engine's Thermo Control Valve, tripping check-engine codes P2682 and/or P26A and, in some cases, causing coolant leaks or rough running. It's frequent enough that Subaru issued a factory-wide warranty extension to 15 years/150,000 miles for the TCV on affected VINs, and will reimburse owners who already paid for the repair out of pocket. A redesigned valve with a stainless-steel shaft and better sensor waterproofing addresses the root cause.

Most affected: 2019–2021Typical cost: Free if within the 15-yr/150k warranty extension (most affected vehicles still qualify); roughly $800–$1,300 out of pocket otherwiseRecall/TSB: Subaru Service Bulletin 09-119-24 (Thermo Control Valve Warranty Extension)

Spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)

moderate

Owners of 2019–2022 Forester (and Legacy/Outback/Ascent) reported windshields cracking or chipping with no apparent impact. A class action (Powell v. Subaru of America, Inc.) settled with an extended warranty for qualifying windshield claims experienced on or after the settlement's notice date, plus reimbursement options for prior repairs.

Most affected: 2019–2022Typical cost: Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying cracks; $400–$1,200+ out of pocket including ADAS/EyeSight camera recalibrationRecall/TSB: Powell v. Subaru of America, Inc.

Parasitic battery drain

moderate

Owners report the 12V battery draining dead after the car sits for a day or two, often traced to a control module failing to enter its low-power sleep state. A 2015–2020-model settlement (In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation) covers 2019–2020 model-year Foresters; a newer proposed class action (Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., filed May 2026) alleges the same defect persists across 2019–2025 Subaru vehicles broadly and is still working through the courts as of this writing. It is not yet a settled claim for later SK-generation model years.

Most affected: 2019–2024Typical cost: $0 (covered under the 2015–2020 settlement for eligible 2019–2020 VINs) to $300 for a battery swap that often doesn't fix the underlying drain on later model yearsRecall/TSB: In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.); Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-4935 (D.N.J.), pending as of 2026

CVT chain slip / shudder carried into early production

moderate

Some 2019–2020 model-year vehicles built on the outgoing platform's CVT hardware exhibit the same shudder/hesitation symptoms documented on the prior generation. Subaru's 10-year/100,000-mile CVT warranty extension applies to many of these VINs. Check eligibility with Subaru before paying for a CVT repair out of pocket.

Most affected: 2019–2020Typical cost: Free if within the CVT warranty extension; $3,500–$6,000 for a CVT replacement otherwiseRecall/TSB: Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension)

Starlink infotainment glitches and backup camera delay

minor

The 11.6-in (or 6.5/8-in on base trims) touchscreen occasionally freezes, reboots, or shows a delayed backup camera feed. Software updates resolve most cases; persistent issues need a head unit reflash or replacement at the dealer.

Most affected: 2019–2024Typical cost: $0 (software update) to $1,500+ (head unit replacement)

Problems listed here are compiled from NHTSA complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins, and widely documented owner reports for the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester. Not every vehicle will experience these issues.

Which Subaru Forester model years does this cover?

These problems and recalls specifications apply to every Subaru Forester built from 2019 through 2024 — the SK (5th generation), compact crossover suv (subaru global platform). Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. Pick your year for the engines it offered, what changed that year, and the problems recorded against it.

2019 Forester2020 Forester2021 Forester2022 Forester2023 Forester2024 Forester

What changed during the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester

  • 2019Generation launch on the Subaru Global Platform; direct-injected FB25D replaces the port-injected FB25; no turbo XT offered in the US; EyeSight standard
  • 2022Wilderness trim introduced with raised suspension, all-terrain tires, and additional underbody protection
  • 2024Final model year of this generation before the SL redesign

2019–2024 Subaru Forester problems and recalls: common questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester?

The recurring ones are: thermo control valve (tcv) failure; spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement); parasitic battery drain; cvt chain slip / shudder carried into early production; starlink infotainment glitches and backup camera delay. Each is detailed above with symptoms, affected years, and typical cost.

Are there recalls on the 2019–2024 Subaru Forester?

4 of the issues listed carry a recall or technical service bulletin: Subaru Service Bulletin 09-119-24 (Thermo Control Valve Warranty Extension) (thermo control valve (tcv) failure), Powell v. Subaru of America, Inc. (spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement)), In re Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS (D.N.J.); Taylor, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-4935 (D.N.J.), pending as of 2026 (parasitic battery drain), Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension) (cvt chain slip / shudder carried into early production). Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of age or mileage. Check your VIN on the NHTSA site to see what is outstanding.

How much do 2019–2024 Subaru Forester repairs typically cost?

Typical figures for the issues above: thermo control valve (tcv) failure, Free if within the 15-yr/150k warranty extension (most affected vehicles still qualify); roughly $800–$1,300 out of pocket otherwise; spontaneous windshield cracking (class action settlement), Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying cracks; $400–$1,200+ out of pocket including ADAS/EyeSight camera recalibration; parasitic battery drain, $0 (covered under the 2015–2020 settlement for eligible 2019–2020 VINs) to $300 for a battery swap that often doesn't fix the underlying drain on later model years; cvt chain slip / shudder carried into early production, Free if within the CVT warranty extension; $3,500–$6,000 for a CVT replacement otherwise.

Sources

Other Subaru Forester generations

2025–2026 problems and recalls2014–2018 problems and recalls2012–2013 problems and recallsCompare all generations

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