--- title: "2019-2024 Subaru Forester Problems and Years to Avoid" description: "5 documented problems with the 2019-2024 Subaru Forester, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 4 carry a recall or TSB number." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/common-problems" updated: "2026-08-21" --- # 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. **Quick answer**: 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. ## 2019-2024 Subaru Forester recalls and service bulletins | Recall / TSB | Issue | Severity | | --- | --- | --- | | Subaru Service Bulletin 09-119-24 (Thermo Control Valve Warranty Extension) | Thermo Control Valve (TCV) failure | moderate | | 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 2026 | Parasitic battery drain | moderate | | Subaru CVT customer support program (10-yr/100k extension) | CVT chain slip / shudder carried into early production | moderate | 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. ## 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: 2019-2021. Typical cost: Free if within the 15-yr/150k warranty extension (most affected vehicles still qualify); roughly $800-$1,300 out of pocket otherwise. Recall/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: 2019-2022. Typical cost: Covered under the settlement's extended warranty for qualifying cracks; $400-$1,200+ out of pocket including ADAS/EyeSight camera recalibration. Recall/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: 2019-2024. Typical 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 years. Recall/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: 2019-2020. Typical cost: Free if within the CVT warranty extension; $3,500-$6,000 for a CVT replacement otherwise. Recall/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: 2019-2024. Typical 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. - [2019 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019) - [2020 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2020) - [2021 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2021) - [2022 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2022) - [2023 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2023) - [2024 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2024) ## What changed during the 2019-2024 Subaru Forester | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2019 | Generation launch on the Subaru Global Platform; direct-injected FB25D replaces the port-injected FB25; no turbo XT offered in the US; EyeSight standard | | 2022 | Wilderness trim introduced with raised suspension, all-terrain tires, and additional underbody protection | | 2024 | Final 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 - [Wikipedia, Subaru Forester generations (SK)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2020 Forester 2.5L FB25D oil spec/capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2020/subaru/forester/2-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-fb25d-1/) - [subaruforester.org, FB25DI correct oil level / capacity discussion (4.4 qt per owner's manual)](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/fb25di-correct-oil-level-clarify-how-to-measure-oil-level-non-fb25di-posts-will-be-deleted.832532/) - [Subaru Service Bulletin 09-119-24, Thermo Control Valve Warranty Extension (2019-21MY Forester)](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253930-0001.pdf) - [Reddit r/SubaruForester, Subaru now covering TCV issues for 2019+ models](https://www.reddit.com/r/SubaruForester/comments/1bvqbgk/psa_subaru_is_now_covering_thermo_control_valve/) - [classaction.org, Subaru windshield settlement given preliminary approval](https://www.classaction.org/news/subaru-windshield-settlement-given-preliminary-approval-reimbursements-extended-warranty-available) - [classaction.org, Subaru lawsuit: 2019-2025 vehicles, parasitic battery drain (Taylor v. Subaru)](https://www.classaction.org/news/subaru-lawsuit-says-2019-2025-vehicles-plagued-by-electrical-system-defect-causing-parasitic-battery-drain) - [Reddit r/subaru, 2019-2020 CVT warranty extension to 10 yr/100k thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/1ltsv9m/20192020_us_cvt_warranty_extension_to_10/) - [Reddit r/subaru, 2019 Forester front brake rotor sizes (294/316mm front, 285mm rear)](https://www.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/1nvat0r/2019_subaru_forester_front_rotor_question/) - [tirecalculatorhub.com, Subaru Forester OEM tire size guide by year](https://tirecalculatorhub.com/guides/subaru-tire-calculator) - [wiperhaus.com, 2024 Subaru Forester windshield wiper blade size](https://wiperhaus.com/blogs/subaru-forester-information/2024-subaru-forester-windshield-wiper-blade-size) ## Other Subaru Forester generations - [2025-2026 Subaru Forester problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/common-problems) - [2014-2018 Subaru Forester problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2014-2018/common-problems) - [2012-2013 Subaru Forester problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/common-problems) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/common-problems). ## More for the 2019-2024 Subaru Forester - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/service-schedule) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.