2019 Subaru Forester electrical system problems
134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2019 Subaru Forester — 16% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“We have replaced the battery twice and likely will need a third battery soon. I have learned that there is a known issue with the DCM trying to connect using 3G. This is causing a parasitic drain on the battery. The vehicle will fail to start. This has occurred many times over the last few years…”
filed Apr 3, 2026
“The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, with several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was…”
filed Mar 10, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
This Announcement provides diagnostic assistance for CVT issues.
SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other · issued Aug 21, 2026This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or…
15-308-23R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 20, 2026This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 13, 2026Techtips newsletter locator index.
Article Locator · Other · issued Aug 5, 2026
Electrical System problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Forester | 4 | 19% |
| 2025 Forester | 8 | 9% |
| 2024 Forester | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 Forester | 7 | 10% |
| 2022 Forester | 10 | 10% |
| 2021 Forester | 33 | 16% |
| 2020 Forester | 101 | 17% |
| 2018 Forester | 71 | 14% |
| 2017 Forester | 106 | 18% |
| 2016 Forester | 93 | 23% |
| 2015 Forester | 82 | 13% |
| 2014 Forester | 42 | 10% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2019 Subaru Forester
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.