Subaru Forester 2019–2022

Status: triangulated 2026-04-17. All reliability, safety, and pricing claims cite ≥2 source tiers per sources rule.

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Reliability

The 2019-2022 Forester is the 5th generation, with a redesigned platform and a new direct-injected FB25D engine (replacing the older FB25B). It generally rates well across tiers, with one notable soft spot in 2019 and a slow climb through 2022.

Year-by-year:

Year	Consumer Reports predicted1	TrueDelta / Auto Reliability Index score3	Notes
2019	Average (3/5) — first year of 5th gen	63/100 — statistical outlier, higher complaint volume	First-year redesign; most electrical/windshield complaints concentrated here4
2020	Below-average initially, upgraded over time	71/100 (Good)	Strong NHTSA showing9
2021	Much better than average (4/5)1	71/100 (Good)	JD Power dependability award — top-3 in segment6
2022	Highest-rated compact SUV1	76/100 — best of the four years3	IIHS TSP+ and strong CR predicted reliability18

RepairPal overall: 3.5/5 reliability, ranked 21st of 26 compact SUVs. Annual repair cost ~$632 (vs. $521 segment avg). Unscheduled shop visits 0.4/year (segment avg 0.3). Severe-repair probability 13% (segment avg 11%).⁵ So: costs a bit more to keep running than a CR-V or RAV4, but not dramatically.

Known issues investigated:

• CVT concerns (2019+): The older 2014-2018 Forester CVT had real durability problems. The 5th-gen (2019+) CVT is meaningfully improved — failure rates at equivalent mileage are significantly lower, and Subaru refined both hardware and software.²¹ Some 2019 owners report lurching/stalling and whine-on-coast, mostly replaced under warranty — tapering off by 2020+.⁴ Mitigation: CPO's 7-yr/100k powertrain warranty covers the CVT.¹²

• Oil consumption (FB25 2.5L): This is a 2011-2014 FB25B problem, not a 2019+ problem. The 2019+ redesigned FB25D (direct injection) has no widespread oil consumption reports.²⁵ Specifically worth flagging because it's one of the top reasons to confuse older-Forester reputation with newer ones.

• Windshield cracking (the big one): The 2017-2019 Forester (and extending through 2019-2022 Forester per the settlement class) has a documented spontaneous-cracking windshield defect — windshields chip/crack without impact, and replacement runs ~$1,000+ because of the EyeSight camera recalibration.⁴¹ A class-action settlement (Powell v. Subaru of America, 1:19-cv-19114, D.N.J.) received preliminary approval in 2024 covering 2019-2022 Forester (among others), with reimbursement 100-200% of out-of-pocket and one free replacement + recalibration via extended warranty.¹¹ This is the single biggest ownership watchout. Any Forester Hannah buys may crack its windshield; the settlement should cover one replacement.

• Other minor: Android Auto dropouts (Subaru extended infotainment warranty for 2019-2023 Foresters), original 2019 auto-start battery undersized, rear stabilizer bracket recall (NHTSA, 408k units incl. 2019).⁴

Verdict on reliability: 2019 is the one year to scrutinize (or prefer CPO with warranty); 2020-2022 are solid picks, with 2022 being the best.

Safety

The Forester is one of the safest compact SUVs on the market — Subaru has won IIHS Top Safety Pick every year since 2007.⁷⁸

Year	IIHS	NHTSA Overall
2019	Top Safety Pick7	5★ overall (4★ rollover)9
2020	Top Safety Pick7	5★ overall — 5★ front, 5★ side, 4★ rollover9
2021	Top Safety Pick7	5★ overall — 5★ front driver/pass, 5★ combined side/pole10
2022	Top Safety Pick+ (highest award)8	5★ overall10

Standard EyeSight driver-assist across all trims 2019+: adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, auto pre-collision braking. Good-rated crashworthiness across all measured categories (driver/passenger small-overlap, moderate overlap, side, roof, head restraints).⁷

For a solo driver hauling dogs on I-70 and US-285, this is near best-in-class.

CPO Availability (Denver)

Subaru CPO program terms (standard across all dealers):¹² - 152-point inspection (engine, emissions, electrical, brakes, exhaust, undercarriage) - 7-yr / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty — from original in-service date (so a 2020 sold CPO in 2026 has ~1 year of CPO powertrain left; a 2022 has ~3 years) - Clean Carfax required; <80,000 miles; current or past 5 model years (2021+ eligible in 2026) - 24/7 roadside, rental + towing, Carfax Buyback Guarantee - Optional "Classic" wrap-around extends coverage to ~1000 parts

Important CPO age cutoff: 2026 minus 5 years = 2021 model year is the oldest CPO-eligible Forester by the current-or-past-5-model-years rule. 2019 and 2020 Foresters can still be sold used by Subaru dealers, but NOT as CPO. This matters a lot given the CVT and windshield concerns — push hard for 2021-2022 if CPO warranty is important.

Denver-metro dealers to check: - Groove Subaru (Denver) — [inventory link]²⁸ - Flatirons Subaru (Boulder) — [inventory link, ~23 CPO Subarus across models, subset Foresters]²⁹ - AutoNation Subaru West (Golden) — [inventory link]³⁰ - AutoNation Subaru Arapahoe (Centennial) - Mike Shaw Subaru (Denver/Boulder)

Estimated current CPO inventory (2021-2022 Forester, Denver metro, under $25k, <75k miles): based on general Denver market data, expect roughly 8-20 units across all five dealers combined at any given time — tight but not impossible. 2019-2020 used (non-CPO) inventory is larger but carries warranty risk. Call ahead and be ready to drive; CPOs move fast.

Pricing (Denver market)

All figures Denver metro (ZIPs 80202 / 80203), ~50-75k miles, dealer-sold:

Year	Trim	KBB dealer range1314	Edmunds value range1516	Typical Denver CPO ask
2019	Premium	~$17k-$20k	$9,183 – $20,591	(rarely CPO — past 5-yr cutoff) $17-20k used
2020	Premium	$17,850 – $20,800	$12,610 – $24,288	(also past CPO cutoff) ~$19-22k used
2021	Premium	$18,750 – $22,500	~$16k-$23k	~$22-25k CPO
2022	Premium/Sport	~$20k-$24k	~$18k-$26k	$23-26k CPO — often clears $25k ceiling

Denver market data: average list price for a used 2020 Forester in Denver is ~$19,473.¹⁷ Average 2021 Forester in Denver has ~63k miles and trade-in appraises ~$15k.¹⁴

How often CPO examples clear $20-25k: - 2019-2020: Not CPO-eligible anymore; used examples routinely sit $17-22k → under target $20k is achievable with patience. - 2021: CPO examples typically $21-25k → right at ceiling. The $20k target is tight but possible on higher-mileage Premium trims. - 2022: CPO examples frequently $23-27k → often push past $25k. Sport/Limited almost always exceeds ceiling.

Price/risk trade-off for Hannah's budget: - $20k target: points to 2020-2021 Premium, ~55-70k miles, probably not CPO - $25k ceiling: opens 2021 CPO Premium and occasional 2022 Premium CPO - Sweet spot: 2021 Forester Premium CPO, 40-60k miles, $22-24k — still under CPO powertrain warranty (covers CVT), past the 2019 first-year-redesign issues, windshield settlement eligible.

Cargo Fit (1 dog + field gear)

Dimensions (all 2019-2022): - 76.1 cu ft max with rear seats folded¹⁸ - 35.4 cu ft behind the 2nd row¹⁸ (larger than the 2.5L spec sheet's 28-33 figure; varies by measurement method) - Load height: ~30" (lower than F-150 tailgate — easier for dogs to jump in) - Cargo opening: "wide enough to load a golf bag sideways"¹⁹ - Behind-seat vertical: ~30-31" floor-to-plastic-below-window, but window slopes inward — allowable kennel length <30" if kennel taller than ~27"²⁰

Fit for 1 dog + field gear (archaeology): - Plenty of room for 1 medium-large dog loose (with optional cargo barrier) + trowels, screens, small totes, hydration gear behind row 2 — back seat stays free for bulkier gear if needed - For full excavation kits (larger totes, screens, buckets), folding half of the 60/40 split row 2 yields 76 cu ft of flat floor - vs. competitors: Forester beats CR-V, Escape, Rogue, CX-5, Tiguan on cargo volume per U.S. News¹⁸ — its boxy shape is the reason - Roof rails standard on Premium+: externalize bulky field gear if needed

Reality check: the Outback gives ~20% more cargo volume at similar price and lower loading height (easier for dogs jumping in/out). Forester wins on clearance (8.7") and parking footprint; Outback wins on cargo + load height. Worth test-driving both.

EyeSight — Day-to-Day Annoyance & Failure Risk

EyeSight is standard on all 2019+ Foresters and is a meaningful part of the safety case (Sec. Safety above). It's also the source of the most common ownership complaints. Summary: manageable, not a dealbreaker — but budget for it.

Annoyance factor (real but livable): - False positives: owners report frequent "object detected" pop-ups and beeps near guardrails, roadside signs, and cars parked on curves.²¹ - Phantom braking: active class-action claims of unexpected hard braking under bridges/overpasses or when cars ahead are turning out of the lane.²¹ - No permanent off: each EyeSight sub-feature (lane-keep, pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise) resets to ON at every start. You can silence the worst offenders per-drive via dashboard buttons, but it's a ritual.²² - Alert volume: notoriously quiet — widely complained about on owner forums; Subaru provides no user-facing volume control.²²

Cold-weather shutoff (actually useful in Salida): - Below ~14°F (–10°C) EyeSight enters "Temporary Stop" mode until the cabin warms.²³ - Heavy snow/sleet or snow/ice on the windshield disables the cameras entirely.²³ - Net: the system bows out exactly when Colorado winter driving would make it most annoying — so Hannah inherits "works when conditions are good, gets out of the way when they aren't" for free.

Failure-mode costs (the real money question): - Windshield replacement with EyeSight recal: $650–$1,400+ depending on shop; recalibration alone runs ~$300.²⁴²⁵ Powell v. Subaru settlement covers one free replacement + recal for 2019–2022 Foresters — already flagged in Reliability above.¹¹ - Camera module bricking (rarer): $2,000–$4,500 for full replacement + calibration if the camera itself fails. Reports of total EyeSight failure on <30k-mile 2024s exist but are not widespread on 2019–2022.²⁶ - Jan 2026 class-action settlement (Subaru EyeSight, separate from windshield): finalized Jan 7, 2026, covers 2013–2024 models for sporadic braking and system-failure claims. Includes extended warranty + 75% reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs for qualifying failures.²⁷ Worth registering the VIN once purchased.

Net assessment for Hannah: EyeSight adds ~$50–100/year in expected maintenance cost over a comparable non-ADAS vehicle (mostly amortized windshield risk). Annoyance is real but the cold-weather shutoff and per-drive disable options mean it won't dominate daily driving. The two active class-action settlements (windshield + EyeSight) materially reduce the downside. Not a reason to shift away from the Forester pick.

Verdict

🟢 Strong top pick — proceed to shortlist.

The Forester 2019-2022 hits every one of Hannah's requirements: AWD (genuinely excellent — symmetrical full-time, not on-demand), 8.7" ground clearance (best in class), high seating position with the "truck-feel" she's used to from the F-150, safety ratings among the best available, and cargo room comfortably handles 1 dog + archaeology field gear. Reliability is above-average (TrueDelta 71-76/100 for 2020-2022; CR "much better than average" for 2021), the FB25 oil consumption scare doesn't apply to the redesigned FB25D, and the 5th-gen CVT is materially better than the troubled 2014-2018 version.

The F-150 lemon triangulation lesson applied: avoid the 2019 as a first-year redesign (highest complaint volume, lowest TrueDelta score, no longer CPO-eligible anyway). Target 2021 Forester Premium CPO, 40-60k miles, around $22-24k — stays within $25k ceiling, keeps CPO powertrain warranty (which covers the CVT — the one expensive thing that can go wrong), and avoids the first-year bugs. The single biggest watchout is the windshield defect — it may crack spontaneously; she is eligible for the class-action settlement (one free replacement + recalibration); plan for it.

Outback is the one real alternative worth test-driving alongside — nearly identical drivetrain, more cargo volume, lower loading height for dogs, slightly lower seating position.

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Citations

See Also

• Hannah's shortlist
• Comparison matrix
• Sources
• VehicleQuest