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EPS Connector Short Circuit / Power Steering Loss — Recall 19V065 (2019)
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
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2019-2024 Subaru Forester SK problems: EyeSight phantom braking, windshield cracking, CVT shudder, 6 recalls. California lemon law options explained.
You chose the 2019-2024 Subaru Forester for the right reasons: the EyeSight safety suite, the symmetrical all-wheel drive, the boxer engine's low center of gravity. Subaru's marketing promised a vehicle designed to protect you and your family. What many Forester SK owners discovered instead was a vehicle with a recurring cast of defects that dealers struggle to permanently resolve, and a manufacturer whose own internal processes sometimes make it harder, not easier, to get those defects fixed.
The SK generation (2019-2024) carries six active NHTSA recall campaigns, ranging from a power steering connector that can short-circuit and strip you of steering assist (19V065), to a coolant pipe that can drip onto hot exhaust and start a fire (23V723), to a driveshaft outer race that can crack and leave you stranded (23V754). But the NHTSA recall list is only the beginning of the picture.
For thousands of Forester SK owners, the real daily friction comes from issues that Subaru has not recalled: the EyeSight system that stomps the brakes with no obstacle in sight; the windshield that cracks overnight without a stone in sight; the Starlink touchscreen that goes black in the middle of a lane change; the battery that dies the third time this year; and the CVT that shudders every morning at the bottom of the on-ramp. Each of these problems has a documented owner-complaint record in the NHTSA database running into the dozens per model year.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act exists for this pattern: a manufacturer with notice of a defect, a dealer network that can't permanently fix it, and an owner who has been back to the service bay more times than they should have to count. If your Forester SK has been in for the same complaint two or more times, or if it has accumulated thirty or more days out of service across all repair visits, you may have a strong claim.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
engine knocking; engine stalls; sudden loss of power; check engine light; engine failure recall
front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks
engine knocking; engine stalls; sudden loss of power; check engine light; engine failure recall
clunking from drivetrain; loss of drive power; vehicle may roll when parked
transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
Loss of electric power steering at any speed — but especially at low speed in parking lots or during lane changes — is a direct loss-of-vehicle-control event under Song-Beverly. NHTSA 19V065 is a formal recall acknowledgment that Subaru had notice of this exact defect. If the EPS recall repair was performed and the owner subsequently experienced recurrent steering hesitation or stiffness, each visit counts toward the reasonable-number-of-repair-attempts threshold.
None of the affected vehicles have been sold yet. Subaru has notified dealers and they will inspect the steering gearbox, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUC
engine knocking; engine stalls; sudden loss of power; check engine light; engine failure recall
Recall 19V856 addresses PCV valve component separation that allows debris to enter the engine and cause power loss while driving. This is a drivability and reliability defect — engine damage from debris ingestion can be progressive. If the recall repair did not prevent subsequent engine performance issues (stalling, loss of power), those additional events support a repeat-repair claim under Song-Beverly even if they were coded under a different repair order line item.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at
front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks
Recall 21V263 covers rear stabilizer bracket bolt detachment, which Subaru's own defect description notes may raise crash risk. A stabilizer bar that detaches mid-drive can cause sudden handling instability — particularly dangerous during emergency maneuvers. If this recall remedy was not completed before the owner experienced a related handling complaint, both the pre-remedy driving period and any post-repair recurrence would be relevant to a Song-Beverly claim.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will retorque and replace any missing bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-21.
engine knocking; engine stalls; sudden loss of power; check engine light; engine failure recall
Recall 23V723 addresses a coolant pipe that can leak onto hot exhaust components and ignite — a fire-risk defect. Although classified as a 'Safety' severity (not 'Catastrophic,' which is reserved for active fire/death-confirmed campaigns), this defect is serious: coolant loss can also cause engine overheating and seized engine. If a 2024 Forester owner's vehicle spent time at the dealer awaiting the recall remedy or experienced coolant loss before the recall was performed, those out-of-service days contribute to the Song-Beverly cumulative-days threshold.
Subaru’s independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. S
clunking from drivetrain; loss of drive power; vehicle may roll when parked
Recall 23V754 covers front driveshaft outer-race cracking that can cause sudden loss of drive power or unintended vehicle roll when parked. Unexpected loss of drive at speed is a classic Song-Beverly safety defect. The 2023-2024 Forester is specifically named; if the recall fix has not been completed or if driveshaft symptoms (vibration, clunking) persist after the dealer repair, the owner has grounds for a repeat-repair claim under California law.
Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRP-23.
transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning
Recall 23V755 covers the inhibitor (park/neutral start interlock) switch failing due to water intrusion through an insufficiently welded seam. A failed inhibitor switch can prevent the vehicle from starting, cause unexpected gear selection behavior, or allow rollaway. For 2022 Forester owners, if the recall repair was performed but transmission engagement hesitation or gear-selection anomalies continue, those symptoms should be documented as separate repair attempts. The repair must also address any associated Starlink or electrical disruption that occurred during the failure event.
Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
car brakes suddenly with no obstacle present; emergency braking activates at highway speed without warning; EyeSight warning light comes on; forward collision warning triggers falsely; EyeSight system disables unexpectedly; lane-keep assist veers toward obstacles; adaptive cruise control cancels without driver input
Unexpected full emergency braking at highway speed without an obstacle is a safety defect under Song-Beverly. If a dealer recalibrates EyeSight and phantom braking recurs, each dealer visit for the same condition counts toward the 'reasonable number of attempts' threshold. Owners who also experience TCV-related EyeSight disablement on the same repair history compound the claim: two separate systems failing to perform their advertised safety function.
Dealer EyeSight camera recalibration; software update where applicable. No recall issued as of Jun 30, 2026. Some owners report recurrence after recalibration. If triggered by TCV fault, repair TCV first to restore EyeSight function.
windshield cracks overnight with no impact; loud pop followed by crack spreading from edge; crack appears in cold weather without stone chip; windshield cracks from temperature change; multiple windshield replacements; cracks originate near EyeSight camera bracket; dealer says impact-caused but owner disputes; crack visible in morning that was not there the night before
Each windshield replacement is a repair visit. If the same spontaneous cracking defect recurs after a replacement using OEM glass, the owner has documented repeat repair attempts for the same root cause — satisfying the Song-Beverly pattern. The additional EyeSight recalibration cost and the safety impact of driving without a functioning EyeSight system during the repair period further support the claim that this is more than a cosmetic annoyance.
Windshield replacement (typically $400-$800 out of pocket after insurance). Requires EyeSight recalibration after each replacement (~$200-$300 additional). No recall as of Jun 30, 2026. Some owners report second or third spontaneous crack after replacement with OEM glass.
shuddering or shaking when accelerating from a stop; judder felt through the floor at 15-35 mph; CVT hesitates before engaging; transmission slipping at highway speed; whining noise from transmission; CVT warning light; harsh jolt when coming to a stop; transmission spontaneously shifting to neutral; complete CVT failure requiring replacement at under 40,000 miles
CVT shudder that recurs after a fluid service or torque converter replacement is a drivability defect with a well-documented pattern across Subaru's FB25 lineup. Under Song-Beverly, a single repair that does not resolve the shudder — or a shudder that comes back within a short interval — can be combined with other open repair attempts on this vehicle to build a multi-defect claim. CVT replacement at under 40,000 miles during the powertrain warranty period places the vehicle squarely in lemon-law territory if the first attempt fails to resolve the condition.
CVT fluid flush with Subaru-specified fluid (Lineartronic CVT Fluid II); valve body inspection; torque converter replacement if fluid exchange does not resolve shudder. Severe cases require full CVT replacement. Repair cost out-of-warranty: $3,500-$8,000.
touchscreen freezes and becomes unresponsive; screen goes black while driving; Apple CarPlay or Android Auto disconnects mid-drive and cannot reconnect; backup camera unavailable when touchscreen is frozen; Bluetooth phone audio drops out without warning; radio stations change randomly; navigation map jumps; voice commands fail; system requires dealer head unit replacement
A frozen or black infotainment screen that disables the backup camera creates a safety deficiency in a vehicle sold with that feature as standard equipment. Under Song-Beverly, infotainment defects are warrantied components; if a head unit replacement fails to permanently resolve the freeze within the warranty period, and the owner returns for the same complaint, the repeat-repair count applies. The active April 2023 class-action establishes manufacturer notice of the defect, strengthening the argument that Subaru was aware and did not disclose.
Dealer software update; if unresolved, head unit replacement. Consumer Reports confirms head unit replacement as remedy. Subaru extended the Gen 3.0 warranty to 5-year/100,000 miles in the 2020 settlement; no equivalent extension confirmed for Gen 3.1 SK units as of Jun 30, 2026.
oil level drops 1-2 quarts between oil changes; burning oil smell from engine bay; blue smoke from exhaust on startup; check engine light for low oil pressure; engine burning one quart per 1,000 miles or more; dealer says consumption is 'within spec'; engine knocking at low oil level
Excessive oil consumption that causes engine knocking or triggers a low-oil-pressure warning is a drivability and reliability defect under Song-Beverly. Subaru's multi-step oil consumption testing protocol — which often requires owners to return for check intervals over several months — itself generates multiple dealer visits. If the consumption exceeds Subaru's own threshold and the piston ring replacement does not permanently resolve the issue, subsequent visits count toward a lemon-law repair-attempt pattern. The Yaeger settlement precedent establishes that Subaru had corporate notice of FB25-family ring defects.
Subaru's diagnosis protocol requires an oil consumption test (owner tracks usage over a dealer-monitored interval). If confirmed excessive, remedy is typically piston ring replacement or short-block replacement. Subaru's 'acceptable' consumption threshold of one quart per 1,200 miles is disputed by owners as impractical. Repair cost out-of-warranty: $2,500-$5,000.
A/C blows warm air; A/C stops cooling within first two to three years; refrigerant charge depletes repeatedly; dealer finds condenser leak; A/C compressor seized; loud clicking from HVAC compressor; A/C repair cost exceeds $1,000 under warranty
A/C failure in California's climate — where temperatures routinely exceed 90°F — is more than a comfort issue; it impairs safe vehicle operation for passengers including children and the elderly. If a condenser replacement fails and leaks recur within the warranty period, the owner has grounds for a Song-Beverly repeat-repair claim on the HVAC system specifically.
Condenser replacement and refrigerant recharge. If compressor is seized, full A/C system replacement. Covered under Subaru's 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty if within period; some owners report Subaru goodwill coverage beyond warranty. Repair cost: $800-$2,000 depending on whether only condenser or full system.
dead battery overnight or after short periods; multiple battery replacements within warranty; auto idle-stop system stalls engine at intersection and fails to restart; vehicle stalls mid-drive due to battery fault; dashboard warning lights cycling on and off; dealer confirms battery is normal but drain continues; EyeSight and other safety systems disable due to low voltage
A battery that dies repeatedly — or an idle-stop system that stalls the engine at an intersection — is a safety defect under California law. If a battery replacement fails to resolve the drain and the owner returns within the warranty period, this meets the repeat-repair pattern. An idle-stop stall that leaves the vehicle inoperable in traffic is a loss-of-drive-at-speed equivalent under Song-Beverly severity analysis.
Battery replacement (often multiple). Dealer may perform parasitic draw test; if draw is confirmed excessive, individual module repair. Auto idle-stop function can be disabled for individual trips. No software fix or hardware recall as of Jun 30, 2026.
power liftgate closes unexpectedly while owner is standing in opening; liftgate fails to open on key fob command; liftgate opens partially and stops; motor whines or grinds when operating; liftgate struts fail prematurely; liftgate drops suddenly when struts fail
A power liftgate that closes unexpectedly while an owner or child is in the opening creates a physical injury risk and qualifies as a safety defect. If the liftgate motor requires replacement and the same unexpected-closing behavior recurs, the owner has a documented repeat-repair pattern under Song-Beverly. Multiple dealer visits for liftgate electrical or mechanical failures on the same vehicle can also contribute to a cumulative out-of-service-days count.
Liftgate motor or latch module replacement. Strut replacement ($200-$400 per strut). If the liftgate closes unexpectedly, dealer may recalibrate sensors or replace obstacle-detection module. Covered under 3/36 warranty if within period.
remedy available
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
remedy available
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
remedy available
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
remedy available
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and 2019 Forester vehicles. The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.
remedy available
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
remedy available
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. A connector inside the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act applies to any new or certified pre-owned Subaru Forester SK purchased or leased in California while the manufacturer's warranty is active. You do not need to prove bad faith — only that a covered defect was not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, or that the vehicle spent thirty or more calendar days out of service across all repairs.
For the Forester SK, the defects most likely to trigger eligibility are:
Recall-backed safety defects (iss-01 through iss-06): EPS failure (19V065), coolant pipe fire risk (23V723), and driveshaft cracking (23V754) are safety-severity recalls. Even a single failed repair attempt on a safety defect can support a claim.
EyeSight phantom braking (iss-07): Two or more dealer visits for unexpected emergency braking with no fix that holds satisfies the safety-defect threshold.
Windshield cracking (iss-08): Two or more spontaneous cracks on OEM glass, combined with other open issues, can satisfy the non-safety repeat-repair pattern.
Out-of-service days: Thirty or more cumulative days at the dealer — for any combination of the above defects, including time waiting on recall parts — qualifies regardless of repair-attempt count. Save every loaner record, rental receipt, and dealer text about parts delays.
Attorney fees: Under Song-Beverly, Subaru pays attorney fees if you prevail. Most California lemon cases have no upfront cost to the consumer.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
Subaru dealers frequently mark Forester SK complaints 'could not duplicate' (CND) — especially for EyeSight phantom braking, Starlink freeze events, and CVT shudder. Here is how to push back:
1. DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU GO IN. Record a video the moment the symptom occurs: show the dashboard warning lights and the road ahead when EyeSight fires. Send the clip to yourself for a timestamp. For battery events, photograph the dashboard clock when the car won't start.
2. WRITE YOUR COMPLAINT VERBATIM. Insist the service advisor write exactly what happened: 'EyeSight applied full emergency braking at 65 mph on I-5 with no vehicle ahead on [date].' Vague entries like 'EyeSight issue' make CND easy for the dealer.
3. DEMAND THE TECH NOTES. You are entitled to a complete repair order. If it says CND, ask: what diagnostic steps were performed, which DTCs were checked, was an EyeSight event log pulled? A CND without a road test is not a diagnosis.
4. ASK FOR EYESIGHT EVENT LOGS. EyeSight records internal braking events. For CVT shudder, ask whether fluid was inspected for contamination. For Starlink freeze, confirm the software version was checked against the current release.
5. GIVE THE DEALER THE CONDITIONS. Windshield cracking happens in cold mornings; battery drain peaks after 3-4 days parked; EyeSight phantom braking is more common under overpasses and in bright sun. Exact conditions — time, temperature, road type — are your best tool for getting a real replication attempt.
6. COUNT EVERY VISIT. Song-Beverly uses a reasonable-number-of-repair-attempts standard: typically two for safety defects, four for non-safety, or thirty cumulative out-of-service days. A spreadsheet of date-in, date-out, complaint, and outcome is your case file.
The 2019-2024 Subaru Forester SK is a vehicle sold on the promise of safety — EyeSight, symmetrical AWD, a cage designed to protect. The recall record and the NHTSA complaint database tell a more complicated story: six active recall campaigns across the six model years, and some of the highest complaint volumes in Subaru's lineup for phantom braking, windshield cracking, and battery drain.
What makes the Forester SK's defect profile particularly relevant to lemon-law attorneys is the interconnection of its failures: a TCV fault disables EyeSight; a frozen Starlink screen disables the backup camera; a dead battery disables everything. Owners who think they have three separate problems may actually have one underlying electrical system deficiency that manifests in multiple ways — and each manifestation generates a repair visit that counts under Song-Beverly.
— The Margarian Law team
If your 2019-2024 Subaru Forester has been in for phantom braking, windshield cracking, battery drain, or any of the six active recalls — more than once — you may have rights under California's lemon law. Margarian Law has handled thousands of lemon cases and offers a free case review. No upfront cost; attorney fees are pursued from Subaru if your case succeeds.
Your Forester's EyeSight system may be triggering false emergency braking events — sometimes called phantom braking. EyeSight uses two forward-facing stereo cameras to detect obstacles. When the cameras misread road markings, overhead signs, bridges, or oncoming headlights as collision threats, the system commands full emergency braking. This is the second-highest NHTSA complaint category for 2022 Foresters (17 complaints) and a documented issue across 2019-2023 model years. Dealers typically respond with camera recalibration, but many owners report recurrence. EyeSight also shuts off entirely when a TCV or check-engine fault illuminates, leaving you without forward collision protection. If your Forester has braked unexpectedly more than once, document each event — including the date, road conditions, and speed — and request that the dealer pull EyeSight event logs on each visit. Repeated phantom braking that a dealer cannot permanently fix is a safety defect under California law. []
The 2019-2023 Subaru Forester has the highest owner-reported NHTSA complaint rate for spontaneous windshield cracking of any SK-generation defect, with 23 complaints filed for the 2022 model year alone. Owners consistently describe a loud pop followed by a crack spreading from the edge of the glass — often overnight during temperature changes — with no stone chip present. The EyeSight camera bracket, bonded to the windshield interior, is suspected of creating a stress concentration point that makes the glass more vulnerable to thermal cracking. Each replacement requires an EyeSight recalibration ($200-$300 on top of the windshield cost). If you have had two or more windshields spontaneously crack on the same vehicle using OEM glass, that is a documented repeat-repair pattern. Keep all replacement invoices and insist the dealer note on the repair order that no impact was found. []
The 2019-2022 Subaru Forester uses the TR580 Lineartronic CVT. Owners report shuddering or juddering when accelerating from a stop, hesitation before the transmission engages, and in some cases complete CVT failure at under 40,000 miles. Consumer Reports confirmed at least one full CVT replacement on a 2019 Forester. Subaru previously issued extended CVT warranties for Outback and Legacy models with the same FB25 engine and TR580 transmission, but no equivalent Forester SK program has been announced as of Jun 30, 2026. If your CVT has been serviced for shudder and the problem returns, document each visit. A CVT replacement during the powertrain warranty period — or a shudder that recurs after a fluid exchange — is exactly the kind of repeat-repair pattern that can support a California lemon-law claim. []
The 2019-2024 Subaru Forester SK has six active NHTSA recall campaigns: EPS connector short-circuit (19V065), PCV valve separation (19V856), stabilizer bracket bolt loosening (21V263), coolant pipe fire risk (23V723), driveshaft outer-race cracking (23V754), and inhibitor switch water intrusion (23V755). If your Forester is still experiencing symptoms after recall repairs — or if it has been in the shop for non-recall defects like EyeSight phantom braking, windshield cracking, or battery drain — keep every repair order and track the dates your car was out of service. California's Song-Beverly Act allows a lemon-law claim when a warranted defect is not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts (generally two or more for safety defects) or when the vehicle spends thirty or more days out of service. A vehicle with multiple open recall campaigns and additional unresolved TSB-class issues is a strong candidate for review. []
The 2019-2022 Subaru Forester uses a Starlink Gen 3.1 touchscreen head unit made by Harman International. Owners report the screen freezing mid-drive, going completely black, and losing Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth connectivity without warning. When the screen freezes, the backup camera may also become unavailable. Subaru settled a class-action (final approval June 2020) covering the predecessor Gen 3.0 unit in 2017-2018 vehicles, providing a 5-year/100,000-mile extended warranty. A second class-action was filed in April 2023 covering 2019+ vehicles with Gen 3.1 units; that case is pending as of Jun 30, 2026. If your Forester's screen has frozen more than once, request a software version check and a written repair order each time. A head unit replacement that does not permanently resolve the freeze — or a dealer that marks the complaint 'could not duplicate' without performing a software update — creates a documented repair-attempt record. []
Yes — a 2019-2024 Subaru Forester can qualify for California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act if a covered warranty defect is not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, or if the vehicle spends thirty or more calendar days out of service for warranty repairs. The Forester SK's defect profile — six active recall campaigns, high NHTSA complaint volumes for EyeSight phantom braking, windshield cracking, and battery drain — means many SK owners have already accumulated the repair-visit history to support a claim. You do not need to prove Subaru acted in bad faith. You need documented repair orders showing the same problem was brought back without permanent resolution. Under Song-Beverly, if your claim succeeds, Subaru pays your attorney's fees. Margarian Law offers a free case review with no upfront cost. []
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