The 2019 Forester with the FB25 2.5L engine suffers from a serious oil-consumption defect tied to piston ring design and crankcase ventilation issues, leading to catastrophic engine failure if not caught early. Otherwise a solid crossover with isolated steering and suspension concerns.
Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure (FB25 Engine)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart of oil every 1,000-2,000 miles without visible leaks, Blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or acceleration, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0301-P0304) as rings deteriorate, Complete engine seizure if oil level drops unnoticed
Fix: Subaru extended warranty covers short-block replacement under certain conditions (consumption test required), otherwise full engine rebuild or short-block swap. 16-22 labor hours for short-block with timing components, water pump, and all gaskets. Many shops now recommend PCV valve upgrade and catch-can installation during repair to address root cause.
Estimated cost: $6,500-9,500
PCV Valve / Crankcase Ventilation System Clogging
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and stumbling acceleration, Oil weeping from valve cover gaskets despite recent replacement, Increased oil consumption as system pressurizes crankcase, Check engine light with lean codes (P0171/P0174)
Fix: Replace PCV valve assembly in intake manifold and clean separator plate in passenger-side valve cover. Requires intake manifold removal. 3-4 labor hours. NHTSA recall 20V-666 covers some VINs for PCV replacement, verify eligibility first.
Estimated cost: $400-700
CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under vehicle near front-center, Burnt smell after highway driving if fluid level drops, Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Slipping or shuddering on acceleration if severe
Fix: Replace CVT cooler lines and associated O-rings/seals. Lines corrode where they route near exhaust. Requires partial subframe drop for access. 4-5 labor hours plus CVT fluid fill and relearn procedure.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Electric Power Steering Assist Failure
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: Sudden loss of power steering assist with dash warning light, Steering becomes extremely heavy, especially at low speeds, Intermittent fault that may return after key cycle, No advance warning in most cases
Fix: Typically a failed steering rack assembly with integrated electric motor. NHTSA recall 19V-701 covers certain VINs for control module software update, but rack replacement often still needed. 3.5-5 labor hours with alignment. Subaru has extended warranty coverage for some affected units.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Rear Stabilizer Bar Link and Bushing Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or rattling from rear suspension over bumps, Noise more pronounced on one-wheel impacts or body roll, Visual inspection shows torn boots or separated ball joints
Fix: Replace rear sway bar end links (both sides recommended) and inspect bushings. NHTSA recall 20V-134 covers some VINs for stabilizer bracket inspection. 1.5-2 labor hours including alignment check.
Estimated cost: $300-500
Transmission Mount Premature Wear
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle when stopped in gear, Visible sagging or cracking of rubber mount on inspection
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount. CVT design places more stress on this mount than traditional automatics. 1.5 labor hours. Inspect all engine mounts while in there.
Estimated cost: $250-400
Solid platform if the engine hasn't been starved of oil — walk away from any 2019 with consumption history or absent maintenance records; the FB25 piston ring issue is a ticking time bomb that Subaru only partially addressed.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.