Short version, the fifth-generation Forester (2019-2024) is where the value sits right now, and the 2021 through 2024 model years are the cleanest tier within that generation. The 2019 carries a documented first-year recall you'll want to resolve before purchase. A 2020 is solid, though we'd keep an eye on the infotainment. Know those two things going in, and you're a step ahead of the game.
Browse our current Forester inventory to see what's landed on our lot recently.
Which Model Years Are Actually Worth Buying?
Yes to this whole generation as a value buy, with a year-by-year asterisk, because every 2019 through 2024 trim shares the same 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine, the same Lineartronic CVT, and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, leaving recalls and trim features as the things that separate one year from the next.
EyeSight (automatic pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise, lane-keep) comes standard across every 2019-2024 trim too. That uniformity works in your favor on the used market, since the choices you're weighing come down to model-year issues and feature levels.
The tiers break out like this, and the numbers behind them tell you what you're buying.
| Year Range | Ground Clearance | Cargo (seats up / down) | EPA Highway | Key Watch Item | Birmingham Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8.7 in | 35.4 / 76.1 cu ft | 33 mpg | PCV valve recall (19V-858), verify resolved | Good if recall closed |
| 2020-2021 | 8.7 in | 35.4 / 76.1 cu ft | 33 mpg | Infotainment glitches; CVT check | Strong all-around |
| 2022 | 8.7 in | 35.4 / 76.1 cu ft | 33 mpg | Inhibitor switch recall (23V755000) | Strong; verify recall |
| 2023-2024 | 8.7 in | 35.4 / 76.1 cu ft | 33 mpg | Driveshaft recall (23V-754, limited) | Strongest used tier |
| 2022-2024 Wilderness | 9.2 in | 35.4 / 76.1 cu ft | 28 mpg | Higher load rating; X-MODE standard | Strong off-pavement |
Ground clearance figures per Subaru's published specifications. The EPA highway figures are EPA-estimated for non-Wilderness standard trims, and on the Wilderness you're looking at EPA-estimated figures that reflect the lifted suspension and larger tires.
The 2021-2024 Forester is the sweet spot tier: IIHS-rated Good on both driver-side and passenger-side small-overlap tests for this generation, and clear of the 2019 first-year recall issues.
Where Do the Known Problems Actually Show Up?
Most of what goes wrong on this generation is recall-trackable, and a recall that's already been repaired is basically a non-issue, while an unrepaired one is a genuinely different conversation you'll want to finish before you hand over any money.
2019 (first year of the generation). NHTSA issued recall 19V-858 for early 2019 Foresters, where the aluminum PCV valve can separate and let components drop into the engine. Serious stuff if it goes unaddressed. The fix is a dealer repair at no cost. Before you buy any 2019, run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and ask for the service record showing the repair was completed. Windshield cracking is also a documented 2019-era complaint (the large glass expanse and the camera mount for EyeSight create stress points). Budget for that possibility on anything over 60,000 miles.
2022. NHTSA campaign 23V755000 covers certain 2022 Foresters for an inhibitor switch weld defect. An inoperative inhibitor switch can stop the reverse lights and rearview camera from working. Same story, dealer-repaired at no cost if it's still open. Run the VIN.
2023-2024. Recall 23V-754 covers a limited number of pre-2024 models for front driveshaft component cracks. Not widespread, but worth the VIN check. Otherwise this stretch is the most settled in the generation.
The problems that surface here stay recall-trackable and mostly get handled through dealer repair programs. Some of the older pre-2019 generations can't say the same.
How Does the Forester Fit Birmingham Driving?
The Forester fits Birmingham driving well, with one honest tradeoff around fuel economy on the Wilderness trim, and that caveat aside, long wet summers reward the 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the standard all-wheel drive you get on the regular fifth-gen trims here.
Birmingham summers run long and wet. Afternoon thunderstorm season stretches from May into September, with standing water on US-280 through the Inverness corridor and on the I-20 east stretches toward Irondale that flood faster than the drainage can keep up. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance (standard on all non-Wilderness fifth-gen trims, per Subaru's published specifications) earns its keep in that setting. It clears most standing water that would swallow a low-slung sedan, most days anyway.
Symmetrical all-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels continuously. On a wet on-ramp off I-459, the system is already working before wheelspin starts rather than reacting after the fact. It won't substitute for good tires or a sensible speed, but it's the right architecture for a place that sees ice a few days a year and heavy rain for months.
Weigh the Wilderness fuel-economy hit before the extra clearance wins you over. Fuel economy on that trim drops to an EPA-estimated 28 highway versus 33 for standard trims, and on a daily Birmingham commute that gap adds up. The Wilderness earns its extra ground clearance (9.2 inches on 2022-2024 models) for buyers who head off-pavement on weekends toward the Appalachian foothills. For pure street-and-suburb use, the standard trim's clearance is already generous.
See our pre-owned inventory for current available Foresters, or check our financing page to start the numbers conversation.
Tip: The Forester's panoramic sunroof, available on upper trims, builds heat load quickly during a Birmingham summer. On any used example you're considering, run the A/C on high for ten minutes and confirm it's keeping up. A system that's marginal on a mild day will frustrate you in August.
How to Plan Your Used Forester Purchase
Planning a used Forester purchase comes down to a short list of concrete steps, none of them complicated, though skipping the VIN check is the one shortcut that can quietly cost you down the road, so run the records first and then match the trim to how you'll really drive.
Step 1: Run the VIN before you set foot on a lot. NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov is free and takes about 30 seconds. Enter the 17-digit VIN and see what's open and what's been repaired. For any 2019, look specifically for 19V-858. For any 2022, look for 23V755000. For any 2023 or early 2024, check for 23V-754.
Step 2: Ask for the maintenance records. Forester CVTs are reliable when they're serviced on schedule, and the CVT fluid interval matters. A used example with no maintenance history is a gamble you don't need to take when documented alternatives are sitting right there.
Step 3: Check the windshield carefully, especially on higher-mileage examples. The large glass and the EyeSight camera housing up top make the fifth-gen Forester more prone to windshield stress cracks than a lot of competitors. A crack that runs into the camera housing isn't only a glass repair. It also calls for EyeSight recalibration.
Step 4: Get a pre-purchase inspection from our service team. We'll put the car on a lift, run the full systems check, and tell you plainly what we find. Schedule a pre-purchase inspection and we'll work around your timeline.
Step 5: Know which trim fits your actual use. Premium and Sport give you most of what the Forester does well (EyeSight, X-MODE on Sport, a sunroof option) without paying for Touring-level features you may not touch daily. Limited and Touring add leather, navigation, and more, and they're the trims to prioritize if you're buying the car to keep for a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used 2019 Subaru Forester worth buying?
It can be, with some due diligence. The 2019 is the first year of the fifth generation, and it carried a NHTSA recall (19V-858) for PCV valve separation in early production models. Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall database before purchase. If the recall is closed (repair completed) and the vehicle has documented maintenance history, a 2019 makes a usable entry point into the generation. If the recall is still open, treat it as a negotiating point or walk away until it's resolved.
What is EyeSight and does every used fifth-gen Forester have it?
EyeSight is Subaru's camera-based driver assistance system that includes pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane centering. On the fifth-generation Forester (2019-2024), EyeSight is standard on every trim level, including the base model. So any used Forester from that generation comes with it, whatever the trim. The 2023 model year received an updated EyeSight version with improved cameras and the addition of Automatic Emergency Steering on most trims.
How does the Forester handle Birmingham's summer rain?
The combination of 8.7 inches of ground clearance (per Subaru's specifications for standard fifth-gen trims) and symmetrical all-wheel drive handles Birmingham's heavy summer rain better than most compact SUVs. All-wheel drive engages all four wheels continuously, which helps hold traction on slick pavement without waiting for wheelspin to trigger a reaction. That said, no AWD system substitutes for tires with adequate tread depth. Tires worn below 4/32 of an inch lose real wet-traction capability, so check tread depth on any used example before you commit.
Categories:
Social
