2019 Subaru Forester: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 20, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · NC · fire

My Subaru smelled like gas and caught on fire while I was driving to work less than 72 hours after it left the service department at the local Subaru dealership. Earlier that week I dropped the car off for service due to a check engine light and multiple other warning lights on the dashboard. The check engine light was determined to be due to a faulty thermo control valve (a known issue on several models of 2019-2021 Subarus). During that service appointment, the thermo control valve was replaced under warranty, the 60000 mile service, state inspection, and an oil change/tire rotation were completed. The morning of the incident, the car smelled like gas, but there were no warning lights on the dashboard and the temperature and gas gauges were all in range. While looking for a safe place to pull over on the side of the road, the gas smell worsened, I heard a pop, the check engine light and every single other light on the dashboard lit up, it smelled like burning jet fuel, and the front of the car was smoking and there were flames, and all mechanical and electrical control of the vehicle was compromised. The car coasted to the side of the right lane. I was unable to operate the gear shift to put the car in park. I opened the driver’s side door, removed my seatbelt, grabbed my backpack, lunch bag, and phone, and exited the vehicle while it was still rolling. I ran around the back of the car to get onto the side walk. Flaming, melting pieces of plastic were coming off the bottom of the car. Flames and smoke were visible on the front hood of the car. I called 911 while the car continued to roll across several lanes onto the other side of the road. The burning car rolled and hit a guardrail on the opposite side of the road and continued to burn until the local Fire Department arrived on scene. Local police and the fire inspector wrote reports. My insurance declared the car a total loss. I have informed the local dealership and worked to get them access to the vehicle.

Filed May 6, 2025 · Engine · 122,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine PCV had failed, causing catastrophic damage to the engine. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the vehicle was previously serviced under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V856000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); and the engine was replaced as part of the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 122,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2025 · Engine · MA

When I first noticed that my car wasn’t heating properly, it was in May 20 24 when I purchased the car and Carvana dropped it off to my place of residency. When I notified someone of this issue, they told me it probably just needed coolant. I did as instructed and noticed that I was adding in coolant frequently. On February 19, 2025 I returned home one evening and noticed that smoke coming from my car and coolant was leaking from underneath. I called roadside assistance in order to get my car towed and into service at the Subaru dealership. After inspection, the mechanic noticed that there was oil inside the coolant suggesting that there may be an issue with the head gaskets then warned me not to drive my car because there could be further issue with the engine as a result of the head gasket being blown.

Filed Mar 2, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · NY · fire

Car had just been serviced by subaru service dept on 2/27/2024. On 3/1/2024, while travelling in heavy rush hour traffic, we smelled a very strong odor of gasoline and were alerted by another driver that our car was leaking a large amount of gasoline in the roadway. We pulled over to a safe area, evacuated the car, and the car burst into flames. Fire was extinguished by the wantagh fire department. Police report by ny state police was obtained. Car was removed by tow truck.

Filed Dec 5, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · SC · crash · fire

On November 30th around 5:30 PM on [XXX] my wife struck and killed a 6 point buck. Thankfully a SC Highway officer was coming in the opposite direction saw the accident and aided my wife in getting out of the car as he had seen a fire in the engine compartment area. Shortly thereafter the car exploded and was engulfed in flames and totally destroyed. Neither the patrol officer nor the tow operator can remember an auto fire resulting from striking a deer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 10, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · NY · crash · fire

On our way to a vacation in NJ, we were driving on the expressway and a deer jumped over the rail into the hood of the car. The car immediately started to smoke ( dark black). We got out of the car, retrieved two luggage bags, and the car burst into flames. All within 60 seconds of hitting the deer. About five years ago, same thing happened to my daughter driving a Subaru WRX…. Twice in the same family….no recall?

Filed Jul 20, 2022 · Electrical · MN · fire

My car started on fire while parked and turned off. The fire was electrical and appeared to be caused by issues in the main wiring harness under the console between the driver and passenger seats.

Filed Apr 1, 2022 · Body, Electrical · NV · crash · fire

Car caught fire after a relatively slow (less than 35 mph) collision with a Chevrolet Tahoe. Other vehicle was driveable, my Subaru Forester caught fire.

Filed Apr 13, 2020 · Electrical · 30,000 miles · NY · fire

The vehicle had an electric mirror where the back casing was broken. We went to the dealer where we were told it was a cosmetic issue only and they ordered a mirror for us. We left and the vehicle caught on fire while sitting in a driveway turned off. The insurance inspector is saying the fire started in the wiring in the door. The mirror operated 100% without issues, it appears moisture from rain got into the mirror wires which may have caused the fire.

Filed Dec 9, 2019 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 14,000 miles · NH · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2019 subaru forester. The contact stated that all the automatic safety features failed on the vehicle. While driving between 50-55 MPH and changing lanes, the lane departure warning failed. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a fractured sternum that required medical attention. The contact was able to exit the vehicle before it caught fire and burned to the ground. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000. The VIN was unknown.

Filed Jul 31, 2019 · Airbags, Engine · 3,800 miles · PA · crash · fire

In an accident involving front end to other car rear end on an interstate highway, the airbag system didn't deploy. The engine then caught fire in the right front of the engine. The entire car burned. Fortunately no injury to driver or passenger.