2018 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 495 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 26 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpJul 29, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Campaign 21V587000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationOct 3, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Campaign 19V701000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresJul 10, 2018
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTS-78.
Campaign 18V455000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
71 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Sep 3, 2021
With car in park key will not turn to the off position and can not be removed.
Electrical system, Jul 14, 2021
Multiple times, I've had the car parked for several days and when I try to start it, the battery is dead. I've had the dealer check the battery twice, and the entire charging system once. They couldn't find a problem. This doesn't happen every time consistently, but it's happened enough that I wanted to report the issue.
Electrical system, Jul 9, 2021
Battery keeps dying without daily use. I drove my vehicle less than a week ago, no lights left on, nothing in the charging ports, no doors open, and still the battery didn't have enough power to start. I've had to call AAA and have neighbors jump start my vehicle a few times but when I get my battery tested I'm told that my battery is fine and that I do not need a new one. Something is draining my battery and I don't know what.
Electrical system, May 17, 2021
I have had numerous times that my car would not start because the battery was dead. I upgraded my battery at purchase because I had the dealer install a remote start. Within a few months my car was completely dead and had to be towed to the dealer, 2.5 hrs away. Subaru replaced the battery with the biggest battery that would fit. The next winter, the same dead battery issues happened. It was suggested that I get a car starter jump pack, to keep on hand, which I used often. Then the battery stopped holding charge for even four days. So they recommended that I get a Trickle charge battery tender, so I did. The dealer thought it might be the remote starter, and replaced that. So far, it has been okay, but it is warmer weather now too. They also recommended that I keep the battery tender plugged in all time, year round, which seems crazy for a new car. I tried several times and ways to download my invoices showing these repairs. All failed.
Electrical system, May 16, 2021
The battery died. Subaru battery drain related
Electrical system, May 16, 2021
BATTERY DRAINS FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. THE RADIO OR LIGHTS ARE NOT LEFT ON THAT WOULD MAKE THE CAR DRAIN WHILE THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON 5/14/2021.
Electrical system, May 15, 2021
BATTERY DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED
Electrical system, May 15, 2021
WOULD GO TO START CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. MULTIPLE DAYS THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG G LEAVING SOMETHING ON, GOT BATTERY CHECKED THEY SAID IT WAS OK JUST LOW. IT KEPT DOING IT, WENT ON FOR LIKE 2-3 MONTHS . FINALLY I HAD ENOUGH AND BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. SINCE IT HAPPENED AND REPLACED BATTERY VEHICLE IDLES HIGH LIKE 1-2 IN PARK.
Electrical system, Lane departure, May 15, 2021
WENT TO START MY CAR AND BATTERY WAS DEAD. GOT A JUMP FROM AAA BUT SINCE NONE OF THE EYESIGHT SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SUBARU AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. I WAS TOLD I'D NEED TO DRIVE IT EVERY DAY TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. THAT'S ABSURD. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, REMOTE START WILL ONLY WORK FOR 2 STARTS. ON THE 3RD START, IT WON'T START UNLESS YOU START THE CAR MANUALLY. WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A REMOTE START IF YOU HAVE TO START THE CAR MANUALLY EVERY 3 DAYS?
Electrical system, May 15, 2021
WHILE GETTING A 2 HR DENTAL PROCEDURE, THERE WAS AN UNEXPLAINED BATTERY DRAIN, LEAVING THE CAR DEAD. I PAID AAA TO GIVE ME A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY JUMP. I HAD HAD NO PREVIOUS ISSUES.
Electrical system, Mar 18, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED AND UNDRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SMITH CAIRNS SUBARU - YONKERS (900 CENTRAL PARK AVE, YONKERS, NY 10704, (914) 377-8100) WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Electrical system, Nov 23, 2020
IKEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED, PUT IN PARK, BRAKE [PEDDLE DEPRESSED.
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2020
WINDOWS GET LOCKED AND I'M NOT ABLE TO USE THE SWITCH TO UNLOCK THE WINDOWS AND EITHER SIDE. ISSUE WAS REPORTED. SUBARU CORRECTED THE ISSUE BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. ONCE SUBARU DEALER HELPED VIA PHONE CONVERSATION TO RESET BUT THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. I FEEL TRAPPED IN MY CAR AND I HAVE TO OPEN MY DOOR TO REACH FOR A TICKET WHILE AT A PARKING LOT. CAN'T ROLE DOWN MY WINDOW AT THE GAS STATION. THIS CAN HAPPEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE MUSIC GOES TO A HIGH TO LOW VOLUME AND VISE VERSA EITHER ON IT'S OWN OR WHEN I HIT A BUMP. VERY DISTURBING AND SCARY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY.
Electrical system, Apr 26, 2020
FORESTER WAS PARKED IN UNDER GROUND PARKING GARAGE FOR BETWEEN ONE AND TWO WEEKS. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, NO SOUND AT ALL WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. THE ONLY DOOR THAT WAS LOCKED WAS THE REAR HATCH DOOR. NEIGHBOR BROUGHT A BATTERY CHARGER AND GOT THE FORESTER STARTED. FOLLOWING THAT, I DROVE IT TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND ASK THEM TO CHECK AND SEE IF ANYTHING WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. THEY CHECK EVERYTHING AND DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE FELLOW AT THE SERVICE DESK SAID THAT STARTING A CAR IS THE BIGGEST DRAIN ON A BATTERY AND IF THE CAR ISN'T DRIVEN ENOUGH BETWEEN STARTUPS, IT TENDS TO BRING THE BATTERY DOWN. HE RECOMMENDED PARTICULAR BATTERY CHARGER WHICH HE SAID I COULD PURCHASE AT WALMART. SINCE I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER ELEVEN THOUSAND MILES ON MY FORESTER, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS SITUATION OCCUR WITH ANY OF MY OTHER AUTOMOBILES IN THE PAST. I DO WORRY ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN SHOULD I LEAVE MY CAR PARKED AT THE AIRPORT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO PLUG IN A CHARGER. I STILL LOVE MY FORESTER.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2019
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK DUE TO A TYPE OF TRIP OR WIRING WITH THE LOCKING SYSTEM. WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STATIONARY, RIGHT BEFORE LOCKING THE DOOR, THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LIGHT FLASHES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CLOSED, EVEN IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ACTS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THIS PREVENTS THE CAR FROM LOCKING, DUE TO SOME TYPE OF TRIP IN THE DOOR SENSOR. IT MIGHT BE A TRIP BETWEEN THE KARR ALARM SYSTEM AND THE DOOR SENSOR INSTALLED IN THE CAR. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR OR RESOLVE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT IS HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Oct 17, 2019
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BECAME DISARMED AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN SMARTPHONE WEIGHING 3LBS WAS ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SENSOR IS SUPPOSED TO BECOME ARMED WHEN A 40LB PASSENGER SITS IN PASSENGER FRONT SEAT ONLY. READING THROUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY WHICH PUTS DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT RISK FOR INJURY.
Electrical system, Sep 20, 2019
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE READINGS ARE BETWEEN 3-7 DEGREES OFF. DEALER SAYS THAT IS NORMAL. AN I TO ASSUME THE TIRE PRESSURE, ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES ARE ALSO OFF ?
Electrical system, Sep 3, 2019
WHILE IN REVERSE, AUDIO CONTROL IS LOST. ALTERATION TO CHANNEL OR VOLUME OR TURNING OFF AUDIO IS DISABLED - WHICH CAN BE HIGHLY DISTRACTING IF THE SETTING WERE LEFT EXTREMELY LOUD SINCE THE AUDIO WILL INITIALIZE SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND REVERSING IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS AT THAT TIME.
Electrical system, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2019
THE EYESIGHT HAD BEEN MANIPULATED TO A WARNING EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO OBSTRUCTION WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, WHILE BACKING UP IT GIVES A WARNING THAT SOMEONE OR A VEHICLE IS ADJACENT TO MY CAR. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS I ENCOUNTER. I HAVE AN IDEA WHO'S BEHIND THIS. BUT I CANNOT PROVE IT. SOMEONE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN COMPUTER SECURITY WITHIN MY VICINITY. IT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN BACKING UP IN MY GARAGE.
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2018
IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAS A POORLY DESIGNED/NOT-CURRENT-LIMITED USB JACK, WHICH FAILS TO PREVENT A PHONE CHARGING CABLE WITH SHORTED OR SHORTING-INTERMITTENTLY INTERVAL POWER WIRES FROM BURNING UP AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE. THE DETAILS OF MY BURNT-CABLE EVENT: ON TUESDAY EVENING OCT. 9, 2018, I GOT INTO MY CAR IN MY GARAGE. I THEN STARTED THE CAR. THE USB PART OF MY IPHONE CABLE WAS ALREADY IN THE CAR'S USB PORT, I BELIEVE. WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IDLING IN PLACE, I THEN PLUGGED THE LIGHTENING END OF THE CABLE INTO MY IPHONE'S PORT TO CHARGE IT. I WAS STILL IDLING IN PLACE WHEN I HEARD A SOUND SIMILAR TO A PLASTIC BOTTLE POPPING INWARD OR OUTWARD AND STARTED TO LOOK AROUND IN MY CAR FOR WHAT'S GOING ON. I THEN, WITHIN SECONDS, I BELIEVE, STARTED TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL. I OPENED MY CENTER CONSOLE, SINCE THAT WAS THE MOST RECENT THING I HAD HANDLED, AND HAD PORTS IN IT, AND I SMELLED THE BURNING SMELL MORE. I QUICKLY PULLED OUT THE CABLE FROM THE USB PORT AND THE IPHONE ITSELF. I WENT ONWARD WITH THE NIGHT'S ACTIVITIES, AND THEN LATER THAT NIGHT, BACK AT THE CAR, INSPECTED THE CABLE AND SAW THAT THE LIGHTENING END (IPHONE END) WAS DISTORTED, WITH A WIRE PROTRUDING, AND A BROWN BURNT SPOT. I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A FIRE IF I HADN'T QUICKLY REMOVED THE CABLE FROM THE USB PORT.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO AN EXIT RAMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL IDLING EXTREMELY LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. RIMROCK SUBARU (324 S 24TH ST W, BILLINGS, MT 59102, (406) 651-5200) REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND OFFERED A TRADE-IN FOR A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200. **TR *JB