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: seats
30 reports, newest first. Show all
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.
Air bags, Seats, Mar 6, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR DETECTS PERSON SITTING IN SEAT AND TURNS ON THE AIRBAG WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY. NOTIFICATIONS TURNS ON AT CAR STARTUP AND WILL TURN ON WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. CAR WAS BOUGHT MAY 31ST, 2018. THIS BEHAVIOR STARTED ON THE FIRST COLD DAY IN MY AREA (ROUGHLY LATE NOVEMBER/EARLY DECEMBER 2018).
Air bags, Seats, Jan 9, 2019
MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER IS EXPERIENCING FAULTY ACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT SINCE JUNE 2018. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST 2017. THE DASHBOARD READS THAT THERE IS NO AIRBAG ON FOR THE PASSENGER WHILE SOMEONE WAS SEATED THERE AND THE CAR WAS SITTING OR IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF SINCE JUNE 2018. THE LIGHT READS PERIODICALLY THAT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS ARE ON. AFTER BRINGING IT TO MY SUBARU DEALER IN AUGUST 2018, I WAS TOLD THAT A PART WOULD BE ORDERED AND THAT IT WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION THAT NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER WAITING A MONTH, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT SUBARU HAS TO CREATE AND MANUFACTURE THIS SEAT CUSHION STILL, AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN THIS WOULD BE DONE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY FORESTER FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS NOW DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES OF DRIVING WITHOUT THE GUARANTEE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO ANSWER AS TO WHEN SUBARU WILL EVEN START CREATING THIS NEW PART. I AM SURPRISED IT IS NOT A RECALL SINCE IT IS AN AIRBAG ISSUE, AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAD AT LEAST 7 OTHER CUSTOMERS CURRENTLY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE NOW BEEN WITHOUT MY NEW VEHICLE AND DRIVING A LOANER CAR FROM THE DEALER. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO END IN SIGHT AS TO WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL BE FIXED OR EVEN ADDRESSED BY SUBARU.
Air bags, Seats, Nov 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIME SUBARU HYANNIS (508-778-5066, LOCATED AT 24 RIDGEWOOD AVE, HYANNIS, MA 02601) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT WAS WET. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG INDICATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR UNDERNEATH THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS BACK ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.
Air bags, Seats, Oct 27, 2018
OCT. 25, 2018. CAR IN GARAGE STATIONARY/STARTED VEHICLE/ DASHBOARD RED WARNING LIGHT OF SEAT WITH BELT/AIRBAG. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. 1/2 HOUR LATER, RETURNED TO CAR, SAW HEADLIGHTS ON, TWO FRONT DOORS LOCKED/DIDN'T START CAR. CALLED DEALER AND TOOK IN. SAID AIRBAG PROBLEM AND NEED PASSENGER SEAT REPLACEMENT-BUT ON BIG BACKORDER/MONTHS AND MONTHS. NO FIRM DATE. SAID CHOICE: DRIVE IT AT RISK/ OR TAKE A RENTAL. GM GAVE US LOANER. GM SAID THIS IS FIRST ONE HE HAS HEARD OF AT THEIR DEALERSHIP.