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: visibility/wiper
135 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Oct 8, 2021
Second time windshield had to be replaced from cracking after sustaining small rock chip.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2021
WINDSHEILD CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO REASON
Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2021
The windshield cracked over half way across due to no apparent reason. Noticed it in the morning after vehicle had been parked in a protected area. The crack continued to get bigger over the next day and now covers over half of the windshield.
Visibility/wiper, May 22, 2021
Changing wipers blades. Blade hit passenger side windshield and creates a 12 inch crack. Windshield had to be replaced.
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2021
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE FOR NO REASON AND NO IMAPCT
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2021
A SMALL ROCK FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF A ROCK THAT SMALL.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 25, 2021
IN UNDER TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD ON MY VEHICLE TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED A VERY SMALL CHIP. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, THE CHIP HAD BECOME A LARGE CRACK THE CAME DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD NEARLY HALFWAY DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. I PAID THE EXTRA MONEY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH OEM GLASS. MORE RECENTLY (LESS THAN 1.5 YEARS LATER), THE WIPER BLADES ON MY WINDSHIELD WERE REPLACED. THE ONE WIPER BLADE WOULD NOT LET GO AND THE BLADE CAME BACK DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE SPRING. NO MARKS WERE OBSERVED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, A CRACK CAME UP FROM THE BLADE AND RAN ACROSS NEARLY 1/3 OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DATE RECORDED IS FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 23, 2021
CRACKING WINDSHIELD ONCE A YEAR SINCE LAST YEAR.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 18, 2021
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER (PURCHASED NEW) TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS DUE TO (MINOR) ROCK STRIKES (HIGHWAY DRIVING) IN THE LOWER QUARTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I NOW HAVE A THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 45 YEARS AND I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE EVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS CAR! I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH SUBARUS AND THAT ONE LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED AND THAT 1-2 ADDITIONAL LAWSUITS, INVOLVING 2017-2019 FORESTERS ARE PENDING
Service brakes, Visibility/wiper, Apr 13, 2021
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSING DAMAGE. SHORT CRACK IN MOTION THAT GREW OVER SEVERAL NIGHTS WHILE PARKED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 12, 2021
WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE, RIGHT ABOVE THE FRONT SPEAKER. IT APPEARS THE CRACK IS ONLY ON THE INSIDE AND IS NOT CAUSED BY ANY OUTSIDE DAMAGE OR FORCE.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 7, 2021
WINDSHIELD UPPER PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKED APPROX 12" OVERNIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT WAS PARKED STATIONARY IN A COVERED GARAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 31, 2021
WINDSHIELD HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS AND CHIPS FROM SEVERAL EVENTS. IT CHIPS AND CRACKS TOO EASILY. ALL EVENTS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION WITH SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 70 MPH.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 30, 2021
A CRACK STARTED IN THE LOWER PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND HAS CONTINUED TO MOVE ACROSS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING VIEW. I NOTICED IT WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM VICKSBURG, MS. IT WAS UNDER A LEASE AND THEN I PURCHASED IT IN MARCH OF 2021.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2021
WINDSHIELD HAS TWO CRACKS ON OPPOSITE SIDES EXTENDING FROM BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD UPWARDS. ONE APPEARS TO BE IMPACT-RELATED. THE OTHER DOES NOT. CRACKS ARE EXTENDING TOWARD THE LOCATION OF THE SUBARU EYESIGHT SAFETY SYSTEM CAMERAS.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2021
HAVE HAD MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS NOW AND IT HAS APPROX. 29855 MILES. BEFORE THE CRACK APPEARED I HAD NO DAMAGE TO MY WINDSHIELD. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A A SLIGHT POP ALMOST LIKE A BOTTLE DENT POPPING OUT BECAUSE OF CARBONATION AT THE TIME THEIR WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING IN MY VICINITY, SHORTLY AFTER HEARING THE NOISE MY PASSENGER NOTICED THE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2021
A CRACK APPEAR ON MY SUBARU FORESTER 2018 WINDSHIELD IT WAS NOT CAUSE BY A ROCK IT JUST APPEAR
Visibility/wiper, Feb 17, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK STEMMING FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) GOING ACROSS TO THE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) AND THERE ISN'T ANY SIGNS OF IT BEING CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS. IT JUST APPEARED AS I WAS GETTING HOME.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 31, 2021
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED IN MY FIELD OF VIEW, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ONCE STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A TINY CHIP NEAR THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD, NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT BENEATH THE WIPERS, SO SMALL THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF ANYTHING EVER HITTING IT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETHING SO SMALL SHOULD NOT HAVE COMPROMISED THE WINDSHIELD IN SUCH A MAJOR WAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 22, 2021
MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED EASILY IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IN THE LITTLE OVER A YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IT HAS CRACKED SOONER AND MORE OFTEN THAN MY TWO PRIOR VEHICLES. THE EASE OF WHICH MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED IS CONCERNING FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER DUE TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD BEING SO EASILY IMPAIRED.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 22, 2021
FOUND A 10" CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD AFTER PARKING IN A GARAGE OVERNIGHT. IT RUNS HORIZONTAL FROM ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EDGE TOWARD THE CENTER. IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 13, 2021
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2021
DROVE TO DINER PARKED CAR WHEN WE RETURNED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED NO APPARENT DAMAGE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2021
A CRACK APPEARED RANDOMLY IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 30, 2020
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED, ENGINE WAS OFF, NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR. CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED FROM BASE OF WINDSHIELD UP ABOUT 5 INCHES. THERE WAS NO CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN I PARKED THE CAR. THERE WAS NO ROCK CHIP ON THE WAY UP. I LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE CRACK AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A ROCK CHIP, NO DIVOT ANYWHERE ALONG THE CRACK, NONE WHATSOEVER. WHEN I RETURNED, A CRACK HAD SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED. THE SERVICE DEPT AT EASTSIDE SUBARU IN KIRKLAND, WA, SAID TO CALL MY INSURANCE AND THAT IT'S NOT COVERED THOUGH THE CAR HAS BASIC WARRANTY AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.