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, Dec 20, 2020
WINDSHIELD GOT CRACKED WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE REASON WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE, AND CRACK GRADUALLY WENT ALL ACROSS THE WINDOW. THAT MADE DRIVING NOT SAFE. WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND DID COST A BIT OVER $1500 INCLUDING EYESIGHT RECALIBRATION. ALL PAPERWORK FOR REPAIR/CALIBRATION IS AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 14, 2020
WHILE DRIVING GLASS CHIPS APPEARED, UNEXPECTEDLY, ON THREE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2020
I ENCOUNTERED A CHIP IN MY FRONT PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WITH CRACKING GOING UP AND DOWN VERTICALLY. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Nov 29, 2020
ENCOUNTERING 2 ISSUES: WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT CAUSED UNEVEN WEAR AND TEAR ON FRONT TIRES
Visibility/wiper, Lane departure, Nov 29, 2020
ENCOUNTERING 2 ISSUES: WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT CAUSED UNEVEN WEAR AND TEAR ON FRONT TIRES
Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2020
AN ACORN FALLING OUT OF A TREE OUT A 14' CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD WHILE PARKED THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE
Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2020
I WAS SCRAPING ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A PLASTIC/TYPICAL ICE SCRAPER AND IT SHATTERED AT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE, WHICH THEN CAUSED A 5" CRACK WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO LENGTHEN. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2020
WINDSHIELD CHIP REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY AT APPROXIMATELY 30K MILES. CRACKED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 19, 2020
ON JULY 5, 2019, I HAD MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER MULTIPLE CRACKS APPEARED ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE TOP-MIDDLE PART. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CRACK WAS FROM DEBRIS THAT IMPACTED IT DIRECTLY WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. THE ADDITIONAL CRACK AT THE TOP-MIDDLE PART WAS UNEXPLAINED AS THERE WAS NO IMPACT ON IT BY ROCKS OR DEBRIS WHILE DRIVING. A YEAR LATER ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2020, I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED A SECOND TIME AFTER A ROCK IMPACTED THE SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND FRAME OF THE CAR SENDING SPIDER CRACKS INTO THE MIDDLE LAYER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENED IN MID-AUGUST. A THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 18, 2020, WHEN A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD IN THE MIDDLE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK IN THE MIDDLE LAYER AND IS NOW BEING SEALED.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 9, 2020
WINDSHIELD BROKEN TOO EASILY
Visibility/wiper, Sep 22, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK WHILE I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. IT EMANATES FROM RIGHT ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK STRIKE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 17, 2020
I JOIN COMPLAINANTS WITH A SUBARU WINDSHIELD CRACK. A CRACK MYSTERIOUSLY STARTED AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING HITTING IT, AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT (DING, CHIP, NOTHING!). I CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE OR HOW IT MAY HAVE STARTED (CRACK RUNS TO BASE OF WINDSHIELD). SINCE APPEARING, IT'S GROWN ABOUT HALFWAY UP, AND NOW HALFWAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I UNDERSTAND FROM A NEWS ARTICLE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS PENDING WHICH INCLUDES A VAST NUMBER OF SUBARU VEHICLES - MULTIPLE MODELS & YEARS - EXPERIENCING WINDSHIELD CRACKS. MY MODEL AND YEAR IS INCLUDED IN THE CLASS. I FILE MY COMPLAINT AS A RESULT OF FINDING THE NEWS STORY, WHICH SUGGESTS A COMPLAINT BE FILED.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 9, 2020
DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY AT AROUND 45-50 MPH, HEARD A SOUND, AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED FOR MORE THAN 12 INCHES LONG.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 8, 2020
SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. BEGAN AS SMALL CRACK CENTER OF WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE. SPREAD TO THE LEFT. NO APPARENT DAMAGE AT START OF CRACK..CRACK INITIALLY VERY SMALL AND NOTICED BY PASSENGER WHILE DRIVING.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 17, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, AN 11.5" CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS HORIZONTALLY. CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED A CHIP ABOUT 3/8" FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD MEASURING NO WIDER THAN 1/16". GIVEN THE IMMEDIACY AND THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGN OF DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD MATERIAL. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS CRACK WILL GROW VERY QUICKLY BEFORE I AM ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Aug 15, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET. NOTHING HIT IT. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS NEAR ME. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 28, 2020
OUR 2018 SUBARU FORESTER HAS BEEN SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY EVERY DAY SINCE MARCH 2020 WHEN THE COVID CRISIS KEPT US HOUSEBOUND. WE MAKE A FEW SHORT TRIPS AROUND TOWN PER WEEK. JUST TODAY (JULY 28, 2020) MY WIFE NOTICED A BIG CRACK IN THE LOWER WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEN SHE NOTICED THE SAME TYPE OF CRACK IN THE MOONROOF GLASS. WE HAVE BARELY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE NOTICED IF A PEBBLE OR OTHER DEBRIS HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND MOONROOF SO HARD THAT THE TWO CRACKS DEVELOPED. (ALSO THERE'S NO CHANCE THAT A TREE FELL ON IT AND WE SIMPLY FAILED TO NOTICE.) WE WERE ABOUT TO TAKE THE CAR ON A 9-HOUR ROAD TRIP IN TWO DAYS BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT FURTHER DAMAGE WILL OCCUR AND WE WILL BE STRANDED. VERY DISAPPOINTING.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 12, 2020
WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC OR VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME ON THE LOCAL HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. THE BANG STARTLED ME SO BAD I STARTED TO SWERVE INTO THE OTHER LANE. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW LONG THE CRACK EXTENDED. I TOOK THE CAMERA OFF THE WINDSHIELD TO GET PICTURES OF THE FULL EXTENT OF THE CRACK.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 9, 2020
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD FULL REPLACEMENTS 3 TIMES IN 2 1/2 YEARS. USUALLY A SMALL ROCK KICKED UP FROM HIGHWAY STARTS THE CHIP AND IT SPREADS VERY QUICKLY. I HAVE HAD CHIP FILLED BUT IT STILL CRACKS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD SO THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 6, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. CAR WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY WHEN I CAM OUT IN THE MORNING A LARGE CRACK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE BODY WENT ACROSS TO THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE MY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 29, 2020
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND BROKE WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE OTHER DAMAGE AND WITHOUT HAVING BEEN STRUCK WHILE IN OPERATION. THERE IS NOW A LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WOULD HAVE JUST REPLACED THE GLASS WITHOUT FURTHER ISSUE, BUT A FRIEND WHO IS ALSO A SUBARU OWNER EXPERIENCED A STRANGELY SIMILAR CRACK OCCURRING WITHOUT ANY OTHER DAMAGE, AND WITHOUT ANY ISSUES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE SAME ISSUE WOULD OCCUR TWICE IN A SHORT SPAN. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO SUBARU AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT. THE CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS OTHER (SMALLER) QUALITY ISSUES FOR THE DURATION OF THE TIME I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT SO I WOULD ALSO EXPECT THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SUBARU HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I DO NOT HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CRACK WITH ME PRESENTLY BUT AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE ONE IF IT WILL AID IN THIS REVIEW. THANK YOU.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN ONE SPOT, THEN THE CRACK SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO GET THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2020
WINDSHIELD GLASS SUDDENLY CRACKED ON RIGHT SIDE FROM THE EDGE TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE. CRACK IS ABOUT 12" LONG. WINDSHIELD WAS NOT STRUCK FROM ROCK OR ROAD DEBRIS. I NOTICED WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR WHEN STATIONARY IN THE GARAGE. *TR
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, May 28, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAS EASILY CRACKED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2020
AFTER NOT DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS DUE TO COVID I NOTICED I HAVE A HUGE CRACK THAT GREW BY AT LEAST AN INCH A DAY WHILST THE CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE. THE CRACK STARTED ON THE BOTTOM BLACK PORTION WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE IT CHIPPED (SEE PHOTO) THE WINDSHIELD AND HAS SPIDERED FROM THERE. I HAVE MEASURED THE CRACK DAILY WITH A CHALK MARKER AND THE CRACK WILL SOON BE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. *TR