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, Jan 28, 2020
LARGE WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE AT THE TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 10, 2020
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AS I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 9, 2020
I BOUGHT MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER IN DECEMBER OF 2018. IN AUGUST OF 2019, A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET. THE NEXT AFTERNOON, I NOTICED AN APPROXIMATE 2 FOOT CRACK ACROSS THE LEFT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR, AND IT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRED MY ABILITY TO SEE AS IT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LINE OF VISION. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS APPROVED BY MY INSURANCE, ORDERED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND FINALLY INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER REPLACING MY WINDSHIELD, A TINY PEBBLE THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD HIT THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD AGAIN. I COULDN'T EVEN SEE A MARK, IT WAS SO SMALL. ONE DAY WHEN I WAS GETTING IN MY CAR, I NOTICED A FOOT LONG CRACK IN ALMOST THE EXACT SAME PLACE AS LAST TIME. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS IMPAIRING MY ABILITY TO SEE WELL. MY CAR HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT AND I RARELY DRIVE OTHER THAN TO WORK AND BACK HOME. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHER CARS IN THE PAST 18 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN THEM MUCH MORE THAN THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER ONCE DID MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS EVER CRACK. IT SEEMS LIKE SUBARU MUST HAVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS AS THEY CRACK FAR TOO EASILY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Visibility/wiper, Jan 1, 2020
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY EYESIGHT FEATURE SUDDENLY DISENGAGES AND MY CRUISE CONTROL CEASES TO WORK AND NO LANE ASSIST OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURES CONTAINED WITH THE "EYESIGHT PACKAGE" WORK FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2019
MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD. SOME CRACKS ARE FROM VERY SMALL ROCKS AND MY INSURANCE COVERED IT . THE MOST RECENT CRACK IS VERY LARGE AND DIDNT APPEAR TO START FROM ANY ROCK. THIS WINDSHIELD FEELS VERY UNSAFE.THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY .
Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2019
A SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN FRONT WINDSHIELD WITH NO HISTORY OR EVIDENCE OF ROCK WHIP OR DAMAGE OCCURRED WITH BRAND NEW VEHICLE (130 MILES), CRACK BEGAN AT ROOF LINE IN AREA IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND EXTENDED BELOW THE "DOT SHADING" AROUND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. GLASS REPAIR PERSON NOTED NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE, WINDOW WAS REPLACED AND BILLED TO MY INSURANCE. NOW AT 32,000 MILES IN THE SAME LOCATION, ANOTHER CRACK HAS APPEARED. GLASS REPAIR PERSON AGAIN REPORTS NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK CHIP OR DAMAGE, AND HE THINKS THAT THE CRACK SEEMS TO BE ON THE INSIDE, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER, AND THE CAR IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE.. I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE DATE THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME BECAUSE IT BEGINS IN AN AREA WHERE THE MIRROR OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW OF IT AND I DON'T NOTICE UNTIL IT EXTENDS BEYOND THE REARVIEW MIRROR. FIRST TIME IT WAS NOTED WHEN I TOOK CARE IN TO HAVE GLASS TREATMENT PUT ON (TO REDUCE NIGHT GLARE) AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE CRACK. THE CAR ONLY HAD 136 MILES AT THIS TIME. SECOND TIME I NOTICED IT ABOUT 11/2/19. SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT ON 12/5/19.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT PRESSED THE DEFROST BUTTON, A SMALL CRACK WAS NOTICED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK PROGRESSIVELY GREW LARGER AND DEVELOPED INTO A CRACK FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 1, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, ABOUT 20MPH WHEN THE REAR DOOR WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SHATTERED. IT APPEARED SPONTANEOUS, I DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE WINDOW, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THERE BEING OTHER CARS AROUND THAT WOULD'VE KICKED SOMETHING UP OFF THE ROAD...I JUST HEARD A POP AND ALL THE GLASS SHATTERING. EARLIER THAT MORNING I HAD HEARD CREAKING NOISES THAT I HAD THOUGHT WAS JUST STUFF MOVING AROUND IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, BUT MAYBE IT WAS THE WINDOW BEGINNING TO FAIL?
Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2019
WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED BY A FLYING ROCK 1/2 INCH FROM LR CORNER WHILE DRIVING. NEXT DAY WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT DURING THE DAY, A 3 FOOT CRACK DEVELOPED IN WINDSHIELD. THE NEXT DAY THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN HALF WHILE SITTING IN THE SUN WHILE PARKED. REPLACED WINDSHIELD AND NOW THE PASSANGER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT FLOODS WHEN IT RAINS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2019
WINDSHIELD IS RANDOMLY CRACKED AND NOW HAS A BIG SPIDER CRACK ON THE LOWER END OF THE WINDSHIELD OF THE DRIVER SIDE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. LARGE CRACK APPEARED DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN CAR WAS PARKED/STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET (A SIDE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE) AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SPIT OUT A ROCK. IT HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND BROKE. IT BROKE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, ALMOST COMPLETELY ACROSS. MY DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE WIND SHIELD. IT WAS INSTALLED ON 9/8/18 WHICH ALSO REQUIRED A RE-CALIBRATION OF THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO UPLOAD THEM SINCE IT HAD PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THEM.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
I JUST READ OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SUBARU FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS IN LATE MODEL FORESTERS. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD ON OUR 2018 SUBARU FORESTER IN AUGUST OF 2018. WE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE ONE DAY AND NOTICED THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
I WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO FIND A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE). I PARK MY CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY, NOT IN THE STREET. I RARELY EVEN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WORK A HALF MILE FROM MY HOUSE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED PREMATURELY AT FIRST FEW MONTHS OF CAR BEING PURCHASED NEW.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK, HEARD A CRACK, BUT DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION. WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I SAW A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE WINDSHIELD APPROX 2INCHES IN LENGTH. WHEN I GOT BACK FROM WORK AND LOOKED AT THE CRACK THE NEXT DAY, IT APPEARS THAT'S THE CRACK GREW ANOTHER 2 INCHES. CALLED MY DEALER SHIP AND SOA (SUBARU OF AMERICA AND FILLED A REPORT AND ASKED IF MY LESS THAT 1 YEAR OLD CAR THAT HAD ITS WINDSHIELD CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY IS COVERED , I WAS TOLD NOT AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL COST EST $750.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE PARKED
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKS AFTER NO APPARENT REASON. NO IMPACT OR ANYTHING TO CAUSE CRACKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND A CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN PARKED, WHEN THE REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED, IT CRACKED AGAIN.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD(NO GRAVEL OR ROCKS PRESENT), MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND THE SAFETY SYSTEM RECALIBRATED AT A COST OF ALMOST $900.I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH AT THE TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 16, 2019
BEFORE ENTERING FREEWAY, AT LOW SPEED, A CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. SEEMS TO STEM FROM THE LOWER BLACK STRIP ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE IS A SMALL IMPACT POINT STEMMING FROM THE BLACK STRIP ALONG THE LOWER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CRACK IMMEDIATELY GREW TO ABOUT 10'' VERTICALLY UPWARD FROM THAT. THE NEXT DAY, THE CRACK CURVED AND GREW ANOTHER 10-15'' IN LENGTH ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD. A CAR WAS AHEAD OF ME BUT WAS ABOUT 2-3 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD AT LOW SPEED AS IT WAS A FRONTAGE ROAD BEFORE ENTERING THE FREEWAY RAMP.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 11, 2019
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A LINEAR CRACK AFTER BEING STRUCK BY AN EMPTY WIPER ARM DURING THE CHANGING OF A WIPER BLADE. THE CRACK GREW FROM 6 INCHES ON THE FIRST DAY TO 14 INCHES ON THE SECOND DAY.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 20, 2019
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE APRIL 2018. DURING MY FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUT A CRACK IN IT I GOT REPAIRED. I'M CONSTANTLY GETTING CHIPS. I AVOID DRIVING BEHIND SEMIS AND OTHER LARGE TRUCKS.I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH LATE YEAR SUBARU'S. I FEEL SUBARU NEEDS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF GLASS THEY USE. I WANT MY EXPERIENCE WITH SUBARU DOCUMENTED. HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A BRITTLE WINDSHIELD BEFORE.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 19, 2019
NOTICED SMALL CRACK IN WINDSHIELD LAST TUESDAY, STARTING JUST ABOVE A CLIP ON WIPER. ASSUMED, AT FIRST IT WAS DIRTY WINDSHIELD FROM LIGHT RAIN & WIPER USE, BUT THEN SATURDAY IT MOVED ABOUT 6 INCHES MID DAY PARKED THEN HALFWAY ACROSS DRIVER SIDE A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER PARKED. I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT BY ANYTHING BIG OR SMALL. I HAVE READ THAT THIS WINDSHIELD ISSUE HAS BEEN IN EVERY SUBARU MODELS. I WANT SUBARU TO PAY FOR THIS!
Visibility/wiper, Jul 27, 2019
I'VE HAD MY 2018 FORESTER FOR JUST ONE YEAR AND TWO WINDSHIELDS HAVE CRACKED FROM MINOR ROCK STRIKES. THE FACTORY WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT 11,670 MILES ON 12/17/2018 AND WAS REPLACED WITH SUBARU OEM GLASS. NOW AT 24,000 MILES THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED FROM A MINOR ROCK STRIKE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN A CAR PASSED ME. THE SOUND OF THE ROCK STRIKE WAS BARELY NOTICEABLE AND I DIDN'T NOTICE THE DAMAGE UNTIL MY PASSENGER POINTED IT OUT TO ME. SUBARU WINDSHIELDS ARE TOO FRAGILE AND BREAK EASILY WHICH IS A SAFETY RISK. I WILL BE REPLACING THIS SECOND SUBARU WINDSHIELD WITH AFTERMARKET GLASS.