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, Jul 15, 2019
I AM WRITING AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER CHIP IN MY WINDSHIELD. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS STARTING TO CRACK; JUST LIKE THE LAST TWO TIMES. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT CAR INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE TO COVER A POOR QUALITY PRODUCT. IT COSTS ALMOST A THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH TIME. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THESE WINDSHIELDS IF ANYONE WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 8, 2019
SECOND CRACK IN WINDSHIELD IN 5 MONTHS. I BEEN DRIVING FOR 20 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES. NOW WITH THE 2018 FORESTER I HAVE SECOND CRACK IN WINDSHIELD FROM A TINY ROCK IN 5 MONTHS. FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPENED IN IL ON NORMAL ROAD, SECOND HAPPENED 2 DAYS AGO IN WI, ON NORMAL PAVED ROAD.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2019
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND IS NOW HALF ACROSS FROM PASSENGER SIDE. NO KNOWN ROCK HIT SAME. GOOGLED AND NOTICED DOZENS OF WINDSHIELDS CRACKED FROM STRUCTURAL DEFECTS. SUBARU CLAIMS THIS IS WHY EYESIGHT CUTS OFF " EYESIGHT CANNOT SEE IT DON'T WORK." SO I GUESS IT DOESN'T WORK AT NIGHT?
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2019
EYESIGHT SHUTS OFF , IN RAIN WHEN MOST NEEDED. DEALER STATES IT IS OK.
Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2019
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 2 YEARS OF THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKING WHERE A SMALL CHIP WAS. WINDSHIELD CHIPS VERY EASILY. MONTHS LATER THE WINDOW WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN CRACK. ONCE WAS WHEN WE TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER; SECOND TIME WAS WINDOW WAS COLD AND TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS WARMER. FIRST TIME HAPPENED WAS 12/2017. SECOND TIME WAS 5/2019.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 5, 2019
2018 SUBARU FORESTER WITH EYESIGHT. 16 INCH LONG CURVED CRACK ORIGINATING FROM DEFROSTER AREA AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD ON DRIVER'S SIDE, CURVING UP INTO DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. CRACK OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN OWNER'S DRIVEWAY. NOTHING WAS SEEN OR HEARD STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE THE CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 18, 2019
OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY, STARTING AT THE WIPER PARK HEATER ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE WHEN THE CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 17, 2019
I PURCHASED THIS CAR 7/31/18. ON 12/21/18 (ODOMETER 3,427 MILES), THE FIRST MORNING WITH A HARD FROST, I FOUND THAT MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER (STATIONARY AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY) HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK OVERNIGHT FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE UPWARD. (NO CRACK THE DAY BEFORE) I DROVE THE CAR 3 MILES TO WORK, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE MANAGER EVALUATION APPOINTMENT THAT MORNING. I DROVE 12 MORE MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN UNDER 3 HOURS, DRIVING TOTAL 15 MILES, SINCE DISCOVERING THE CRACK AND ARRIVING AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE CRACK HAD PROGRESSED UP AND ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AT NO COST TO ME, "AS A ONE-TIME GOOD WILL GESTURE". HE POINTED TO THE BASE OF THE CRACK WHICH BEGAN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLACK AREA BORDERING THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, CLAIMED HE COULD SEE A CHIP, AND DUG HIS PEN INTO THE GLASS TO ENLARGE THE CRACK. TO ME, THIS ARE LOOKED MORE A FLAW IN THE GLASS WHERE BROKEN WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE HAD A FLAW HAD FLEXED DUE TO THE FREEZING WEATHER. HE DESCRIBED THE DAMAGE AS A CHIP ON MY REPAIR TICKET, WHICH IS MISLEADING IF AN ANALYSIS IS DONE ON THE CRACK, BUT IT SUPPORTS THE TICKET'S NOTE THAT THIS WAS A 1-TIME REPAIR AT NO CHARGE, WITH NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE SIMILAR REPAIRS. THE DEALER DELAYED THE REPAIR DUE TO CHRISTMAS, AND THE CRACK CONTINUED TO PROGRESS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. REPLACEMENT INSTALLATION SCHEDULED FOR 12/26/18. ARRIVING FOR MY APPOINTMENT I WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WAS ORDERED BUT THE DEALER FAILED TO SCHEDULE AN INSTALLER. THEY KEPT MY CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ON 12/28/19. THEY PROVIDED A LOANER CAR. RESEARCHING SUBARU WINDSHIELD CRACKS ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT SUBARU WINDSHIELDS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKING, BEGINNING WITH A 2016 OUTBACK RECALL, BUT FORESTER OWNERS ALSO ARE REPORTING CRACKS.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2018
THE WINDSHIELD SIMPLY CRACKED UNDER THE PASSENGER WIPER AND QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO VIABLE IMPACT AND IT APPEARED OVERNIGHT. THIS HAPPENED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN OEM REPLACEMENT FROM SUBARU.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 7, 2018
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS FROM THE TINIEST LITTLE DING FROM A ROCK.