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
495 reports, newest first.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Mar 20, 2021
VEHICLE HAS 50K MILES. WINDOW MOTOR ON DRIVER WINDOW REPLACED TWICE. KEEPS FAILING. ALSO UNEVEN TREAD WEAR ON BRAND NEW TIRES INDICATING SOMETHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Mar 18, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED AND UNDRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SMITH CAIRNS SUBARU - YONKERS (900 CENTRAL PARK AVE, YONKERS, NY 10704, (914) 377-8100) WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Visibility, Mar 17, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A CRACK TO THE LOWER WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HERITAGE SUBARU CATONSVILLE (6624 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE SUITE A, BALTIMORE, MD 21228, (844) 224-1954) WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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, Mar 10, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A HORIZONTAL CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACK AND SAW A SPIDER WEB CRACK HAD FORMED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACKS OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VISION TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,500.
Other or unspecified, Mar 8, 2021
WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, OUR WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE IN UNDER 24,000 MILES. THESE WERE TWO SEPARATE WINDSHIELDS - THE ORIGINAL AND THE REPLACEMENT FROM A SUBARU DEALERSHIP. WE CAN ASSUME A TINY ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD SINCE WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY - HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THIS SAME SCENARIO HAS HAPPENED TO OUR WINDSHIELD TWICE. OUR CAR WAS NOT FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND ANOTHER CAR OR LARGE VEHICLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN KICKING UP DEBRIS.
Power train, Back over prevention, Mar 5, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING HER VEHICLE SHE SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND NO STRANGE SOUND HAPPENED BEFORE THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND NECK PAIN BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. EMERGENCY OFFICIALS WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE 'S FRONT BUMPER AND HEADLIGHT WAS DAMAGED AND THE BUILDING DOOR WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2021
A CRACK APPEAR ON MY SUBARU FORESTER 2018 WINDSHIELD IT WAS NOT CAUSE BY A ROCK IT JUST APPEAR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Feb 23, 2021, crash
UPON ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, WITH BREAK PEDDLE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT EXTREME SPEED HITTING A PROTECTIVE BARRIER. AFTER A REST PERIOD, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND WITH BREAK PEDDLE ENGAGED LURCHED BACKWARD AT THE SAME EXCESSIVE SPEED HITTING ANOTHER OBJECT. AFTER A LONG PERIOD WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE IS TO BE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
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.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2021
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE BARRING'S LT SIDE, WORN OUT UNDER 19,000 MILES, REAR GATE LIFT MOTOR REPLACED TWICE-IN MOTION! LT BACK INTERIOR FRAME POPPING OUT!
Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2021
SUBARU FORESTER BATTERY DIES REPEATEDLY AFTER SITTING FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THREE TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE (BOUGHT IT NEW). FIRST TIME, DEALER TOLD ME IT MUST BE MY FAULT BECAUSE IT TESTED FINE, 2ND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH A START STOP FUSE (CAR DOESN'T HAVE THAT FEATURE) DRAINING THE BATTERY, 3RD TIME THEY SAID IT WAS STARLINK ELECTRICAL ISSUE DRAINING THE BATTERY. I CANNOT RECALL IF THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY EACH TIME, BUT I KNOW I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE. WORKED FINE FOR ANOTHER YEAR AFTER THE STARLINK SOLUTION AND HAS AGAIN BEEN ACTING UP. CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN A REMOTE MOUNTAIN LOCATION IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.
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.
Engine, Jan 28, 2021
CAM SHAFT SEAL LEAK. UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT THEY REPLACED FELT SESLS WITH A SILICONE SEAL THEREFORE THERE ARE MORE PROBLEMS. MY FRIEND BROUGHT HIS 2019 FORESTER IN THAT SAME WEEK. SAME PROBLEM
Other or unspecified, Jan 28, 2021
THE WINDSHIELD WAS SO PITTED WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT I HAD IT REPLACED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUN HIT IT.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2021
A NUMBER OF TINY CHIPS DEVELOPED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. COUNTED AT LEAST 6 SPOTS. THE CAR WAS MOSTLY PARKED ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE CHIPS SEEM TO HAVE OCCURRED. HAVE DRIVEN LESS THAN 100 MILES ON HIGHWAYS AND LESS THAN 20 MILES IN THE CITY.
Service brakes, Engine, Jan 16, 2021
VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGH.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jan 15, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, WHEN THEY PRESSED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND PARTIALLY THROUGH THE CEMENT WALL INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOWEVER IT WAS STILL BEING DETERMINED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE RECEIVED INJURIES THE HIP AND LEG AREA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD SPOKEN TO THE DEALER (CASTLE SUBARU BURNSHARBOR MI) WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REQUESTED THE BLACK BOX AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Seats, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 13, 2021
VEHICLES DRIVER SEAT RAIL HAS BECOME LOOSE CAUSING SEAT TO SLIGHTLY MOVE WHEN LAYING BACK.. COULD BE HAZARDOUS WHILE DRIVING.. AT INITIAL TAKE OFF, ACCELERATION JERKS, ACCELERATION IS NOT SMOOTH, AFTER SLIGHTLY PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATION PEDAL, I HAVE TO SOMETIMES BRAKE BECAUSE ACCELERATION IS JERKY AND ROUGH. I JUST PURCHASED THIS PRE-OWNED 2018 SUBARU FORESTER WITH 14K MILES AND IT IS ALREADY BLOWING SMOKE AT START UP.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 13, 2021
CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
Vehicle speed control, Power train, Jan 9, 2021
A FEW INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE LATTER HALF OF 2020: WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THAT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR STOPPED MOVING FOR A FEW SECONDS DESPITE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPM WENT UP TO 6/ LOUDLY REVVED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AT THIS LIGHT.THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD THIS LACK OF MOVEMENT ISSUE ON THE FREEWAY WHILE IN TRAFFIC. MY CAR JERKS SEVERAL TIMES ON SLIGHT INCLINES ESPECIALLY AFTER SURPASSING 40 MPH. OFTEN TIMES, I CANNOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH REGARDLESS IF THE DRIVE IS ON A FLAT SURFACE OR AN INCLINE. THE RPM WILL INCREASE, BUT THE GEAR FEELS LIKE IT WILL GET STUCK AND THE CAR MAKES A LOUD NOISE. THIS IS THE MOST NOTICEABLE GOING FROM 40 MPH TO 50-55 MPH. THESE INCIDENTS ARE ON CITY STREETS. HOWEVER, POWER OFTEN GETS LOST GOING ON TO FREEWAYS FOR THE SAME REASON. I CANNOT SURPASS 40 MPH WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY AND WAS ALMOST SIDESWIPED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY AN IMPATIENT PERSON ENTERING TOO EARLY WHERE THE ON-RAMP MERGES WITH THE FREEWAY BECAUSE OF THIS. WHILE ON A FREEWAY, THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE DESPITE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW IT DOWN BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AND POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. THE ACCELERATION WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS MUCH FASTER THAN WHEN I TRY TO MANUALLY ACCELERATE THE CAR MYSELF IN OTHER CONTEXTS, LIKE MENTIONED ABOVE. I BELIEVE IT IS THE CVT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CARS OF MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR.
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.