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.
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.
Engine, Dec 27, 2020
WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES MY CAR LOSES POWER TEMPORARILY. IT HAPPENS AT TIMES WHEN I AM GOING UP AN INCLINE, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON FLAT SURFACES.
Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2020
I OWNED THIS NEW CAR ONLY 2 WEEKS AND IT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD THE CRACK REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE SHOP. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
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.
Structure, Dec 14, 2020
WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING 35 MPH ON A SURFACE ROAD.
Visibility, Dec 10, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED ON THE LOWER PASSENGER'S SIDE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED. THE FRACTURE EXPANDED TOWARDS THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER NOR A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUE FROM A NEWS SOURCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,159.
Visibility, Dec 9, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS WERE PRESENT ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CRACKS OCCURRED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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, Nov 30, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
CRACKED/DENTS IN WINDSHIELD
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
2018 SUBARU FORESTER HAS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FIRST NOTICED IN AUGUST 2018.
Electrical system, Nov 23, 2020
IKEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED, PUT IN PARK, BRAKE [PEDDLE DEPRESSED.
Other or unspecified, Nov 20, 2020
ON RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE OCCASIONS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE APPARENTLY AS AN ISSUE WITH THE ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM. WHEN THIS OCCURS, NOTHING WORKS TO TRY TO RESOLVE EXCEPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND WAIT FOR 10-15 MINUTES AND THE MECHANISM WILL RESET ITSELF AND THEN WORK NORMALLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Service brakes, Oct 27, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 A SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH UP A HILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU SHERMAN OAKS (5747 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401 (818) 670-7450) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 27, 2020
BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2018, IN 2019 A SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND A HUGE CRACK APPEARED A FEW WEEKS LATER. HAD IT REPLACED. NOW 10//27/2020 THERE IS A CRACK THAT JUST APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. NO ROCKS HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD. .I DROVE THE CAR AND DID NOT SEE A CRACK. PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND WENT OUTSIDE TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE WAS A CRACK. THEY APPEAR WHEN THE CAR IS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY..THE FIRST CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND CLAIM WERE FROM 9/19 CLAIM 06-B531-7M4 WITH STATE FARM.
Power train, Oct 26, 2020
FIRST, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. SECOND, THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES (SQUEALING) WHEN DRIVING IT ANYWHERE. STREETS, TURNS, HILLS ETC. THEN IT BEGAN RACE AND IT FELT AS IF THE BACK TIRES WERE RACING TO CATCH UP TO THE FRONT TIRES. THERE WAS LURCHING FORWARD. SHUDDERING. NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS SCARY TO DRIVE IT THERE. I FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING UP. THIRD, THE TAILGATE, ( IN OR OUT) RELEASE BUTTONS WERE NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY (REPEAT COMPLAINT). I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND TELEPHONED SUBARU OF AMERICA. THIS 2018; I HAD OWNED FOR EXACTLY TWO MONTHS. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR APPROX 1200 MILES TOTAL. MILEAGE 47,000. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE AC AND CVT TRANSMISSION. THE AC IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IT WAS THE CONDENSER THAT WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE CVT IS ALSO A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. HE FOUND THE RPM INCREASED AND THE SQUEALING COULD BE HEARD. VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER. WHEN HE REMOVED THE PAN HE FOUND METAL IN THE OIL. CONFIRMING THE CVT (TRANSMISSION) NEEDED REPLACED. REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. GIVEN THE INFORMATION FOUND ON THE WEB REGARDING THESE PROBLEMS IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REPORT THAT THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUE. SAFETY IS CONCERN.
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
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 7, 2020
AS IT STANDS IN P (PARK) IT HAS A REALLY HIGH IDLE EVEN IN NEUTRAL AS IF IT WANTS TO GO. THEN IN DRIVE IT WILL LURCH REALLY FAST. OR I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND IT STARTS TO REV HIGH THEN AFTER 3-5SEC OF SEEING REV CYCLE IN THE 2000-3000S IT CALMS DOWN. I ALMOST REAR-ENDED A CAR YESTERDAY. IF YOU SLIGHTLY PULL OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL WANT TO JOLT FORWARD. WHEN IT REVS HIGH AND I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT JOLTS FORWARD THEN SLOWS AS IF IT RECOGNIZES I NEVER HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN ALL OF THESE TIMES I NEVER HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S SCARY AND I'D RATHER FOCUS ON THE DRIVING THEN MY CAR ACTING STRANGE. BUT I REALISED THAT WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY MY BRAKES COMPLETELY WORE OUT. I WENT FROM A 7/10 TO A 1/10 IN BETWEEN A 3000 MILE SERVICE! IT ALL BECAME MORE APPARENT AFTER THE 30,000 MILE MARK