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, 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.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 17, 2020
I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BREAK (RIDING THE BREAK AND WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AND AS I LEFT OFF THE BREAK TO START TURNING BECAUSE I WAS NOW GOING SLOW ENOUGH, THE CAR ACCELERATED FOR A SECOND. RPM RANDOMLY SHOT UP AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. IT HAPPENED QUICKLY AND SUBSIDED JUST AS QUICKLY.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A FRONT SIDE PASSENGER, INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS, THE DISPLAY SCREEN INDICATES "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF", THE DISPLAY BRIEFLY GIVES A MESSAGE TO HAVE THE SRS CHECKED, AND THE RED AIRBAG DASHBOARD LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND REMAINS ILLUMINATED FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. (THESE TRIPS INCLUDED BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.) THE DEALER (ADVENTURE SUBARU OF MENTOR, OHIO) WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. MORE TROUBLING THOUGH, THE DEALER STATED THAT A SCAN REVEALED NO ACTIVE OR RETAINED ALARM CODES. THIS CAR WAS BUILT AFTER THE END DATE OF RECENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V-701, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THAT CAMPAIGN.
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2020
WINDOWS GET LOCKED AND I'M NOT ABLE TO USE THE SWITCH TO UNLOCK THE WINDOWS AND EITHER SIDE. ISSUE WAS REPORTED. SUBARU CORRECTED THE ISSUE BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. ONCE SUBARU DEALER HELPED VIA PHONE CONVERSATION TO RESET BUT THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. I FEEL TRAPPED IN MY CAR AND I HAVE TO OPEN MY DOOR TO REACH FOR A TICKET WHILE AT A PARKING LOT. CAN'T ROLE DOWN MY WINDOW AT THE GAS STATION. THIS CAN HAPPEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE MUSIC GOES TO A HIGH TO LOW VOLUME AND VISE VERSA EITHER ON IT'S OWN OR WHEN I HIT A BUMP. VERY DISTURBING AND SCARY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY.
Air bags, Sep 11, 2020
SUBARU FORESTER 2018 AIR BAG WON'T TURN ON WITH ADULT IN FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS TO SHOW THAT IT IS OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT IT.
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.
Air bags, Jun 29, 2020
PASSENGER AIRBAG OCCASIONALLY SHOWS AS 'OFF' EVEN THOUGH AN OCCUPANT IS IN THE SEAT. THE INFO CENTER (AS SHOWN IN THE ATTACHED PICTURES) ALSO INDICATES AN ISSUE WITH AN AIRBAG AND TO CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL. A SIMILAR AIRBAG DEFECT WAS REPORTED IN NHTSA BULLETIN - 19V701000 - SUBARU WUM-98, HOWEVER FOR WHATEVER REASON MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS SIMILAR SYMPTONS.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jun 14, 2020
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED" WARNING APPEARED ON CONSOLE. PASSENGER WAS PRESENT IN PASSENGER SEAT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE, ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED AGAIN WHEN CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. MESSAGE WAS PRESENT BOTH WHEN PASSENGER WAS PRESENT AND NO PASSENGER. SYMPTOM MATCHES EXISTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V701000. PERFORMED INSPECTION PER HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2019/RCRIT-19V701-0743.PDF, FOUND PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAG OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) HARNESS THAT MATCHES DEFECTIVE PART DESCRIPTION PROVIDED BY SUBARU (DATE CODE IS BEFORE 18074, SUPPLIER CODE IS 6578). OWNER CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE VIN DOES NOT APPEAR LISTED UNDER RECALL PROVIDED ON NHTSA OR SUBARU WEBSITE, EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECTIVE, RECALLED PART IS PRESENT IN THIS VEHICLE. OWNER BELIEVES THAT SCOPE OF RECALL IS INCORRECT AND DID NOT INCLUDE ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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
Visibility, Jun 11, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE WINDOW PROVIDED THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Air bags, Jun 3, 2020
THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL AFFECTING 2018 SUBARU FORESTER'S (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000). I CURRENTLY OWN A 2018 FORESTER THAT THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL. HOWEVER MY VEHICLE I DOING THE EXACT THING THAT THE RECALL IS FOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TURNS OFF, LIGHT COMES ON AND AN SRS AIRBAG WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A TROUBLE CODE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG THAT THEY JUST CLEARED. SIX MONTHS LATER AND NOW NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING, TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF, ERROR MESSAGE COMING ON. I FEEL AS THOUGH SUBARU DIDN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THE CORRECT VIN NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT WERE AFFECTED. IT CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER, BEING THAT THE AIRBAG TURNS OFF AND WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I ALSO DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR MODEL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM JUST CAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. THEY SHOULD EXTEND THE VIN'S TO ALL 2018 MODELS. *TR
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, May 28, 2020
WINDSHIELD HAS EASILY CRACKED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR
Visibility, Other or unspecified, May 20, 2020
I HEARD A LOUD POP WHEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD. JUST DRIVING. I LOOKED UP AT THE REAR VIEW AND SAW THE WINDSHIELD HAD A VERY LARGE / LONG CRACK IN IT. I CALLED SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. NO MENTION OF PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELDS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 19, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARK MILLER SUBARU (3535 STATE ST, SOUTH SALT LAKE, UT 84115) AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, HOWEVER, NEITHER DEALER WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE A CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000.
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2020
I PURCHASE A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER AND 5 MONTH LATER THE SIDE/BACK RADAR WARNING SYSTEMS WENT DEAD. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF A SCRATCH ON THE BUMPER THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE PART WAS NOT WARRANTED AND WOULD COST OVER $2K TO REPAIR. THIS PART WARNS ME FROM GOING BACK OR CHANGING LANES BECAUSE OF BLIND SPOTS OR EXCESSIVE SPEED OF OTHERS DRIVERS AND PREVENTS ACCIDENTS. I BROUGHT IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND HAD THE PART REPLACED AND PAID OUT OF POCKET. RECENTLY I FOUND IN MY PAPERS THAT THE DEALER HAD INCLUDED IN MY PRICE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PERIOD AS THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME OVER $300 FOR IT. I RE-APPLIED TO HAVE THE REPAIR COVERED BY THE NEW WARRANTY AND AGAIN DENIED. I REPORTED THIS TO CONSUMER REPORTS IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TEST THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PART TO SHOW IT WAS NOT MADE DEFECTIVE BY A SCRATCH/BUMP TO THE BUMPER. BECAUSE THIS PIECE IS SUCH AN INTEGRAL SAFELY PIECE OF THE CAR, LIKE A COMPUTER OR TV ELECTRONIC PARTS DON;T GO DEFECTIVE IN SUCH SHORT PERIODS AND WITH NO REAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE. I NOTICED THE DEFECTIVE DEVICE WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN ON THE STREETS AND VEHICLES WERE PASSING AND DEVICE NOT WARNING ME. *TR