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2018 Subaru Forester Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 498 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester, most often about the visibility and wipers (31% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles). It is 5th of 27 Forester model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2018 Subaru Forester problems
Visibility and wipers
156 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, defroster/defogger/hvac system, rear window wiper/washer.
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.
When I was driving on the highway, a small rock hit my windshield in the left corner (from the driver's perspective) of the windshield. Although the initial damage to the windshield was a small dent in the windshield (pictured below) the crack started spreading as we drove and reached over 2/3 of the windshield in…
Air bags
99 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 13,500 miles. Parts named most often: sensor, frontal, srs malfunction warning lamp/light.
Front passenger seat airbag sensor began not recognizing passengers sitting in the seat shortly after purchasing my brand new 2018 Subaru Forester. This started occuring while driving, turning off and on. After a while, it completely stopped recognizing any person sitting in the seat even after only just turning the…
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. While driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger air bag indicator illuminated and flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to prime Subaru hyannis ([phone], located at 24 ridgewood ave, hyannis, ma 02601) where it was diagnosed that the seat was wet. The dealer…
Other or unspecified
84 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles.
Windshield cracked about 1130 pm on 29 march 2020 when it was sitting in the driveway. Nothing was around, nothing hit it. No one or animal was in the vehicle nor anywhere near the vehicle.
[] 05/19/2019 []- clear day @ 10am est. While in my lane and traveling straight and within the lane lines, two (2) vehicle safety systems activate at the same time: lane keep assist, lane departure warning. The lane keep assist was the strongest "pull" I've ever felt and pulled/steered the vehicle to right causing me…
Electrical
71 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, alternator/generator/regulator.
The eyesight had been manipulated to a warning even when there's no obstruction while driving forward, while backing up it gives a warning that someone or a vehicle is adjacent to my car. These are just a few of the problems I encounter. I have an idea who's behind this. But I cannot prove it. Someone very…
Forester was parked in under ground parking garage for between one and two weeks. The battery was completely dead, no sound at all when I tried to start it. The only door that was locked was the rear hatch door. Neighbor brought a battery charger and got the Forester started. Following that, I drove it to the local…
Engine
32 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles.
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…
Had subra 2018 for 2 weeks oil lights come on all lights been having this oil burning for a year. Now the steering freeze up while driving it last week couldn't move car at all on the highway turning. It wouldn't move good thing we weren't going fast on a interstate. Sat on side of road with it. Read book trying to…
Speed control
30 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
While parking in a lot: when pulling into a space, hit brake pedal and car accelerated resulting in minor damage to my car and others cars. I believe the car malfunctioned resulting in this accident.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 8 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning which resulted in the vehicle crashing into a parked vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (Subaru white plains 258 e main st…
Seats
30 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. While driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger air bag indicator illuminated and flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to prime Subaru hyannis ([phone], located at 24 ridgewood ave, hyannis, ma 02601) where it was diagnosed that the seat was wet. The dealer…
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…
Steering
25 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles.
The steering locks up on this vehicle and will not allow me to turn it but give me a steering wheel emblem with the! And it doesn't weather is hot or cold sometimes I have to turn it on and off six or seven times before it will unfreeze
[] 05/19/2019 []- clear day @ 10am est. While in my lane and traveling straight and within the lane lines, two (2) vehicle safety systems activate at the same time: lane keep assist, lane departure warning. The lane keep assist was the strongest "pull" I've ever felt and pulled/steered the vehicle to right causing me…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Subaru Forester recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Occupant detection system (ods) failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional early warning report (ewr) data related to allegations of front passenger seat occupant detection system (ods) malfunctions in model year (my) 2016 through 2018 subaru forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ods, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ods failed to operate properly, the SRS (supplemental restraint system) warning light illuminated, and/or the ods incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a
Questions about the 2018 Subaru Forester
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Forester?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (156 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles); air bags (99 complaints, typically around 13,500 miles); other or unspecified (84 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 29, 2021 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Subaru Forester?
- It is 5th of 27 Forester model years by number of complaints, with 498 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.