repaired · 2023 Q2
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
2018 Subaru ForesterProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 499 owner complaints about the 2018 Subaru Forester, most often about the visibility/wiper. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-455 the manufacturer reports only 77% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: TTTNIS, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Subaru Forester has problems
499 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
135Visibility/wiper
99Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
71Electrical system
32Engine
30Vehicle speed control
30Seats
25Steering
23Power train
21Visibility
10815 other systems21 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 135 | 0 |
| Air bags | 99 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 71 | 0 |
| Engine | 32 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 30 | 13 |
| Seats | 30 | 0 |
| Steering | 25 | 2 |
| Power train | 23 | 4 |
| Visibility | 21 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 108 | 21 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2018 Subaru Forester recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Sensor: 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…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Other: labels
Risk. Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Subaru.
Mileage at failure
When do visibility/wiper problems start?
18kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 94 visibility/wiper complaints. 100% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 48% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
72under 30k miles94under 100k miles0100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,094median
Middle half: $375 – $1,437
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Forester year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. How we score
'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Subaru Forester safety ratings
2018 Subaru Forester SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Subaru Forester, and the recalls they led to.
- Occupant Detection System (ODS) FailureLed to recall 19V-701
In owners' words
What Forester owners report
Recent visibility/wiper complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Windshield cracked sitting parked matching Subaru TSB 12-192-15R except model of vehicle and Subaru stating not covered under the class action warranty extension
Windshield cracked starting in the black area under the driver's windshield wiper. Car was idling at a drive through, wipers were on. NOTE: car had fewer than 22,500k miles at the time, was likely around 22,485+. The crack continued to climb to the top edge of the window as my car sat on the…
A few days ago, a crack suddenly appeared in the windshield. It appeared when the car was parked in the garage. I reached out to SUbaru and they wanted me to take it to dealtership and get pictures taken. So, i complied and pictures were taken. The cause was given as a less than a mm speckk hitting…
Own a 2018 Forester?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.