Complaint volume
488 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Subaru Forester Complaints
488 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Subaru Forester, grouped by component category.
488 Total complaints
26 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
6 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are visibility/wiper, air bags, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 26 crash reports, 1 fire report, 6 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 241 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 21,173 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to visibility/wiper, air bags, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Subaru Forester?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Subaru Forester
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Subaru Forester complaints?
26 Crash
1 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
21 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Subaru Forester complaint categories?
VISIBILITY/WIPER 123
AIR BAGS 60
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 52
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 47
VISIBILITY 19
AIR BAGS,SEATS 17
ENGINE 12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11
POWER TRAIN 10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7
488 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A CRACK APPEAR ON MY SUBARU FORESTER 2018 WINDSHIELD IT WAS NOT CAUSE BY A ROCK IT JUST APPEAR | Crash: No Fire: No | 42,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Feb 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Feb 2021 | SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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! | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,500 |
| Jan 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | ENGINE | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45,000 |
| Jan 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGH. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Jan 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | 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. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 47,000 |
| Jan 2021 | SEATS,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,500 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,POWER TRAIN | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DROVE TO DINER PARKED CAR WHEN WE RETURNED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED NO APPARENT DAMAGE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Jan 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A CRACK APPEARED RANDOMLY IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 37,000 |
| Dec 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Dec 2020 | ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 48,000 |
| Dec 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 22,800 |
| Dec 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Dec 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WHILE DRIVING GLASS CHIPS APPEARED, UNEXPECTEDLY, ON THREE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45,925 |
| Dec 2020 | STRUCTURE | WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING 35 MPH ON A SURFACE ROAD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Dec 2020 | VISIBILITY | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 42,159 |