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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON. 13" CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE BASE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. MY ONLY SPECULATION IS THAT SNOW COVERED THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE NIGHT AND THE SUN HEATED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING CAUSING AN ABRUPT TEMPERATURE STRESS ON THE GLASS. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,200 |
| Apr 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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 LENGTH (ALSO PICTURED BELOW). IT SEEMS UNREASONABLE THAT SUCH A SMALL DENT SHOULD CAUSE MORE THAN HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. AS A RESULT, I THINK THAT THE WEAK CONSTRUCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD IS WHAT CAUSED THIS LARGE DAMAGE TO IT. ALTHOUGH THE CRACK ISN'T SEEMING TO SPREAD PAST ITS CURRENT LENGTH, IT IS STILL A CONCERN THAT THE WINDSHIELD MIGHT BREAK IN HALF AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER OR IF ANOTHER SMALL ROCK WERE TO HIT IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,402 |
| Apr 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | EXHAUST GETTING INTO THE CAR COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY OR AROUND OTHER CARS. ONLY STOPS SUCKING EXHAUST IN IF WE CHANGE THE AIR VENTILATION MODE TO INSIDE THE CAR ONLY. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO DRIVE AROUND BECAUSE THE CAR GETS HUMID FAST AND THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH DECREASED VISIBILITY BECAUSE WE CANNOT CHANGE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM TO THE BUTTON THAT TAKES AIR FROM OUTSIDE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,001 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WITHIN THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE WINDSHEILD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IS WAS DUE TO A SMALL CHIP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2018 FORESTER SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED EIGHT MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE WHILE DRIVING ON I-25 EIGHT MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR IMPACT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY SAFELITE AUTOGLASS ON MARCH 26, 2019. THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT AFTER INSURANCE WAS $200. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2019. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE. NOTICED IT NEXT MORNING WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE. CAR NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD. NO ROCK OR HAIL WAS IN CONTACT WITH WINDSHIELD PRIOR DAY OR EVEN UP TO THIS DAY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED REALLY QUICKLY. NOT NORMAL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Mar 2020 | STRUCTURE | SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WE RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED AND LESS THAN A WEEK LATER THERE WAS A MYSTERIOUS CHIP OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING TO CAUSE THIS CHIP, SO I BELIEVE IT HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN THE CITY MY WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY BROKE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I PURCHASED A 3 MONTH USED CERTIFIED 2018 SUBARU FORESTER XT FROM A DEALER. AFTER DRIVING FOR COMMUTING FOR A MONTH OR SO, I REALIZED THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT OR HOW IT HAPPENED BUT ONE DAY I SAW THE CRACK OUT OF NO WHERE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | STRONG FUEL ODOR IS DETECTED IN GARAGE AFTER PARKING AS WELL AS WITHIN THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. BELIEVE FUEL IS ENTERING OIL FROM UNDETERMINED LOCATION AS ODOR IS ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED AROUND DIP STICK. IF OIL IS CHANGED THE ISSUE DISSIPATES BUT RETURNS WITHIN 1000 MILES. THERE ARE PLENTY OF ONLINE REPORTS FROM OTHER 2015 - 2018 FORRESTER XT (TURBO) OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE AND IN MOST CASES THEIR DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE AN ISSUE OR PROVIDE A SOLUTION. IN ONE REPORT, HOWEVER, THE OWNER INDICATED THEIR DEALER FINALLY RESOLVED THEIR ISSUE BY REPLACING A FAULTY INJECTOR SEAL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED WINDSHIELD FROM A TINY ROCK. CAME FROM A CAR GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HIT DRIVERS SIDE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER AND RAN ALL OFF THE WAY ACROSS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,200 |
| Mar 2020 | AIR BAGS | DEALER IS UNABLE TO GET PARTS FOR THE RECALL. SAFETY RECALL: WUM98|NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 19V701000 AUTONATION SUBARU IS SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 2 MONTHS FOR THEM TO GET PARTS. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN ACTIVE SINCE OCTOBER 2019. ADDRESS. 9955 E ARAPAHOE RD CENTENNIAL, CO 80112 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2020 | STRUCTURE | PARKED THE CAR IN A PROTECTED LOT. WHEN I RETURNED THERE WAS A 2-FOOT LONG CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WITH NO HELP OR COVERAGE FROM SUBARU. THIS WAS WITH 12000 MILES ON THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACK/CHIP. I NOTICED THIS WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT AND NOT IN MOTION. CHIP SEEMED TO APPEAR ON IT'S OWN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THESE MODEL FORESTERS, GLASS ISN'T UP TO PAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 29,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ONCE FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | UNKNOWN. I DROVE MY CAR BACK FROM A WEEKEND TRIP AND SAW NO DAMAGE DURING THAT TIME. I THEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN FOR 3 DAYS. WHEN I RETURNED TO DRIVE MY CAR, THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE PROPAGATED FROM DAMAGE FROM A PROJECTILE AND WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR 3 DAYS EARLIER. BASED ON THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE CRACK, I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY NO ONE WAS AROUND ME. I HEARD A SMALL PING. THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK EVEN WITH MUCH MORE FORCE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY SISTER WHO BOUGHT A NEW CROSSTREK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,350 |
| Feb 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO REASON, DROVE TO WORK WINDSHIELD FINE. FOUND BROKE AFTER LEAVING WORK WHILE PARKED. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. DATE OF THE BREAK WAS APPROX. 6/2019 | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO OBSERVABLE REASON AND WAS REPLACED | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM PASSENGER EDGE TO MIDDLE OF DRIVERS SIDE. NOTHING HIT IT, IT JUST CRACKED WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY CARPORT | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |