Complaint volume
489 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
489 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Subaru Forester, grouped by component category.
489 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
489 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | CRACKED AND CHIPPED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. REPLACED 2-14-20 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARK MILLER SUBARU SOUTH TOWNE SERVICE LOCATED AT 10920 STATE ST, SANDY, UT 84070, (888) 791-4530, TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,457. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,457 |
| Feb 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. NO STONES OR ROCKS HIT IT. JUST STARTED CRACKING IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS FROM COLD WEATHER. SEEMED LIKE IT CRACKED WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS PUT ON IN COLD WEATHER. CRACKS EVERYWHERE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Jan 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | LARGE WINDSHIELD CRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE AT THE TIME. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AS I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 9,000 |
| Jan 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I BOUGHT MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER IN DECEMBER OF 2018. IN AUGUST OF 2019, A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET. THE NEXT AFTERNOON, I NOTICED AN APPROXIMATE 2 FOOT CRACK ACROSS THE LEFT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR, AND IT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRED MY ABILITY TO SEE AS IT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LINE OF VISION. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS APPROVED BY MY INSURANCE, ORDERED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND FINALLY INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER REPLACING MY WINDSHIELD, A TINY PEBBLE THE SIZE OF A PINHEAD HIT THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD AGAIN. I COULDN'T EVEN SEE A MARK, IT WAS SO SMALL. ONE DAY WHEN I WAS GETTING IN MY CAR, I NOTICED A FOOT LONG CRACK IN ALMOST THE EXACT SAME PLACE AS LAST TIME. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS IMPAIRING MY ABILITY TO SEE WELL. MY CAR HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT AND I RARELY DRIVE OTHER THAN TO WORK AND BACK HOME. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHER CARS IN THE PAST 18 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN THEM MUCH MORE THAN THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER ONCE DID MY PREVIOUS WINDSHIELDS EVER CRACK. IT SEEMS LIKE SUBARU MUST HAVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS AS THEY CRACK FAR TOO EASILY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Jan 2020 | STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY EYESIGHT FEATURE SUDDENLY DISENGAGES AND MY CRUISE CONTROL CEASES TO WORK AND NO LANE ASSIST OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURES CONTAINED WITH THE "EYESIGHT PACKAGE" WORK FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,050 |
| Dec 2019 | AIR BAGS,SEATS | NHTSA RECALL 19V-701 (SUBARU RECALL WUM-98) INCLUDES ONLY FORESTERS WITH SEAT HEATERS MANUFACTURED FROM 1/20/15 - 8/1/17. MY FORESTER WAS MANUFACTURED ON 6/6/18 AND IS NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED. PAGE 3 OF PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN WUM-98R REVISED 11/20/19 (COPY ATTACHED) STATES IF THE DATE CODE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION WIRING HARNESS IS 18074 (74TH DAY OF 2018) OR BEFORE AND THE SUPPLIER CODE IS 6578, "THE HARNESS IS NG AND THE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED". AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ATTACHED PHOTO (IMG_1295), THE DATE CODE ON THE HARNESS LABEL IN MY VEHICLE IS 18019 (19TH DAY OF 2018), THE SUPPLIER CODE IS 6578, AND THE SUBARU PART NUMBER (64084SG020) MATCHES THE PART NUMBER ON THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS LABEL ON PAGE 3 OF WUM-98R. ALSO, HOW CAN THE CUT OFF DATE FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES (74TH DAY OF 2018) BE 7 1/2 MONTHS AFTER THE LAST RECALLED VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED ON 8/1/2017? WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES MADE IN THAT 7 1/2 MONTH PERIOD ? AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, SUBARU STILL REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE, STATING ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1/20/15 AND 8/1/17, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO PAGE 3 OF WUM-98R THE HARNESS IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. NOTE ALSO THAT PAGE 3 OF PART 573 SAFETY RECALL REPORT 19V-701 CLAIMS THE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT WAS CORRECTED ON 2/19/2018, AND LISTS 17 RECALLED PART NUMBERS, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PART NUMBER IN THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS LABEL ON PAGE 3 OF WUM-98R (AND THE HARNESS LABEL IN MY VEHICLE). THIS RECALL CLEARLY WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,615 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD. SOME CRACKS ARE FROM VERY SMALL ROCKS AND MY INSURANCE COVERED IT . THE MOST RECENT CRACK IS VERY LARGE AND DIDNT APPEAR TO START FROM ANY ROCK. THIS WINDSHIELD FEELS VERY UNSAFE.THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY . | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I'M CURRENTLY ON MY SECOND WINDSHIELD ON MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE FIRST WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO GOOD REASON AND THE SECOND CRACKED WITH A MINOR ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Dec 2019 | AIR BAGS | WHEN MY HUSBAND SHUTS OFF THE CAR, GETS OUT AND REFUELS, I REMAIN SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE STARTS THE CAR AND DRIVES OFF. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT READS THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN THOUGH I AM SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED STARLINK TOLD US TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED,BUT THE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES THAT I GET OUT WHEN HE GETS GAS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF AND GET OUT TO REACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Dec 2019 | STEERING | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,900 |
| Dec 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | A SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN FRONT WINDSHIELD WITH NO HISTORY OR EVIDENCE OF ROCK WHIP OR DAMAGE OCCURRED WITH BRAND NEW VEHICLE (130 MILES), CRACK BEGAN AT ROOF LINE IN AREA IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND EXTENDED BELOW THE "DOT SHADING" AROUND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. GLASS REPAIR PERSON NOTED NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE, WINDOW WAS REPLACED AND BILLED TO MY INSURANCE. NOW AT 32,000 MILES IN THE SAME LOCATION, ANOTHER CRACK HAS APPEARED. GLASS REPAIR PERSON AGAIN REPORTS NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK CHIP OR DAMAGE, AND HE THINKS THAT THE CRACK SEEMS TO BE ON THE INSIDE, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER, AND THE CAR IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE.. I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE DATE THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME BECAUSE IT BEGINS IN AN AREA WHERE THE MIRROR OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW OF IT AND I DON'T NOTICE UNTIL IT EXTENDS BEYOND THE REARVIEW MIRROR. FIRST TIME IT WAS NOTED WHEN I TOOK CARE IN TO HAVE GLASS TREATMENT PUT ON (TO REDUCE NIGHT GLARE) AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE CRACK. THE CAR ONLY HAD 136 MILES AT THIS TIME. SECOND TIME I NOTICED IT ABOUT 11/2/19. SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT ON 12/5/19. | Crash: No Fire: No | 130 |
| Nov 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK DUE TO A TYPE OF TRIP OR WIRING WITH THE LOCKING SYSTEM. WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STATIONARY, RIGHT BEFORE LOCKING THE DOOR, THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LIGHT FLASHES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CLOSED, EVEN IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ACTS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THIS PREVENTS THE CAR FROM LOCKING, DUE TO SOME TYPE OF TRIP IN THE DOOR SENSOR. IT MIGHT BE A TRIP BETWEEN THE KARR ALARM SYSTEM AND THE DOOR SENSOR INSTALLED IN THE CAR. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR OR RESOLVE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT IS HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2019 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL INSIDE THE ENGINE OIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF CORVALLIS (LOCATED AT 800 NW 5TH ST, CORVALLIS, OR 97330, (541) 754-1515), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Nov 2019 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SOMETIMES LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER IT WAS SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU SHERMAN OAKS (888-690-1521, LOCATED AT 5747 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE CONTACT PRESSED THE DEFROST BUTTON, A SMALL CRACK WAS NOTICED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK PROGRESSIVELY GREW LARGER AND DEVELOPED INTO A CRACK FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Nov 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, ABOUT 20MPH WHEN THE REAR DOOR WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SHATTERED. IT APPEARED SPONTANEOUS, I DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE WINDOW, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THERE BEING OTHER CARS AROUND THAT WOULD'VE KICKED SOMETHING UP OFF THE ROAD...I JUST HEARD A POP AND ALL THE GLASS SHATTERING. EARLIER THAT MORNING I HAD HEARD CREAKING NOISES THAT I HAD THOUGHT WAS JUST STUFF MOVING AROUND IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, BUT MAYBE IT WAS THE WINDOW BEGINNING TO FAIL? | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED BY A FLYING ROCK 1/2 INCH FROM LR CORNER WHILE DRIVING. NEXT DAY WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT DURING THE DAY, A 3 FOOT CRACK DEVELOPED IN WINDSHIELD. THE NEXT DAY THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN HALF WHILE SITTING IN THE SUN WHILE PARKED. REPLACED WINDSHIELD AND NOW THE PASSANGER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT FLOODS WHEN IT RAINS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,632 |
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WINDSHIELD------ 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. ON 2/29/2018 WHEN ENTERING THE CAR IN THE MORNING WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. CRACK RAN FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD UP ABOUT 10 INCHES. WHEN LEAVING THE CAR ON THE NIGHT ON 9/28/2018 THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT CRACKED. INSPECTION SHOWED NO SIGNS OF A CHIP IN THE GLASS.WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ON THAT MORNING THE CRACK EXTENDED TOWARD THE PASSENGER ABOUT 8 INCHES.MY INSURANCE COMPANY SENT ME TO SAFELITE AUTO GLASS TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. AN AFTERMARKET WINDSHIELD REPLACED THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SAFELITE WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN THE CAMERAS FOR THE STARLIGHT SYSTEM. THE WINDSHIELD WAS THEN REPLACED WITH A SUBARU WINDSHIELD. SAFELITE AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN / CALIBRATE THE CAMERAS. WAS SENT TO THE SUBARU DEALER FOR THE CALIBRATION.. THEY WERE ABLE TO CALIBRATE THE CAMERAS AFTER 4.5 HOURS. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER SUBARU FORESTERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I BELIEVE THEY WIND SHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE. I DO NOT HAVE A PHOTO | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD IS RANDOMLY CRACKED AND NOW HAS A BIG SPIDER CRACK ON THE LOWER END OF THE WINDSHIELD OF THE DRIVER SIDE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO SUDDENLY CRACK FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT CALLED WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU (LOCATED AT 7982 BIG BEND BLVD, WEBSTER GROVES, MO 63119, 314-968-5167) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL AN AUTO GLASS SPECIALIST TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY THE SPECIALIST TWICE AND REPAIRED THE WINDSHIELD WITH A REPAIR KIT HIMSLEF TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Oct 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET (A SIDE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE) AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SPIT OUT A ROCK. IT HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND BROKE. IT BROKE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, ALMOST COMPLETELY ACROSS. MY DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE WIND SHIELD. IT WAS INSTALLED ON 9/8/18 WHICH ALSO REQUIRED A RE-CALIBRATION OF THE EYE SIGHT SYSTEM. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO UPLOAD THEM SINCE IT HAD PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,670 |
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | I WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO FIND A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE). I PARK MY CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY, NOT IN THE STREET. I RARELY EVEN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WORK A HALF MILE FROM MY HOUSE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 23,000 |