2018 Subaru FORESTER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Subaru FORESTER has 669 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 8.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru forster. approximately one month after purchasing the vehicle, a crack suddenly appeared in the windshield. after having the windshield replaced weeks later, another crack was present after a small pebble made contact with the windshield. the vehicle was not diagno. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 29 crash reports 11 injuries

669

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

8.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

157 complaints

23%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORSTER. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER CRACK WAS PRESENT AFTER A SMALL PEBBLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNO
• WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS FROM THE TINIEST LITTLE DING FROM A ROCK.
• THE WINDSHIELD SIMPLY CRACKED UNDER THE PASSENGER WIPER AND QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO VIABLE IMPACT AND IT APPEARED OVERNIGHT. THIS HAPPENED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN OEM REPLACEMENT FROM SUBARU.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORSTER. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER CRACK WAS PRESENT AFTER A SMALL PEBBLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

116 complaints

17%

• TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWED A PROBLEM WITHIN FIRST 200 MILES OF DRIVING THE NEW FORESTER.
• FOR 2 MONTHS SINCE MAY 19, 2018, THE AIRBAG WARNING SENSOR LIGHT GOES ON MY DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG 'OFF' WARNING LIGHT ALSO GOES ON ' SEE ATTACHED PHOTO. THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIR BUT
• FOR 2 MONTHS SINCE MAY 19, 2018, THE AIRBAG WARNING SENSOR LIGHT GOES ON MY DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG 'OFF' WARNING LIGHT ALSO GOES ON ' SEE ATTACHED PHOTO. THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIR BUT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWED A PROBLEM WITHIN FIRST 200 MILES OF DRIVING THE NEW FORESTER.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

83 complaints

12%

• THE SUBARU (NAV) NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED. IT GIVES YOU NO ADVANCE WARNING OF UPCOMING HIGHWAY EXITS OR UPCOMING TURNS. THE NAV SYSTEM WILL EASILY BE THE CAUSE OF SEVER LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS DUE TO ITS POOR OPERATIONAL ABILITY TO SAFELY GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS IN
• WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN THE CAR STOPPED - THE ENGINE WOULD NOT GET ABOVE IDLE, EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR STOPPED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT DID ACCELERATE AFTER COMPLETELY REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE PEDAL AND PUSHING IT PARTIALLY DOWN A
• PAGE 9-6 FIGURE 8 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL SHOWS HOW TO PLACE THE JACK ON THE FRAME TO RAISE THE CAR TO CHANGE A TIRE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU REEF DOWN ON EITHER LOOSENING OR TIGHTENING THE TIRE, THE CAR WILL ROCK EITHER FORWARD OF BACKWARDS AND SLIDE OFF OF THE JACK. THE CAR WILL THEN FALL FORW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“THE SUBARU (NAV) NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED. IT GIVES YOU NO ADVANCE WARNING OF UPCOMING HIGHWAY EXITS OR UPCOMING TURNS. THE NAV SYSTEM WILL EASILY BE THE CAUSE OF SEVER LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS DUE TO ITS POOR OPERATIONAL ABILITY TO SAFELY GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS IN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

68 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO AN EXIT RAMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL IDLING EXTREMELY LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. RIMROCK SUBARU (324 S 24TH
• IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAS A POORLY DESIGNED/NOT-CURRENT-LIMITED USB JACK, WHICH FAILS TO PREVENT A PHONE CHARGING CABLE WITH SHORTED OR SHORTING-INTERMITTENTLY INTERVAL POWER WIRES FROM BURNING UP AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE. THE DETAILS OF MY BURNT-CABLE EVENT: ON TUESDAY EVENING OCT. 9, 2018, I GO
• 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. SO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO AN EXIT RAMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL IDLING EXTREMELY LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. RIMROCK SUBARU (324 S 24TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

38 complaints

• OCT. 25, 2018. CAR IN GARAGE STATIONARY/STARTED VEHICLE/ DASHBOARD RED WARNING LIGHT OF SEAT WITH BELT/AIRBAG. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. 1/2 HOUR LATER, RETURNED TO CAR, SAW HEADLIGHTS ON, TWO FRONT DOORS LOCKED/DIDN'T START CAR. CALLED DEALER AND TOOK IN. SAID AIRBAG PROBLEM AND NEED PASSENGER SEAT REPLA
• TL* 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 (508-778-5066, LOCATED AT 24 RIDGEWOOD AVE, HYANNIS, MA 02601) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT
• MY 2018 SUBARU FORESTER IS EXPERIENCING FAULTY ACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT SINCE JUNE 2018. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST 2017. THE DASHBOARD READS THAT THERE IS NO AIRBAG ON FOR THE PASSENGER WHILE SOMEONE WAS SEATED THERE AND THE CAR WAS SITTING OR IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“OCT. 25, 2018. CAR IN GARAGE STATIONARY/STARTED VEHICLE/ DASHBOARD RED WARNING LIGHT OF SEAT WITH BELT/AIRBAG. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. 1/2 HOUR LATER, RETURNED TO CAR, SAW HEADLIGHTS ON, TWO FRONT DOORS LOCKED/DIDN'T START CAR. CALLED DEALER AND TOOK IN. SAID AIRBAG PROBLEM AND NEED PASSENGER SEAT REPLA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 669 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORSTER. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER CRACK WAS PRESENT AFTER A SMALL PEBBLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWED A PROBLEM WITHIN FIRST 200 MILES OF DRIVING THE NEW FORESTER.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE SUBARU (NAV) NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED. IT GIVES YOU NO ADVANCE WARNING OF UPCOMING HIGHWAY EXITS OR UPCOMING TURNS. THE NAV SYSTEM WILL EASILY BE THE CAUSE OF SEVER LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS DUE TO ITS POOR OPERATIONAL ABILITY TO SAFELY GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO AN EXIT RAMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL IDLING EXTREMELY LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. RIMROCK SUBARU (324 S 24TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)