NHTSA has 498 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Subaru Forester[1]. The biggest group names the visibility and wiper parts, with 135 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups, biggest first. These are unverified owner reports.
- Visibility/Wiper. 135 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners found the windshield cracked on its own, often while the car sat parked and nothing had hit the glass.
- Air Bags. 99 complaints[6]. Owners describe warning lights for the airbag system that come on while driving, and a passenger airbag that switches off when the seat sensor does not sense a rider.
- Unknown Or Other. 84 complaints[7]. These reports do not fit a single named part.
- Electrical System. 71 complaints[8]. Owners describe a sudden loss of power, odd warnings from the driver assist system, audio controls that stop responding, and a phone cable that burned in the USB port.
- Engine. 32 complaints[9]. Owners describe the car losing power on the road, oil use, and fuel smell in the cabin.
- Speed Control. 30 complaints[10]. This group has the most crash reports of any group here, at 13[10].
- Seats. 30 complaints[11].
- Steering. 25 complaints[12].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2018 Forester is necessarily included.
- Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (21V587), July 2021. About 175,968 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification (19V701), October 2019. About 366,282 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Equipment › Other › Labels (18V455), July 2018. About 3,654 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive[16] | 22 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 |
| Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[4] | 26 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 |
| Forester AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AV-S8), Premium, All-Wheel Drive[17] | 23 / 27 / 25 | $3,300 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD[5] | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
How 2018 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 101 | 1 |
| 1999 | 131 | 1 |
| 2000 | 75 | 0 |
| 2001 | 139 | 0 |
| 2002 | 88 | 1 |
| 2003 | 189 | 3 |
| 2004 | 219 | 2 |
| 2005 | 93 | 1 |
| 2006 | 88 | 2 |
| 2007 | 74 | 1 |
| 2008 | 50 | 1 |
| 2009 | 178 | 17 |
| 2010 | 262 | 17 |
| 2011 | 147 | 16 |
| 2012 | 105 | 15 |
| 2013 | 78 | 12 |
| 2014 | 403 | 2 |
| 2015 | 615 | 3 |
| 2016 | 415 | 3 |
| 2017 | 592 | 1 |
| 2018 | 498 | 3 |
| 2019 | 834 | 3 |
| 2020 | 603 | 0 |
| 2021 | 210 | 0 |
| 2022 | 100 | 1 |
| 2023 | 74 | 1 |
| 2024 | 31 | 2 |
| 2025 | 98 | 4 |
| 2026 | 29 | 4 |
NHTSA's counts for the Forester show 498 complaints and 3 recalls for 2018[3]. Among the 29 model years listed, 24 have fewer complaints than 2018 and 4 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (29) and the most are for 2019 (834)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2018 Forester?
The 2018 Forester has 498 complaints on file[1]. The largest group is about visibility and wipers[2], and air bags come next[6]. Some groups link to crashes and injuries, such as the engine group[9] and the speed control group[10]. Complaints are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat them as a guide to what owners report and not as a score. Check the Recalls section on this page, since the by-year fact lists recalls for this model year[3].
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Forester?
- Owners report the most about visibility and wiper parts[2], then air bags[6] and a group of unknown or other parts[7]. The total is on file at NHTSA[1].
- Does the 2018 Subaru Forester have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year fact shows recalls for this model year[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them.
- Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?
- Owner complaints are one signal. NHTSA has 498 on file[1], and they are not adjusted for sales. Read the problem groups above and the Recalls section to judge for yourself.
- How many miles do the engine problems start at?
- Engine complaints name a median mileage at failure of 20,000[9]. That is a middle value from unverified reports.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Subaru Forester?
- See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Subaru Forester
Compare all model years of the Subaru Forester
Similar cars from 2018: small suvs
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 498 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Subaru Forester (26 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 9 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 135 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Subaru Forester model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 32 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 99 complaints name the air bags component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 84 complaints name the unknown or other component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,001). NHTSA vehicle records
- 71 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 9,417). NHTSA vehicle records
- 32 complaints name the engine component group (6 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 30 complaints name the speed control component group (13 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 30 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 25 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 7,900). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 21V587, filed July 29, 2021: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V701, filed October 3, 2019: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 18V455, filed July 10, 2018: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AV-S8), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 27 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2018 Subaru Forester with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 250 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2018 Subaru Forester with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 170 hp. www.epa.gov