Car · Subaru problems

2018 Subaru Forester problems

498 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Subaru Forester. The most reported area is visibility and wipers (31% of them). NHTSA also lists 168 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 9. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 498 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Visibility and wipers156 · 31%
• Air bags99 · 20%
• Other or unknown84 · 17%
• Electrical system71 · 14%
• Engine and engine cooling32 · 6%
• Seats30 · 6%
• Speed control and throttle30 · 6%
• Steering25 · 5%

14 smaller areas not shown (131 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 168 repair bulletins from Subaru for the 2018 Subaru Forester. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 09-84-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Warranty Extension and design changes made to the front exhaust pipe and covers to address the concerns of some customers regarding an odor or a rattle-type...

2. 13-109-26Received October 5, 2026

   Paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

3. 15-304-22RReceived October 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns.

4. 15-333-25RReceived October 5, 2026

   Illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.

5. 15-308-23RReceived September 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to...

6. 16-156-25RReceived September 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   A design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body.

7. 02-193-24RReceived July 2, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Updated parts information and a service procedure to follow for removing accumulated carbon deposits from fuel injectors and internal engine components (e.g. intake valves...

8. 01-167-08RReceived June 1, 2026

   Additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer.

1. 19V701000October 3, 2019

   Air bags

   An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

2. 21V587000July 29, 2021

   Fuel system, gasoline

   The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

3. 18V455000July 10, 2018

   Tires

   The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure.

See all 3 recalls for the 2018 Subaru Forester, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Forester will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Visibility and wipers 156 complaints · 31%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Air bags 99 complaints · 20%

• Airbag clockspring replacement$230 to $670
• Airbag / occupant sensor replacement$220 to $750

Electrical system 71 complaints · 14%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

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Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Subaru Forester: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Subaru Forester?

Of the 498 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Subaru Forester, 156 (31%) name visibility and wipers, and 99 (20%) name air bags. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 26 of the 498 complaints as involving a crash and 1 as involving a fire. They also reported 9 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at a Subaru dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 168 repair bulletins for the 2018 Subaru Forester.

More

• 2019 Forester problems
• 2017 Forester problems
• 2016 Forester problems
• 2015 Forester problems
• 2014 Forester problems
• 2010 Forester problems
• 2018 recalls
• All Subaru recalls
• Subaru problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.