2018 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 498 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Visibility/Wiper (135), Air Bags (99), Unknown Or Other (84).
Key takeaways
- 498 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 26 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 135 | 27% |
| Air Bags | 99 | 20% |
| Unknown Or Other | 84 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 71 | 14% |
| Engine | 32 | 6% |
| Seats | 30 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 | 6% |
| Steering | 25 | 5% |
| Power Train | 23 | 5% |
| Visibility | 21 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 | 4% |
| Suspension | 15 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Air Bags - filed 2026-10-02
My SRS Airbag System warning light illuminated on the dashboard while driving. Subaru dealership service department informed me that the passenger airbag system occupant detection technology failed and the airbag function was disabled. The repair required replacement of the entire seat bottom.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-02
The air conditioning system began blowing warm or hot air. Determined that the compressor failed and required replacement. Vehicle was purchased new from the dealership in Oct. 2018, with this issue arising at approximately 50k miles. This is apparently a common and known issue for 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. This i...
Air Bags - filed 2026-09-30
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with ODS failure. The contact was informed that the ODS needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had covered the cost for the ...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2018 Subaru Forester
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.