2018 Subaru Forester problems and complaints
Owners have filed 494 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Visibility/Wiper (135), Air Bags (96), Unknown Or Other (82).
Key takeaways
- 494 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 | 96 | 19% |
| Unknown Or Other | 82 | 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.
Steering,electrical System,engine - filed 2026-09-17
On July 31, 2026, I was driving with my daughter when the a/c compressor clutch seized up and experienced a catastrophic compressor failure that also blew out the expansion valve o-rings. The failure led to a total loss of engine power and control of the vehicle. The car would not start back up because the clutch was s...
Air Bags - filed 2026-08-28
The passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS), including the occupant detection sensor system in the passenger seat, has malfunctioned. The SRS/airbag warning light is illuminated. The vehicle produced diagnostic trouble codes B1650 and B1760. The affected passenger seat and components remain installed in the vehicle a...
Electrical System,air Bags,seats - filed 2026-08-18
Airbag light came on - dealership confirmed it is an occupant detection system failure - wiring harness has gone bad. No history of moisture exposure, which would leave faulty part as the problem. Similar to Subaru recall from 2020 on heated passenger seats - this vehicle was not included in that recall, but is in the ...
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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.