2018 Subaru Forester: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 491 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is visibility/wiper (29% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 5 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Jul 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 491 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated the passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated while his wife was seated in the passenger's seat. The message that the passenger's side air bag was disabled was displayed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2026
“B1760 code for ODS AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF is On. There is a recall open for many other Subarus, same make, model & year. Safety concern for my daughter as she rides passenger. I had the problem diagnosed and documented receipt from ACS in Roseville California. I contacted Maita Subaru of Sacramento and they said there is not and wasn't a recall for my Subaru. Very concerning, please help.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2026
“June 2025: I proactively replaced the battery October 2025: Left the car parked for 17 days. Dead battery. Got a jump, drove for 2 hours. May 2026: Left the car parked for 10 days. Dead battery. Got a jump, drove to mechanic who replaced it under warranty. Saw article about Subaru class action lawsuit about this issue, so I'm reporting it. I will visit the Subaru dealer where I purchased to car and ask them about it and Subaru's plans for permanent repair.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2026
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“The A/c compressor seized up causing the belt to break. Looked up online and it seems it's a common occurrence with this year and model.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2026
“The AC compressor needs replaced and I see a lot of complaints on-line about this specific model- 2018 Forester so I am reporting in case it may help with a recall. Cost to repair is $2,000+. Right now it may only be covered under warranty or through a TSB goodwill. I will need to pursue with Subaru but wanted to report this in case it's helpful as there seems to be a lot of reports on this specific issue.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2026
“The defect presents itself when the equipped data communications module (DCM) attempts to communicate with 3G cellular networks. As 3G networks within the U.S. are no longer functioning, the call will continuously fail even after the vehicle has been turned off, draining the battery and resulting in a no-start safety risk for drivers. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2025
“I was driving on the interstate when car started vibrating and making a terrible sound. Dealership advised both front lower control arm bushings were worn and had play. Had them replaced but because they are rubber technician advised this will most likely happen again. My car has only 46k. I bought it new in 2017.”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2025
“Airbag light comes on due to some failure in the passenger seat. This vehicle year has had a recall on the same issue but this VIN number was not included for some reason. Another consumer posted his assessment which I have attached. My vehicle falls under his category. He has sold his since his was never resolved.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2025
“The AC compressor/condesor needs replaced and I see a lot of complaints on-line about this specific model- 2018 Forester. My kids and I were on a road trip in August 2025 when it stopped working. It was extremley hot even with the windows down and heat stroke became very real while we were sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. There was already a recall on this but now with the new part the AC stopped working and sounds very bad under the hood while the car is turned on. AC is very much needed during hot summer day.s”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2025
“Wheel studs are of inferior quality, which leads to galling. Replacement of a wheel results in snapped studs. I have replaced three so far on two occasions within a week. Swapping to a spare in an emergency with broken studs will leads to accidents. As of now, I will need to drive with one broken stud to get it fixed. This is a known issue, the lugs were not over-torqued. The softness of the threads results in galling such that the threads tear out and fuse to the lug nut. How they have not issued recall/replacement/upgrades is astounding.”Owner report · Wheels · Jul 2025
When filing, owners marked a crash in 26 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTS-78.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2018 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Forester by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 491 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2018 Subaru Forester. The most complained-about area is visibility/wiper (29% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2018 Subaru Forester problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 18,150 miles or less.
Does the 2018 Subaru Forester have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:sensor:occupant classification. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.