8.4

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,912 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Subaru Forester brakes problems

brakes problem

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2018 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #6

May 192019

Forester

  • 11,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

[xxx] 05/19/2019 [xxx]- clear day @ 10am est. While in my lane and traveling straight and within the lane lines, two (2) vehicle safety systems activate at the same time: Lane keep assist, lane departure warning. The lane keep assist was the strongest "pull" I've ever felt and pulled/steered the vehicle to right causing me nearly cross into the lane on my right. My hands were always on the steering wheel and was able to immediately correct it. The departure warning also activated at the initial 'lane keep assist' feature activation. Attached is a picture of the road from the inside of the vehicle. The windshield has dried insect residue but nothing I considered visually impairing. If my hands were not on the steering wheel or otherwise was distracted, I have no doubt I would have steered completely into the lane next to me. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #5

May 132019

Forester

  • 6,000 miles
Eyesight shuts off, in rain when most needed. Dealer states it is ok.

- Galveston, TX, USA

problem #4

May 132019

Forester

  • 6,000 miles
Windshield cracked and is now half across from passenger side. No known rock hit same. Googled and noticed dozens of windshields cracked from structural defects. Subaru claims this is why eyesight cuts off " eyesight cannot see it don't work." So I guess it doesn't work at night?

- Galveston, TX, USA

problem #3

Jan 312018

Forester

  • 15 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The speedometer information is very difficult to see in sunny daylight. Numbers are "red". if "polarized" or regular sun lenses are used, (info. (numbers) can not be read. 2019 models, the speedometer is changed, with "white" characters. Finally Subaru got the message. It is critical to be driving and you can not see the speed that you are driving !

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 202017

Forester

  • 160 miles
Brand new vehicle. Driving on an interstate at 55mph and made a slight left turn at a bend in the road, well within the clearly painted lane markers. Clear weather, temp about 50 degrees F. heard one beep and lost control of the steering for a second while the car steered itself slightly left. My hands were on the steering wheel and I was active operating the vehicle. Startling! happened two more times. Took it to a dealer and he explained that I might not be used to electronic steering. The same day, on a two lane road at 35 mph, at a slight left bend in the road, one beep and lost steering for about a second but enough to take the vehicle to the edge of the shoulder. I was startled again and turned sharp left, crossing the double yellow line into the oncoming lane. Fortunately, there were no vehicles in the lane. The culprit seems to be the "lane keep assist" feature of the eyesight system where the vehicle's computer takes over control if it detects a lane departure under certain conditions. Obviously, it is not functioning correctly and could have caused an accident or worse. Turned lka off.

- Boone, NC, USA

problem #1

Aug 252017

Forester

  • 100 miles
While driving at 60 miles an hour on a 4 lane highway, I was going around a slight curve when the lane assist came on. I was in the left lane and not near the left line in road, but centered in the middle of lane. I heard one beep and then the steering wheel became very loose in my hand and it took me a few seconds to gain control of the steering wheel. This also happened while going on a slightly curved city street going about 40 miles an hour. It scared the dickens out of me as it was not what I expected the lane assist to do. I went back to dealership and told them about the steering and they said I just needed to get used to how the electric steering worked. After it happened a couple more time I made appointment for someone to take a test drive. The technician felt a slight swaying but said it was the type of steering of the lane assist. He suggested I turn it off and not use it for a while and see how car then handled. The technician filed case # 26296330423, no problem found with vehicle, system is operating as designed, no repair attempt performed. (eqmr was also filled out and submitted.) I have not driven my Forester with the assist on since this happened. I have not had this loose wheel steering happen again. I am convinced it is the lane assist and feel it is not working properly in my vehicle. I will probably never use it again. Lane departure is fine, does what it's supposed to do. I have no complaints with the dealership or their technician, they were very thorough and kind. This lane assist is just an aspect of this safety technology that I don not like how it works. Or is there something wrong with it in my car that this has not happened to others yet? I do understand how lane assist works, I did test drives having it on and it would bring me back to my lane if I went over the line without a blinker on.

- Hightstown, NJ, USA

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