10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,460 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 #10

Jan 212023

Forester

  • miles

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

I was the first car stopped at a red light of an intersection coming off the freeway, in far right lane. When the light turned green, as I released my foot off the brake and not even stepping on the gas the RPM surged with full force accelerating without my foot on the gas. I stepped on the brake but it would not engage - it locked. The steering wheel locked and only had minimal movement, as much movement as you would get in a parked position. There was no way to stop the car. Given the lane position and obstructions ahead (freeway on ramp), the car ran over a median and scraped along side the curb and on top to damage the front passenger wheel enough for it to pop. Only when the wheel broke did the car-??s brake re-engage and I was able to put it into park. The vehicle has not yet been inspected and is available in my driveway for inspection. There was no warning or indicators leading up to this. In fact, the vehicle had just been inspected for an oil change at the dealership three weeks prior. This accident would have caused a fatality, mine, if not many others if there had been cars ahead of me or cars had been in the intersection or if the wheel did not break in time before merging with the freeway traffic. I am fearful to drive this car again. There were absolutely NO indicators leading up to this or right before it happened. The car simply took over and there was no control of it.

- Monterey Park, CA, USA

problem #9

Dec 312021

Forester

  • miles
While turning in a parking lot car accelerated and hit a tree. Foot was on brake and airbags didn-??t deploy despite extensive damage. Body shop estimator said computer wouldn-??t confirm problem. It was not caused by floor mat! No warning lights prior to incident.

- Cumming , GA, USA

problem #8

Apr 112021

Forester

  • 51,356 miles
Windshield cracked with no causing damage. Short crack in motion that grew over several nights while parked. The brake pedal went to the floor while stopped at a light. Had towed to the dealer

- Ramona, CA, USA

problem #7

Feb 222021

Forester

  • 19,000 miles

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

Upon entering a parking space, with break peddle engaged, the vehicle lunged forward at extreme speed hitting a protective barrier. After a rest period, the vehicle was put in reverse and with break peddle engaged lurched backward at the same excessive speed hitting another object. After a long period with engine turned off, the operator was able to drive the car slowly. The vehicle is to be examined to determine the problem.

- Indian Head Park, IL, USA

problem #6

Jan 032021

Forester

  • 21,000 miles
Vehicle unexpectedly accelerated upon stepping on the brake, while stopping at a stop sigh.

- Bloomfield, NJ, USA

problem #5

Dec 312020

Forester

  • 47,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to switch from drive to reverse, when they pressed the brakes the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward. The vehicle crashed into the contact's garage door through the garage door and partially through the cement wall inside the garage. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed however it was still being determined whether the vehicle would be deemed totaled. The contact's wife received injuries the hip and leg area. Medical attention was needed. The contact had spoken to the dealer (castle Subaru burnsharbor mi) who referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who requested the black box and opened a case regarding the matter. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.

- Dune Acers, IN, USA

problem #4

Jul 012019

Forester

  • 35,000 miles

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

The contact leased a 2018 a Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving at 25 mph up a hill, the brake pedal was applied but failed to respond and vehicle rolled backwards and crashed into a tree. The door failed to open. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was taken to Subaru sherman oaks (5747 van nuys blvd, van nuys, ca 91401 (818) 670-7450) where the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 35,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 062020

Forester

  • 34,000 miles
As it stands in P (park) it has a really high idle even in neutral as if it wants to go. Then in drive it will lurch really fast. Or I have my foot on the break and it starts to rev high then after 3-5sec of seeing rev cycle in the 2000-3000S it calms down. I almost rear-ended a car yesterday. If you slightly pull off the brake the car will want to jolt forward. When it revs high and I take my foot off the brake it jolts forward then slows as if it recognizes I never had my foot on the accelerator. In all of these times I never had my foot on the gas pedal. I don't have pictures because obviously it's scary and I'd rather Focus on the driving then my car acting strange. But I realised that when this was happening more and more frequently my brakes completely wore out. I went from a 7/10 to a 1/10 in between a 3000 mile service! it all became more apparent after the 30,000 mile mark

- Pomona, CA, USA

problem #2

May 112018

Forester 4-cyl

  • miles
2018 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to braking issue. The consumer stated the brake pedal became spongy/mushy after driving several miles. The pedal would continue to travel to the floor after being depressed. The consumer stated the manufacturer and dealer were notified. The dealer stated the vehicle was operating as designed. The consumer was unsatisfied with this response.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #1

Jun 052019

Forester

  • 37,242 miles
I was in stop and go traffic. I don't remember if I was taking foot off brake, or gas pedal. This happen within seconds. Car started to accelerate, I slammed on brakes still moving, I pulled emergency brake, still moving, I hit back end of pick-up truck. By then I had put car in park and turned off ignition.

- Marlboro, MA, USA

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