10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,822 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2018 Subaru Forester Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #51

Feb 022022

Forester

  • miles

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

There is a parasitic drain on the electrical system, including when the vehicle is turned off and nothing is left running. As a result the vehicle will not start. aI replaced the battery and experienced the same problem with a month. This is most problematic when the vehicle has not been used for at least 2 days or it's very cold outside. It's happened at least 10 times in the last 2 years. The most recent incident was yesterday. When I called dealership they denied any electric so issues with the 2018 Forester and want to charge me $75:to check the electrical system even though there's a lawsuit in Canada due to this same exact issue. Everytime this happens aI and my passenger s are put at a safety risk by stranding us because until help arrives.

- Golden, CO, USA

problem #50

Nov 152021

Forester

  • miles
Windshield crack.

- Granger, IN, USA

problem #49

Sep 132021

Forester

  • miles
Windowshield glass (front) has a crack (about a foot long) just by itself.

- North Arlington, NJ, USA

problem #48

Aug 132021

Forester

  • miles

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

When putting the car in park and attempting to turn the car off and take the key out of the ignition, the key is stuck. I typically have to shift back into R or N and then back in park a few times before the key is able to be released. This has been happening off and on for about 6 months and seems to get worse in the heat.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #47

Aug 042021

Forester

  • miles
Went into the doctors office yesterday and when I came out the rear hach was open. The car was locked and secure when we went in.

- Conyngham, PA, USA

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problem #46

Jul 222021

Forester

  • miles
The AC System has failed, most likely the compressor at 76,000 miles. This problem is widespread across Subaru models 2017 & 2018 and repairs cost at around $1,500. For a less than 3 year old, very maintained car components should not be failing this soon. Having no working AC is a safety hazard to be in while driving in 100+ degree weather and also the windshield will fog over because moisture is not being taken out of the air now.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #45

Jul 192021

Forester

  • miles

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

The key would not pull from the ignition. We took the car to a Subaru Dealership and they had to replace the shifter assembly. This would have cost $650 had it not been covered by our 30 day limited warantee. We had just bought the car a week prior. There was no recall on the required notice we got when we bought the car because Subaru had not issued at that time. I discovered this when visiting forums of others with a similar experience. The owners know their experience, but that knowledge has not risen to the level of public acknowledgement by Subaru. The windshield cracked in 3 places for no discernable reason. We had it looked at, and they are not deep enough for service, at this time. However, we anticipate having to get a replacement windshield with estimated costs of $1000 or more. Another discovery found in the forums, but not from Subaru directly. The general public relies on the credibility of manufacturers and dealerships when making this long term investments. Subaru concealing information this information is quite concerning. If they do not disclose then neither do the dealerships selling them. In the end, the consumer ends up with the expense.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #44

Jul 072021

Forester

  • miles
The windshield has several small cracks in it and it was not hit by rocks or any other debris.

- Sugar Hill, GA, USA

problem #43

Jun 252021

Forester

  • miles
There is a crack in the glass of my moon roof and the moon roof is not properly sealed so water leaks in to the car. I purchased the vehicle on 6/18/21 and noticed the crack today (6/25/21) as I was examining the car when I was showing it to a friend of mine. I noticed the water leaking in to the car on 6/19/21 and 6/24/21 when I took the vehicle to get washed.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #42

Jun 012021

Forester

  • miles
The windshield, after being in a garage for A whole weekend cracked. There was no impact, it just split up the middle. This issue has had a class action lawsuit brought up against Subaru, and is something that sadly happened to me to. I am now stuck with an almost 1000 bill. There were no warnings or causes. It happened with no indication this would occur.

- Gouldsboro, PA, USA

problem #41

Oct 122018

Forester

  • 2,000 miles

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

I have ac problems, refrigerant leak, actuator problems, bad compressor. I have serious cvt surging and suspension problems that make vehicle unsafe to drive. The car literally begins to hop like you are stomping the gas and breaks back and forth and can easily make you lose control. It sometimes does nothing when pressing accelerator for way too long making it dangerous pulling into traffic. Windows roll down without pressing button and won't roll back up unless you roll them all the way down first and usually it just rolls right back down again. Aweful trying to drive while fighting with windows that won't stay up. Suspension is so destroyed from the surging and hopping that it cannot be aligned. The vehicle destroys tires rapidly and unevenly. Gas mpg is terrible, especially if you run ac. Steering assist is dangerous and will sometimes jerk wheel away for no reason causing you to scrape curbs and nearly hit a pole once.. breaking assist is also dangerous as it will slam breaks for no reason. Lane departure beeps a lot for no reason. Wipers are garbage. Windshield glass is too soft and all dust scratches it making visibility poor the trunk often will not open no matter if you push button on key, inside car or on trunk. The door seals fell off, cheap clips fall off that are supposed to hold important things in place, glove box shock broke. I'm sure there are other issues too. Suspension is a big issue however, completely shot from surging. Far too expensive to get whole new suspension. Dealership ignored all complaints and purged all records of visits so I couldn't file lemon law. Subaru is very dishonest. So many things need recall that it is a lemon pure and simple.

- Seabrook, TX, USA

problem #40

Apr 122021

Forester

  • 29,750 miles
While leaving for work this morning, I noticed a crack on my windshield on the lower passenger side, right above the front speaker. It appears the crack is only on the inside and is not caused by any outside damage or force.

- Michigan City, IN, USA

problem #39

Mar 222018

Forester

  • miles
The windshield is pitted and cracked I first noticed the pitting in 03/2018 and it is continually getting worse. The windshield now needs to be replaced as it has a huge crack in it!

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #38

Mar 202021

Forester

  • 50 miles
Vehicle has 50K miles. Window motor on driver window replaced twice. Keeps failing. Also uneven tread wear on brand new tires indicating something wrong with vehicle.

- Bristol, RI, USA

problem #37

Dec 042019

Forester

  • 24,000 miles
While in motion on a highway, our windshield has cracked twice in under 24,000 miles. These were two separate windshields - the original and the replacement from a Subaru dealership. We can assume a tiny rock hit the windshield since we were on a highway - however, it appears that it does not take much for the windshield to crack. This same scenario has happened to our windshield twice. Our car was not following closely behind another car or large vehicle that could have been kicking up debris.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #36

Jan 012021

Forester

  • 18,000 miles
Front wheel drive barring's lt side, worn out under 19,000 miles, rear gate lift motor replaced twice-in motion! lt back interior frame popping out!

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #35

Feb 062021

Forester

  • 27,000 miles
Subaru Forester battery dies repeatedly after sitting for very short periods of time. Three times within the first year of owning the vehicle (bought it new). First time, dealer told me it must be my fault because it tested fine, 2nd time they said it was an issue with a start stop fuse (car doesn't have that feature) draining the battery, 3rd time they said it was starlink electrical issue draining the battery. I cannot recall if they replaced the battery each time, but I know I was told that it was replaced at least twice. Worked fine for another year after the starlink solution and has again been acting up. Car doesn't want to start and left me stranded in a remote mountain location in the dead of winter.

- Gunnison, CO, USA

problem #34

Nov 092020

Forester

  • miles
The windshield was so pitted when I bought it that I had it replaced within a few months of purchasing the vehicle. Visibility was limited especially when the sun hit it.

- Augusta, ME, USA

problem #33

Jan 102021

Forester

  • 0 miles
A number of tiny chips developed on the front windshield. Counted at least 6 spots. The car was mostly parked on a city street when the chips seem to have occurred. Have driven less than 100 miles on highways and less than 20 miles in the city.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #32

Aug 202017

Forester

  • 150 miles
I owned this new car only 2 weeks and it developed a crack in the windshield. I had the crack repaired at a private shop. I was driving the car on a residential street when this happened.

- Forest Grove, OR, USA

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