7.1

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,000 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 suspension problems

suspension problem

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2018 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #10

Apr 062024

Forester

  • miles

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

Lower control arm bushing initial stages of premature failure. Issue is a known common defect. No safety incident yet, but potential for steering and control issues while driving. Bushing crack was discovered during brake inspection at 45k miles.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #9

Sep 072023

Forester

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" Lower control arm bushings are worn out. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle starts to wobble and vibrate violently when driving above 70 mph, creating potential safety hazard at such a velocity. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the problem is confirmed by the technician at the Subaru dealership. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Inspected by the technician at the dealership. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" They first started to appear a week prior to repair when driving on the highway.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #8

Jul 182023

Forester

  • miles
Control arms failed within 55,000 miles, shaking and dangerous conditions for a vehicle less than 5 years of age. Leaking air condition and numerous electrical issues started ironically just after the standard 35,000 bumper to bumper warranty extended. Now my car smells like coolant and worried it-??s going to overheat. All my tire sensor pressure gages burn out before 50,00 0 miles and needed replacing. Violent shaking of suspension at highway speeds and not one safety alarm goes off.

- Rye, NY, USA

problem #7

Feb 042022

Forester

  • miles

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

1. Lower control arm failed, February 2022. Part is not available for inspection, repair shop disposed of it. 2. The car vibrated at highway speed, steering was compromised as steering wheel was shaking. 3. Yes, shop confirmed part had failed. 4. No manufacturer representatives have inspected the part or vehicle. 5. No car built-in diagnostic measures were triggered, no indication of a failed component. 6. Car is starting to show similar behavior now, roughly one year later, vibration at highway speeds, especially when turning and on road curves.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 042023

Forester

  • miles
Needed to replace a wheel bearing and a front control arm bearing at 18k miles. Have seen multiple reports of the control arm bearings going bad prematurely on these vehicles and it seems this could be a serious safety concern. There should probably be a recall for the front control arms on this year/make/model.

- Fowlerville, MI, USA

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problem #5

Nov 112022

Forester

  • miles
My 2018 Subaru Forester front low control arms and wheel bearing were damaged after about 24000 miles of driving in 5 years. I got it second hand in 2020 and it had only about 14000 miles. I had them replaced due to safety concern.

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #4

Aug 072021

Forester 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed at an independent mechanic, he was informed that the control arm and ball joints were rusted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed that the control bushings were worn, and the lower control arm was inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Los Osos, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 122018

Forester

  • 2,000 miles
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 #2

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 #1

Mar 202019

Forester

  • 10,000 miles
When on an incline, and or entering a highway while accelerating the car will go into the hill decent mode. Every light on the dash will light up! I am forced to pull over because the engine is now screaming!!! I then need to turn the car off and on two times in order to be able to drive it. Now half the lights are still on. But the car is running normally. It will take to more times turning off the engine before all the lights go off. The dealer claimed I was driving two footed. Left foot on brake and right on gas. Not true I do not drive like that. You can verify this behavior with starlink which I had the first year. Stamford Subaru has had the car a week now and I have heard nothing! the second issue is the front end. When going over a bump or turning into a driveway there is a loud clunk. To me it sounds like ball joints. Stamford Subaru has told me it is the all wheel drive system lifting one wheel off the ground, that's bull. I'm doing five miles an hour. Both issues have been going on for over a year. I do not feel safe in my Subaru. Stamford Subaru has given me an impresa as a loner and I am loving it. I have put six hundred miles on it and no problems. Please get in their butts to fix or replace my Forester!!! thank you in advance... ps, the computer code said incorrect gear ratio for the transmission problem. In addition this has happened five times in a year and four months. Very scary!!!

- Norwalk, CT, USA

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