This page covers 3 recalls, 482 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Subaru Forester.
24–28 mpg combined
8.4–9.8 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2018 Forester draws the most complaints around visibility and wipers, which is the dominant theme by a wide margin. Owners frequently report problems with the windshield itself, cracking, pitting, and stress fractures that appear without obvious impact, along with wiper performance issues. The airbag system is the second most-reported area, with owners describing warning lights illuminating and concerns about restraint system readiness. Electrical complaints come in close behind, and a recurring thread there involves parasitic battery drain: owners report returning to a dead battery after the vehicle sits for as little as ten days, sometimes cycling through multiple battery replacements. A separate cluster of complaints describes air conditioning failures, including compressor seizure, expansion valve failure, and evaporator core failure, sometimes occurring in sequence on the same vehicle, leaving owners without cooling after a series of costly repairs.
482
Total Complaints
26
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
6
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Subaru Forester has 3 recalls, the most serious being a fuel pump that can fail while driving, causing the engine to stall and raising the risk of a crash.
On the safety equipment side, vehicles with heated seats have a recall involving the passenger seat occupant detection system: an electrical connection in the front passenger seat can loosen and cause the front airbag to switch off even with a passenger seated, leaving that person without airbag protection in a crash. There is also a label recall affecting certain vehicles where the certification label shows the wrong wheel size, tire size, and recommended air pressure, which could lead to incorrect tires being installed or improper inflation.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, which could prevent fuel from reaching the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical connection for the front passenger seat's Occupant Detection System may loosen, affecting how the seat detects occupancy.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the ODS sensor mat harness and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Certification Label on certain 2018 Foresters shows incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure specifications.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a corrected Certification Label at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
