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2018 Subaru Forester Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 498 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

D
42/100

High Reported Activity — 2018 Subaru Forester

The 2018 Subaru Forester shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
498
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
26
Crash Reports
1 fire report
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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Subaru Forester (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number…
NHTSA #21V587000
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification
If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru…
NHTSA #19V701000
🔧 Tires
Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number…
NHTSA #18V455000
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Subaru Forester

Based on 498 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Visibility/wiper
126
Air Bags
90
Electrical System
68
Unknown Or Other
62
Steering
25
Vehicle Speed Control
21
Visibility
20
Power Train
18
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Subaru Forester — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.

2012 105 complaints 2013 78 complaints 2014 403 complaints 2015 615 complaints 2016 415 complaints 2017 589 complaints 2018 498 complaints 2019 834 complaints 2020 602 complaints 2021 210 complaints 2022 99 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2012, 2013, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Subaru Forester

Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Subaru Forester has 3 recall campaigns and 498 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?
The 2018 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Forester?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Subaru Forester are: Visibility/wiper, Air Bags, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Subaru Forester safe to buy?
The 2018 Subaru Forester has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Forester should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Forester are: 2012, 2013, 2022. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.