Reliable Auto DB

2018 Subaru Forester reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 Subaru Forester has 495 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 65 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Forester years here — over the median of the other years, which is 28. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Fuel pump, Occupant classification, and Tires.

2012 Subaru Forester
Photo by TTTNIS, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

495

Per year

65

Recalls

3

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (135 of 495), then Air bags (97) and Electrical system (71). Those filings include 26 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Forester has 586 complaints, 67 per year, and the 2019 has 833 complaints, 175 per year. The 2018 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Subaru Forester. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Fuel pump 2021-07-29 · NHTSA campaign 21V587000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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 for this recall is WRG-21.
Recall air bags, sensor, occupant classification 2019-10-03 · NHTSA campaign 19V701000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
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 customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Recall Tires 2018-07-10 · NHTSA campaign 18V455000
Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
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 for this recall is WTS-78.

Complaints by component (495 total)

Visibility and wipers
135
Air bags
97
Electrical system
71
Engine
32
Seats
30
Speed control
30
Steering
25
Powertrain
23
Visibility
21
Fuel and propulsion system
19
Suspension
15
Structure
14
Service brakes
13
Seat belts
10
Forward collision avoidance
8
Lane departure
7
Electronic stability control (ESC)
6
Wheels
6
Back-over prevention
2
Exterior lighting
2
Fuel system, gasoline
2
Tires
2
Carry handle, shell, and base
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

26

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

6

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

32017342018692019892020962021712022462023342024292025242026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The front passenger airbag of my Subaru Forester 2018 is deactivated, I brought my car to the Subaru dealer in white Plains, NY to check because I found out that there was a recall for malfunction of the airbag and I…"
    Air bags, Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-22
  • "On July 31, 2026, I was driving with my daughter when the a/c compressor clutch seized up and experienced a catastrophic compressor failure that also blew out the expansion valve o-rings. The failure led to a total loss…"
    Steering, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-09-17
  • "The passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS), including the occupant detection sensor system in the passenger seat, has malfunctioned. The SRS/airbag warning light is illuminated. The vehicle produced diagnostic…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-08-28
  • "Airbag light came on - dealership confirmed it is an occupant detection system failure - wiring harness has gone bad. No history of moisture exposure, which would leave faulty part as the problem. Similar to Subaru…"
    Electrical system, Air bags, Seats · filed 2026-08-18
  • "Discovered (06/08/26) that the engine would not turn over without the accelerator being pushed down when warm from driving after resting 30-60 minutes. Car was taken to Capital Subaru. No codes were triggered. The…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Subaru Forester SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Forester all-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 26 32 28 MPG $2300
Forester all-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 22 28 24 MPG $2700
Forester all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S8) All-wheel drive 23 27 25 MPG $3200

Specs and fitment

4th generation (SJ), 2014–2018
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 synthetic (2.5L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable) , 5.1 qt capacity
Tire size 225/60R17, 225/55R18 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 1,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 21V587000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. 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 for this recall is WRG-21. When NHTSA lists multiple Subaru nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Subaru Forester Next year 2019 Subaru Forester See every Subaru Forester model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?

The 2018 Subaru Forester has 495 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 65 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Forester years here — over the median of the other years, which is 28. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Fuel pump, Occupant classification, and Tires.

What are common problems with a 2018 Subaru Forester?

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (135 of 495), then Air bags (97) and Electrical system (71). Those filings include 26 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Is the 2018 Subaru Forester more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Forester has 586 complaints, 67 per year, and the 2019 has 833 complaints, 175 per year. The 2018 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Subaru Forester been recalled?

The 2018 Subaru Forester has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Subaru Forester?

Owners have filed 495 complaints about the 2018 Subaru Forester with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Subaru Forester get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Subaru Forester is 25.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Subaru Forester use?

0W-20 synthetic (2.5L; 5W-30 if 0W-20 unavailable)

What does NHTSA recall 19V-007 cover on the Subaru Forester?

NHTSA safety recall 19V007000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that subaru of America, Inc.

What generation is the 2013 Subaru Forester?

3rd generation (SH) (2012-2013).