There are 7 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2018 Subaru Foresterin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The CVT parking brake switch has failed. The failure leads to the inability to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle is in park. This happens repeatedly, with the only temporary solution being to restart the car, and force the shift lever from "park" to "drive" and back again rather violently. Yes, the problem was confirmed by the dealer and by Subaru of America; the latter issued a limited 1-year warranty extension for the issue a couple of years ago, but it has expired without any further extension (before the problem first presented on my car). The vehicle was inspected by a dealer that confirmed the problem and wanted to charge me to repair it. There were no prior messages, warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the problem first happening.
After starting the car for the first time of the day, letting it warm for a minute or two, I started driving and when I went to stop at a stop sign about three blocks from my starting point I pressed the brake. The engine started to rev immediately so I had to stomp the brake to the floor and push the gear selector to the neutral position to avoid hitting a pedestrian and the dog she was walking. She was within 10 feet of the front of my car when I finally stopped. I have not taken it to a dealer yet since I am sure they will not be able to replicate the intermittent problem. There were no warnings of any kind that this was about to happen. I did note though, that the cold engine temperature indicator light on the dashboard was still illuminated.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving into a parking space at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, which caused a collision. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle crashed into a traffic signpost, a boulder, and then a tree, which stopped the vehicle. No injury was sustained and no medical treatment was received. No air bags were deployed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the computer system did not show a failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Prior to the collision, the vehicle had inadvertently accelerated on several occasions. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSING DAMAGE. SHORT CRACK IN MOTION THAT GREW OVER SEVERAL NIGHTS WHILE PARKED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER
VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGH.
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 A SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH UP A HILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU SHERMAN OAKS (5747 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401 (818) 670-7450) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
2018 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKING ISSUE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY/MUSHY AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES. THE PEDAL WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THIS RESPONSE. *JS
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026