2018 Subaru Forester Complaint Log

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that she was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after 5 minutes she was able to start the vehicle and to drive to her destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,978.

I was traveling on the highway when I heard a clunk and noticed that my hood had released and was bouncing against the hood safety release. I had not touched the hood release lever, and the hood was fully closed prior to coming unlatched. I have not had any prior accidents or work performed on the vehicle that might have affected the release mechanism. Had the safety release not caught the hood when it was unlatched, the hood would have blown open and obstructed my visibility, potentially causing an accident. This has happened twice before, but initially I assumed I must have hit the release inadvertently. I am certain that I was not touching the release lever this time. I will be having the mechanism inspected at my next service.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after shifting to drive, the steering wheel suddenly became very difficult the turn in either direction. The contact stated that the power steering fault message was displayed. After turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. A service appointment was scheduled with the local dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.

The contact's mother owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt warning light failed to illuminate and alert the passenger to fasten the seat belt. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side seat and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that a credit towards the repair would be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.

The SRS passenger warning light comes on intermittently. Sometimes with a passenger the indication is the air bag is "ON" and everything seems to be fine. Sometimes with a passenger we get the message that the "SRS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED". And sometimes we get that message even without a passenger. This started at around 80K miles.

Rear wheel bearings are needing to be replaced at 65,000 miles, car is less than 5 years old. No specific incident is connected to this premature failure.

My car is a 2018 with only 28100 miles on it. I have now had to replace the battery three times. Subaru tells me I need to drive it every two days in order to keep it from discharging the battery. This is unacceptable. Clearly there is a parasitic drain. My issue is very common, and affects many late model subarus. I have already been stranded several times by this issue.

I was the first car stopped at a red light of an intersection coming off the freeway, in far right lane. When the light turned green, as I released my foot off the brake and not even stepping on the gas the RPM surged with full force accelerating without my foot on the gas. I stepped on the brake but it would not engage - it locked. The steering wheel locked and only had minimal movement, as much movement as you would get in a parked position. There was no way to stop the car. Given the lane position and obstructions ahead (freeway on ramp), the car ran over a median and scraped along side the curb and on top to damage the front passenger wheel enough for it to pop. Only when the wheel broke did the car’s brake re-engage and I was able to put it into park. The vehicle has not yet been inspected and is available in my driveway for inspection. There was no warning or indicators leading up to this. In fact, the vehicle had just been inspected for an oil change at the dealership three weeks prior. This accident would have caused a fatality, mine, if not many others if there had been cars ahead of me or cars had been in the intersection or if the wheel did not break in time before merging with the freeway traffic. I am fearful to drive this car again. There were absolutely NO indicators leading up to this or right before it happened. The car simply took over and there was no control of it.

Windshield crack developed in July of 2022 on the passenger side of the vehicle. The small crack grew large within a day, covering half the windshield. This crack developed out of nowhere - no items had hit the windshield. In January of 2023, less than a year later, a crack developed again in the exact same location. The crack again spread across half the windshield.

We keep replacing batteries and they keep failing. We wonder if this is related to the class action lawsuit concerning the CAN bus system.

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.

new battery that is only 14 months since installation (at subaru dealer) and 5,000 miles on the car is flat. I did not use my car for about 1 1/2 weeks in the garage and it is totally flat. This is not normal and my friend with an outback has similar problems so I think my issue is not unique.

I purchased the car CPO June 2021 Battery replaced December 2022 Battery replaced January 2023 Between these replacements, car was consistently dying/would not start, required frequent jumps. Left me stranded numerous times. Each time the car was serviced (at different dealer locations), no mention was made of known issues with batteries being drained. This issue was known by Subaru, as evidenced by class action suits filed and won. At this time, the car engine is dead and will not respond to a jump. This has cost me thousands in car rentals/ride shares.

The passenger sensor light is on and Subaru says I need to replace the seat. There was a recall for certain vehicles but my Vin was not part of the recall - however, if the issue persists why isn't the recall expanded? Do we really want drivers like me to have to replace seats because Subaru is not living up to the standards - due to their faulty wiring? Please expand the recall.

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.

My dashboard for the past several months has intermittently indicated that there is an issue with my front passenger airbag. I just discovered there was a recall for this issue for cars manufactured with heated seats the same year as my vehicle but my vehicle is not part of the recall. This recall may need to be expanded.

The passenger airbag warning light had appeared intermittently but now is continuous, indicating that the passenger airbag will not function when someone is seated there. The car was taken to the dealer and I was told that the seat bottom would need to be replaced. There is a recall WUM-98 on this very issue for 2018 Foresters with heated seats which my car has. Neither the dealer nor Subaru of America has explained to me why my car is not included in this recall. This is a serious passenger safety issue and the recall should be expanded since it is clearly a vehicle defect.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat was extremely hot. Additionally, air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the taillights were inoperable. While his wife was driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the taillight bulbs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 90,400.

In June 2022 I purchased a 2018 Subaru Forester Turbo Touring at Carmax. Soon after purchase the car hesitated a few times when I was turning. I was turning in front of oncoming traffic and it scared the ___ out of me. So I returned the car to CarMax and bought a similar replacement which is the VIN reported to you in this report. After a couple of months, this car is now doing the same thing , generally when turning but sometimes when merging into traffic. I press the gas, the car moves a bit, then it just dies - there's nothing there, simply no response. It does not turn off, it is just powerless. Then a few seconds later it gets gas and we squeal to safety. However I am just dead in the water, usually in front of oncoming traffic, until it decides to move. Pumping the gas does not help. I took the first Subaru to CarMax for a check up but they found nothing wrong so I just returned it. I am taking the second one in in January. Because the problem is intermittent, it is hard to diagnose but there's definitely a terrifying problem. I thought I was going to die when I had that first one and now this one is developing the same problem. There are a few posts on Google about the same problem. Is there a recall? Have others reported the same problem? I would appreciate any feedback you might be able to provide.

The airbag SHOULD automatically turn on and off when someone is in the passenger seat. Most of the time when there is a passenger in the seat the airbag won't turn on, so we're driving around with no airbag in the passengers seat This sounds like the issue with NHTSA 19V701 but we are not covered in that vin range. This vehicle was also equipped with heated seats.

Just had my battery replaced and it’s already dead.

I have had a airbag light on for the passenger side of the car for a long time. Subaru said it is from water damage. I do not recall water damage - I didn't drive through a flood. I understand there is a recall on 2015-2018 Subaru Foresters with and has heated seats but even though my car falls within those parameters my VIN shows up as not being recalled. Something seems fishy!

Car battery died within 4 months of purchasing, had to purchase a replacement

Passenger air bag light displays intermittently on and off (mostly off) regardless of whether there is a passenger in the seat. It has not yet been inspected by any dealer, service center, manufacturer, police, insurance, or others.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who reset the fault light; however, the failure persisted. The contact was aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

Air bag sensor in passenger seat doesn't recognize when someone is in it therefore keeping it from activating in the event of an accident. There was a recall (Subaru # WUM98R, NHTSA campaign # 19V701) for that problem for 2015-2018 model years which mine is and with heated seats which it also has. Subaru told me there is no open recall based on the VIN and won't repair without being paid for. There are many reports of the exact same thing across both the internet and NHTSA's own site. It's quite obvious there is a problem with more vehicles than being admitted to by Subaru. The repair for a potential death causing issue shouldn't be the burden of the consumer.

I recently purchased a used Subaru Forester with about 92k miles. About two weeks after purchase, I took it to a Subaru dealership and a multi point inspection revealed a cracked catalytic converter. The tech stated that this was discovered by visual inspection. This failure causes a safety issue by leaking exhaust vapors into the cabin. This failure occurred with no warning lamps or messages/codes.

Environmental and safety issue. The AC System has failed three times now. SUBARU dealer checked the system for leaks at in November 2021 (mileage about 22,000 miles) and could not locate any leak but added freon. AC System stopped working again in August 2022 at 24,000 miles. Mechanic checked system, found a loose connector and tightened it, then recharged Freon in system. After 4 days, system again is not cooling the car. Compressor and blower work but no cold air and return line from compressor is not cool. This problem is widespread across Subaru Forrester models 2017 & 2018. Checking for leaks and adding freon costs $200. Most likely a repair of the system will cost at around $1,500 - 3,000. For a less than 4-year-old, very well-maintained, garaged and little driven car, components should not be failing. Having no working AC is a safety hazard to be in while driving in 100+ degree weather and also the windshield will fog over because moisture is not being taken out of the air now. Environmental issue due to loss of Freon to atmosphere.

Windshield broke while sitting parked. Was not impacted by flying objects. Had to replace out of pocket.

Twice now the battery has died without any obvious reason. We did not leave the lights on nor any other electrical devices known to us. We had to cal AAA who could not find an issue for the drained battery.

Unanticipated Windshield Crack: While attempting to replace the right wiper blade, I lost handling it, with the old blade still in place. No obvious damage was noticed at the time. I took the car to the local Subaru dealership to successfully replace the wiper blades. Returning home I noticed the beginning of the crack. In disgust, I didn’t return to that shop, but waited until the next oil change to have the original dealership examine. No responsibility was assessed but an estimate of $1,333 was offered for replacement and recalibration of EyeSight. I don’t have windshield replacement coverage. I’m looking for other replacement options. The damaged windshield is available for professional inspection at this time.

Passenger seat when empty will at times indicate person is sitting in seat without buckling seat belt and sound alert

I have been getting an airbag warning light for the past few months. I took it into my local Subaru dealer and they confirmed that the issue was the passenger recognition system. The system will recognize a passenger and turn the airbags on sometimes, and sometimes it will not. This puts the passenger’s life at risk in the event of an accident and the airbags don’t deploy.

Our windshield cracked again to the edge. This is the third time it’s cracked and will be our fourth windshield on a 2018 model year car.

The windshield cracked itself.

Windshield cracked over night, and is getting bigger. There was no accident, nothing hit the windshield. It is in the drivers view point

Multiple episodes of car not starting, most similar to dead battery scenario. These incidents have occurred after car was parked in my driveway for 24-48hours. However, AAA responded on three separate occasions and tested battery which always was “green” or “good” and alternator was also “fine, not a problem”. On fourth occasion, I went ahead and replaced battery as recent Subaru scheduled service at a Subaru dealer yielded “no problems” on electrical survey when I told them of these incidents. Now, one month after having purchased a completely new battery, my car again will not start and AAA says battery is “good” and alternator is also fine.

The windshield cracks after being struck by minor objects. The windshield does not chip when struck with objects. One crack appeared without being struck by an object. It showed up from the bottom of the windshield is growing.

our windshield has had to been replaced 4 times! it randomly gets cracks while sitting in the driveway. why is this happening?

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated she was parking in a parking space when the vehicle accelerated at a very high speed without any warning causing the driver to crash into a building. When the vehicle came to a complete stop, the contact shifted the vehicle into reversed and the vehicle accelerated backward at very high-speed once again causing the contact to hit another building. The contact was the only person that was injured. The contact was uncertain if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 4,000.

On June 8 after waiting for my garage door to rise, my 2018 Subaru Forester suddenly shot through the door, across the garage, through a 7 ft high wooden cupboard, through the back wall, across the basement steps, into the wall that backs up to the kitchen, shoving my stove one and a half feet into the kitchen. I was able to back out because I believe the right front tire ran on the top basement step, stopping me from falling into the basement. The insurance company has assessed the damage to both the car and the house. The car is in the body shop. The repairs do not address the reason it accelerated without me stepping on the gas. I had no previous warning that anything was wrong. Before driving up to the garage door I had just filled the car with gas from our gas tank located on the other side of the house. I had been driving very slowly around our circular driveway and had pushed the remote for the garage door. I wasn’t in a hurry. Now I am afraid to drive the car when it is returned to me.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact pulled over, stopped, turned off, and restarted the vehicle. After the vehicle was started, smoke started coming from the vehicle while several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

My windshield has cracked twice in the last year while driving

Repeatedly I have not been able to remove the key from the ignition. It appears as though the car is not sensing that the gear is in Park. It has taken me up to 10 minutes of turning the ignition on and off and putting the car in reverse and forward to be able to remove the key from the ignition. This has been happening for 3 weeks now, on a daily basis.

Smelled car exhaust entering the cabin, took to dealer for inspection. Exhaust manifold part is actually warped and separated from the engine (not gasket issue). Apparently this problem is known by the dealer service shops, but is undisclosed by Subaru. I was feeling quite sick for weeks without understanding the cause, now I drive the car with the windows open and the vent closed and feel much better (I am waiting for the part to arrive so the dealer can fix the issue). I am an engineer and described the issue as a defect, the dealer hedged and said they are not allowed to call it a "defect" since that implies it needs a recall.

I was driving the car and the windshield spontaneously cracked

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that a vertical crack had developed on the passenger’s side of the windshield without incident. The crack expanded vertically and horizontally across the middle of the windshield. The contact stated that the crack obstructed her vision while driving. The contact called the dealer and was given a quote to have the windshield replaced. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

My wife's 2018 Subaru Forester was sitting in our driveway and the windshield cracked on its own. Little while later, the crack got bigger. The crack alone should be a safety issue but it also affects the safety features with the camera system and eyesight technology. I'm told this is a common issue Subaru is aware of but they tell me it is not covered.

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while warming the vehicle for approximately five minutes, the windshield wiper was activated and the contact noticed that the front windshield had cracked without impact. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,569. VIN was not available.

I found the windshield cracked for no reason.