The 2018 Subaru Forester has 487 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are visibility/wiper and air bags. Owners most often flag cvt transmission longevity concerns: concerns about long-term reliability beyond 100,000 miles, with strong owner consensus recommending proactive fluid changes every 30,000-60,000 miles despite some manufacturer guidance. frequency: very frequent.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles (US, public record).
Across the 12 Forester model years we track, complaint volume runs from 56 (2024) to 487 (2018). With 487 complaints, the 2018 Forester sits abovethe model's median of 112.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 21V587000Subaru 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 f…
air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Campaign 19V701000Subaru 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.
tires
Campaign 18V455000Subaru 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…
Overwhelmingly positive sentiment across multiple generations, with the Forester consistently praised for its practicality, safety, all-weather capability, and long-term reliability when properly maintained.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Forester. See the full Forester owner picture and every model year.
Used Forester listings typically run $14,131–$28,173 across 2012 to 2026 model years.
Compare every Forester year side by side to see how 2018 ranks against the rest.