2018 Subaru Forester reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2018 Subaru Forester — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 667
- 374 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- 135 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 53 reported crashes · 17 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#728
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Subaru median
+485
median 182 across 97 Subaru records
Vs 2016-2020
+380
median 288 complaints in 538 records
Top component share
20%
Visibility/Wiper: 135 complaints
What owners report fails — 2018 Subaru Forester
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 135
- AIR BAGS 88
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 82
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 66
- ENGINE 31
3 recalls on record for the 2018 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 21V587000 · 2021 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V701000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the ri
- NHTSA 18V455000 · 2018 · TIRES Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Subaru Forester
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2018 Subaru Forester units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?
NHTSA has 667 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Subaru Forester and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is visibility/wiper (135 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Subaru Forester units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Forester?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility/wiper (135), air bags (88), unknown or other (82), electrical system (66). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2018 Subaru Forester?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.