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2018 Subaru Forester

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA493
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA28 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forester AWD, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 493 complaints, most often about the visibility/wiper. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Forester AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263228$2,250
Forester AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo232725$3,100
Forester AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl222824$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38646, 38647, 38645.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Subaru Forester is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

WRG-21
175,968 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V587000reported Jul 29, 2021Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Air Bags

WUM-98
366,282 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskIf the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.FixSubaru 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V701000reported Oct 3, 2019Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Tires

WTS-78
3,654 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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."RiskInstalling incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.FixSubaru 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V455000reported Jul 10, 2018Subaru of America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags — Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a

Opened Aug 6, 2019 · closed Jan 22, 2020 · action PE19009

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
493complaints filed

26 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 9 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 34 · 2019: 69 · 2020: 89 · 2021: 96 · 2022: 71 · 2023: 46 · 2024: 34 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 22

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper135
Air Bags121
Unspecified82
Electrical System70
Engine31
Vehicle Speed Control30

What owners describe

“Repeatedly the passenger air bag turns off during road trips (warning lights turn on) with passenger in front seat. This will be my second complaint because I felt you all needed time to add my cars VIN to your recall list. Anytime we are in the car and it is deactivated it puts the passenger at risk if an accident wou…”Sep 12, 2021 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“Sudden unexplained acceleration incident. Car accelerated without input from driver and rear-ended a parked vehicle in front of the vehicle Eyesight system did not engage to warn or prevent impact with rear end of car in front. The vehicle was travelling at low speed and suddenly accelerated. This is dangerous because …”Sep 6, 2021 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA owner report
“Sudden unexplained acceleration incident. Car accelerated without input from driver and rear-ended a parked vehicle in front of the vehicle Eyesight system did not engage to warn or prevent impact with rear end of car in front. The vehicle was travelling at low speed and suddenly accelerated. This is dangerous because …”Sep 6, 2021 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Forester model years

B

2026 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 19 complaints

D

2025 Subaru Forester

4 recalls · 90 complaints

C

2024 Subaru Forester

2 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2023 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 73 complaints

A

2022 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 97 complaints

A

2021 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 207 complaints

A

2020 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 598 complaints

C

2019 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 833 complaints

A

2017 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 584 complaints

C

2016 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 411 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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