2018 Subaru Forester electrical problems
71 of the 495 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 188 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 71 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 6
Half of the 16 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 4,000 and 35,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
495 complaints in all about the 2018 Subaru Forester, 6 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Subaru Forester electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after leaving the vehicle parked and undriven for several days, the vehicle failed to start-up. The vehicle had to be jump started. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000
Ikey will not come out of the ignition switch after the car is stopped, put in park, brake [peddle depressed
Windows get locked and i'm not able to use the switch to unlock the windows and either side. Issue was reported. Subaru corrected the issue but it still happens. Once Subaru dealer helped via phone conversation to reset but this is a constant issue.
Forester was parked in under ground parking garage for between one and two weeks. The battery was completely dead, no sound at all when I tried to start it. The only door that was locked was the rear hatch door. Neighbor brought a battery charger and got the Forester started.
There have been several times that the car will not lock due to a type of trip or wiring with the locking system. While the car is turned off and stationary, right before locking the door, there is a clicking sound and the driver's side door light flashes.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications188 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 15-308-23R Service bulletinAug 20, 2026
- This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 15-304-22R Service bulletinAug 13, 2026
- This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- Article Locator OtherAug 5, 2026
- Techtips newsletter locator index.
- 15-333-25R Service bulletinAug 1, 2026
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
- 16-156-25R Service bulletinJun 2, 2026
- This bulletin announces a design change made to the CVT Control Valve Body which incorporates an enhanced valve sleeve to improve durability. (This is an revised version of the orignal bulletin.)
The 5 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2A16 P0841 B1761 B1771 B1795 B2A20 P0606 P2610
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Subaru Forester names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Subaru Forester
Source: the same files- airbag problems 122 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 71 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (14% of everything owners filed about it), and 188 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 11,735 miles; half of them between 4,000 and 35,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.