Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2018 Subaru ForesterRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 498 owner complaints for the 2018 Subaru Forester. Most complaints involve visibility/wiper (135) and air bags (99). The EPA rates it 24–28 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
24–28mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jul 2021
Owner complaints
498
Top: visibility/wiper
Fuel cost / yr
$2,300est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Free remedy

Subaru 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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 29, 2021NHTSA 21V587000

Air bags: occupant classification

Free remedy

Subaru 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.

Air bagsReported Oct 3, 2019NHTSA 19V701000

Tires

Free remedy

Subaru 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."

TiresReported Jul 10, 2018NHTSA 18V455000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

498 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2017 – Oct 2026
  1. Visibility/wiper135
  2. Air bags99
  3. Electrical system71
  4. Engine32
  5. Seats30
  6. Vehicle speed control30
  7. Steering25
  8. Power train23
  9. Visibility21

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Forester model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998101
1999134
200075
2001142
200292
2003191
2004219
200593
200688
200774
200850
2009178
2010262
2011147
2012106
201378
2014403
2015616
2016416
2017592
2018498
2019834
2020603
2021214
2022100
202374
202431
2025100
202634
Crashes reported
26
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
9
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Visibility/wiper

135 reports
“Windshield cracked sitting parked matching Subaru TSB 12-192-15R except model of vehicle and Subaru stating not covered under the class action warranty extension”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2025Visibility/wiperODI 11663188

Air bags

99 reports2 crashes
“My SRS Airbag System warning light illuminated on the dashboard while driving. Subaru dealership service department informed me that the passenger airbag system occupant detection technology failed and the airbag function was disabled. The repair required replacement of the entire seat bottom.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2026Air bagsODI 11768494

Electrical system

71 reports
“On July 31, 2026, I was driving with my daughter when the a/c compressor clutch seized up and experienced a catastrophic compressor failure that also blew out the expansion valve o-rings. The failure led to a total loss of engine power and control of the vehicle. The car would not start back up because the clutch was seized and the pulleys wouldn’t turn. Luckily, I was in a residential neighborhood and cars were able to safely go around me. If this had happened on a highway or faster speed limit zone there could have been fatalities. There were tons of lights all over the dash as I attempted to restart the engine. The engine wouldn’t turn over until I gave it plenty of pedal pressure. This extra power to the engine during ignition freed the seized clutch and I was able to drive home without air conditioning. I parked outside in the driveway due to a strong odor of burning metal (probably clutch) when we arrived home. Several years earlier I had completed a Subaru recall WRB-21 for the condenser, and I believe this is directly related to the failure. Subaru of America denied my request for goodwill repair claim under claim 260810-210789 and won’t recognize this…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2026Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11764982
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S6) · Automatic (AV-S8) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Forester AWD
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
263228$2,300315
Forester AWD
Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
232725$3,200359
Forester AWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
222824$2,700368
  • Forester AWD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    26 city · 32 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Forester AWD
    Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    23 city · 27 hwy · $3,200/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Forester AWD
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    22 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Subaru Forester SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 12402
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2018 Forester questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2018 Subaru Forester problems?

Owners filed 498 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are visibility/wiper (135), air bags (99), electrical system (71). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2018 Subaru Forester get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Subaru Forester at 24–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2018 Subaru Forester?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Subaru Forester 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026