Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Subaru Forester. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel Pump May Fail
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers 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.
Occupant Detection System May Deactivate Airbag
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If 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.
- Remedy
- Subaru 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.
Incorrect Tire Information on Label/FMVSS 110
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Subaru 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (498)
498 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility/wiper is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 498 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 135 | 27.1% |
| Air bags | 99 | 19.9% |
| Unknown or other | 84 | 16.9% |
| Electrical system | 71 | 14.3% |
| Engine | 32 | 6.4% |
| Seats | 30 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 30 | 6% |
| Steering | 25 | 5% |
| Power train | 23 | 4.6% |
| Visibility | 21 | 4.2% |
How 2018 compares with other Forester years
Best and worst Forester years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 403 | 2 |
| 2015 | 614 | 3 |
| 2016 | 415 | 3 |
| 2017 | 587 | 1 |
| 2018 | 498 | 3 |
| 2019 | 833 | 3 |
| 2020 | 601 | 0 |
| 2021 | 208 | 0 |
| 2022 | 98 | 1 |
| 2023 | 74 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Subaru Forester suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 315 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 | 315 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 27 / 25 | $3,300 | 359 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 368 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 Forester for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Subaru Forester FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 21V587000 (fuel pump), 19V701000 (air bag), 18V455000 (tire). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Subaru Forester problems?
Owners filed 498 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper (135), Air bags (99), Unknown or other (84) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT version at 26 city, 32 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Subaru Forester get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Subaru Forester suv awd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (16.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 Forester compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 Subaru Forester model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (208) and the 2019 the most (833). The 2018 drew 498. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.