The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 158 of 498 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 594 in 2017 to 498 in 2018.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 498
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$3,100
- Combined MPG
- 24–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–3,100 | 2,200–3,100 | 2,200–3,100 | 2,150 | 2,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–27 | 24–28 | 24–28 | 29 | 29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–24 / 27–31 | 22–26 / 27–32 | 22–26 / 27–32 | 26 / 33 | 26 / 33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 332–364 | 315–368 | 315–368 | 310 | 309 | |
| Complaints filed | 416 | 594 | 498 | 834 | 604 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 40 | 40 | 26 | 37 | 26 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 9 | |
| Injuries reported | 17 | 28 | 9 | 21 | 16 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Subaru Forester?
Visibility & Lighting: 158 of 498 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 24–28 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $2,200–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 | 368 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 26 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 315 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg | 27 mpg (low) | 25 mpg | $3,100 (high) | 359 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 32 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 20 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 102 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 43 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 44 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 158 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 85 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Defect
- 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.
TIRES; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Defect
- 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.