10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,713 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Subaru Forester body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2018 Subaru Forester Owner Comments

problem #12

Jun 132023

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front end collision with car making an illegal left in front of our Subaru. Our car hood, bumper, head lights, grill and parts of the engine were smashed, with liquid draining out of the engine. My husband (wearing a seatbelt) hit his knee and shoulder on impact. Airbags failed - Not a single airbag deployed. A police officer helped him move car parts out of the street. Safety was at risk because my husband hit the dash. Car is at an independent service center now. We need to know how to get it inspected. There were no warning lights on dash prior to impact.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #11

Apr 242023

Forester

  • miles
Doors are rusting in areas where seam sealer was improperly applied. Water collects in these areas and rust is evident and perforating the metal, separating the inner and outer shell of the door. Dealership took the vehicle in for warranty and stated Subaru would not cover the defect until the rust had entirely perforated its way through the metal, leaving a hole.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #10

Feb 072023

Forester

  • miles
I was traveling on the highway when I heard a clunk and noticed that my hood had released and was bouncing against the hood safety release. I had not touched the hood release lever, and the hood was fully closed prior to coming unlatched. I have not had any prior accidents or work performed on the vehicle that might have affected the release mechanism. Had the safety release not caught the hood when it was unlatched, the hood would have blown open and obstructed my visibility, potentially causing an accident. This has happened twice before, but initially I assumed I must have hit the release inadvertently. I am certain that I was not touching the release lever this time. I will be having the mechanism inspected at my next service.

- Braintree, MA, USA

problem #9

Jul 072022

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The windshield cracked itself.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #8

Mar 192020

Forester

  • 8,000 miles
Cracking windshield once a year since last year.

- Longmont, CO, USA

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problem #7

Feb 252021

Forester

  • 40,000 miles
I turned into a parking space covering the brake and came to a stop. I went to shift into park and when the gearshift lever started to move the car accelerated uncommanded and ran into the building.

- Lompoc, CA, USA

problem #6

Sep 042020

Forester

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Windshield cracked unexpectedly while going 35 mph on a surface road.

- East Wenatchee, WA, USA

problem #5

Mar 132020

Forester

  • 30,000 miles
Spontaneous crack in windshield

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #4

Mar 132019

Forester

  • 12,000 miles
Parked the car in a protected lot. When I returned there was a 2-foot long crack down the middle of the top of the windshield. It required replacement with no help or coverage from Subaru. This was with 12000 miles on the car.

- Windsor, CO, USA

problem #3

Jun 052019

Forester

  • 37,242 miles
I was in stop and go traffic. I don't remember if I was taking foot off brake, or gas pedal. This happen within seconds. Car started to accelerate, I slammed on brakes still moving, I pulled emergency brake, still moving, I hit back end of pick-up truck. By then I had put car in park and turned off ignition.

- Marlboro, MA, USA

problem #2

May 132019

Forester

  • 3,010 miles
I came to a complete stop to wait for oncoming traffic before making a left turn. I only had about twenty feet to go to access the angled parking space for the business on the corner. As I turned into the space, my Forester suddenly jumped the curb, mowed down a sign pole, and crashed into the building window. After replaying this incident over in my mind, I truly believe this was a case of unintended acceleration. Fortunately, no one was injured. I was on a city street and was totally shocked that the vehicle accelerated like it did.

- The Dalles, OR, USA

problem #1

Aug 012018

Forester

  • 2,300 miles
Vehicle was being backed out of the garage to replace the trash can. After backing part way out of the garage when I put the car in gear it shot forward and I was unable to stop the vehicle until it hit the back garage wall. When the vehicle was then put into reverse it shot backwards, also. I was unable to stop the vehicle until it was totally out of the garage. The vehicle seemed to accelerate on its own. Damage was done to the front end of the vehicle, the garage wall and the inside utility room and hallway.

- Streetsboro, OH, USA

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