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2018 Subaru Forester problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Subaru Forester. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 16% of relevant complaints.
Better than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 101 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 13%).
Does the 2018 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 64 of 395 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 22% and the 2019 scores 18%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Subaru Forester years
Of the 14 Subaru Forester years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (16%). The worst is the 2011 (65%), the best the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2018 drew 496 complaints (64 drivetrain), against 586 for the 2017 and 833 for the 2019.
Subaru Forester years to avoid and best years →
2010 Forester problems · 2011 Forester problems · 2012 Forester problems · 2013 Forester problems · 2014 Forester problems · 2015 Forester problems · 2016 Forester problems · 2017 Forester problems · 2018 · 2019 Forester problems · 2020 Forester problems · 2021 Forester problems · 2022 Forester problems · 2023 Forester problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Subaru Forester
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Subaru Forester said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 64 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Subaru Forester fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Subaru Forester? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2018 Subaru Forester have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 64 of 395 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Subaru Forester?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Subaru Forester is visibility/wiper: 135 of 496 complaints (27%) name it, followed by air bags (98) and electrical system (71). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 16% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Subaru Forester reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 16% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Subaru Forester years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Subaru Forester involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Forester years are better?
The 2018 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Subaru Forester years we track (16%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-forester
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.