Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Subaru Forester
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Subaru Forester has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 498 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V587000 Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V701000 Occupant Detection System May Deactivate Airbag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V455000 Incorrect Tire Information on Label/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 135 complaints
- Air Bags 99 complaints
- Unknown or Other 84 complaints
- Electrical System 71 complaints
- Engine 32 complaints
- Seats 30 complaints
Of the 498 complaints on file, 26 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 498 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Subaru Forester is rated 'average' due to common issues with the visibility/wiper system and moderate airbag and electrical system complaints. Recalls highlight concerns with the fuel pump and airbag sensors. However, no pervasive critical failures exist, maintaining a standard reliability expectation for this model year.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| visibility/wiper | 40,000–60,000 miles | $150–$300 | very common |
| air bag sensor | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| electrical system | 40,000–70,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| engine | 80,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| vehicle speed control | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil change every 5,000 miles
- tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- replace spark plugs at 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- wiper malfunction
- airbag warning lights
- irregular engine performance
- unexpected stalling
- loss of vehicle speed control
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Subaru Forester at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.