Vehicles · Insights

2018 Subaru Forester

2018 Subaru Forester: visibility/wiper complaints lead, with airbag warnings close behind

Across 485 owner complaints to NHTSA, visibility/wiper is the most-reported area at 135 reports (28%), followed by air bags at 89 reports (18%) and the electrical system at 68 reports (14%). Most categories report no crashes, fires, or injuries, but vehicle speed control stands out with 13 crashes and the engine category logs 6 crashes, 4 injuries, and the only fire in this data.

Most reported areas

Visibility/Wiper0 28%
Most-reported area: 135 complaints (28%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. One owner describes a windshield that cracked overnight on its own while the car sat parked in cold weather.
Air Bags safety 18%
89 complaints (18%), including 2 crashes and 3 injuries. Owners describe the airbag warning light and passenger airbag 'OFF' light coming on while driving.
Electrical System0 14%
68 complaints (14%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. One owner describes the vehicle suddenly losing engine power while driving at highway speed.
Engine safety 6%
31 complaints (6%), and the most serious category here: 6 crashes, 4 injuries, and the only fire (1) in this data. One owner describes the low gear failing to slow the vehicle on a mountain descent.
Vehicle Speed Control safety 6%
30 complaints (6%), but with the most crashes of any category here: 13 crashes and 1 injury. Owners describe the car failing to accelerate above idle when pressing the gas, sometimes stalling in traffic.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints · 485 complaints

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General information compiled from public NHTSA complaint data, for reference only, not professional advice and not reviewed by automotive experts. Verify before acting; Studio AM is not responsible for decisions made from it.