Subaru · Known Issues
2018 Subaru Forester Problems: 23 Known Issues
2018 model year · 5,680+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2018 model year · 5,680+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 5,680+ owner reports, the 2018 Subaru Forester has 23 documented known issues, with 6 rated critical. The most serious are FB25 Engine Excessive Oil Consumption ($0-$4,500 repair), CVT Transmission Shudder and Premature Failure ($0-$8,000 repair), Rear Coil Spring Corrosion Fracture (Recall WUT-05) — Spring Snaps in Salt-Belt States ($0-$700 repair), Front Passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensor Mat Harness Failure — Airbag Warning Light and Deactivated Passenger Airbag ($0-$1,700 repair), Denso Low-Pressure In-Tank Fuel Pump Failure Causing Sudden Stalling ($0-$1,300 repair) and CVT Torque Converter Lock-Up Clutch Solenoid Failure — P2764, Flashing AT OIL TEMP Light ($0-$4,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is FB25 Engine Excessive Oil Consumption with 3,200 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $8,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.
Don't see your problem? Describe your symptoms to get a diagnosis, or get a full repair guide.
According to Au7o's analysis of 5,680+ owner reports, the 2018 Subaru Forester has 23 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: FB25 Engine Excessive Oil Consumption, CVT Transmission Shudder and Premature Failure, Rear Coil Spring Corrosion Fracture (Recall WUT-05) — Spring Snaps in Salt-Belt States. Of these, 6 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2018 Subaru Forester has 23 known issues documented across 5,680+ owner reports. 6 issues are rated critical: FB25 Engine Excessive Oil Consumption and CVT Transmission Shudder and Premature Failure and Rear Coil Spring Corrosion Fracture (Recall WUT-05) — Spring Snaps in Salt-Belt States and Front Passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensor Mat Harness Failure — Airbag Warning Light and Deactivated Passenger Airbag and Denso Low-Pressure In-Tank Fuel Pump Failure Causing Sudden Stalling and CVT Torque Converter Lock-Up Clutch Solenoid Failure — P2764, Flashing AT OIL TEMP Light. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Subaru Forester issues range from $0 to $8,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, FB25 Engine Excessive Oil Consumption, typically costs $0-$4,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The 2.5L FB25 engine in 2011-2018 Foresters is widely reported for excessive oil consumption, often burning 1 quart every 1,000-1,500 miles. The root cause is defective piston rings that fail to maintain proper oil control. Subaru acknowledged the issue with TSB 02-157-14R and ex… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: high.
The Lineartronic CVT (TR690) in 2014-2021 Foresters can develop shuddering, hesitation, and in severe cases, complete failure. Symptoms typically begin around 60,000-100,000 miles. The CVT chain can stretch, causing slippage and shudder during light acceleration. The torque conve… Repairs typically run $0-$8,000. Severity: high.
On Foresters operated in road-salt regions, stone and debris impact chips the protective coating on the rear coil springs. Bare spring steel then pits and corrodes, and a section of the lower coil can fracture and break away. A broken spring end can contact and puncture the rear… Repairs typically run $0-$700. Severity: high.
The Occupant Detection System sensor mat wiring harness in the front passenger seat cushion develops an unstable electrical connection (decreased contact pressure between terminals). This causes the SRS airbag warning light to illuminate and the passenger frontal airbag to deacti… Repairs typically run $0-$1,700. Severity: high.
Foresters equipped with a Denso low-pressure fuel pump (part-number prefix 42022-) built before mid-2019 use a low-density plastic impeller that absorbs fuel, swells and deforms inside the pump housing. The deformed impeller binds against the housing and abruptly cuts fuel delive… Repairs typically run $0-$1,300. Severity: high.
Separate from the well-known belt/chain judder, the TR580 CVT in the SJ-generation Forester suffers electrical failures in the torque converter lock-up circuit. The lock-up clutch solenoid (and its harness) degrades, so the converter clutch cannot be commanded cleanly. The signat… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: high.
Foresters with the 2.5L FB25 engine experience premature A/C compressor failures, often with a noisy clutch or complete seizure. The compressor clutch bearing fails first, creating a grinding or squealing noise when the A/C is engaged. If not addressed, the compressor can seize a… Repairs typically run $600-$2,200. Severity: medium.
Coil-on-plug ignition coils on the Forester are a common failure point. As the coil's internal epoxy/resin cracks with heat and age, the coil produces erratic or insufficient spark, causing single-cylinder misfires, rough idle, hesitation on acceleration, reduced fuel economy and… Repairs typically run $60-$350. Severity: medium.
Forester moonroofs drain rainwater through small tubes routed down the A/B pillars to discharge under the car. The corner drains clog with pollen, dirt and tree debris, or a tube pops off its nipple at the sunroof gutter. Water then backs up and overflows into the headliner and c… Repairs typically run $0-$350. Severity: medium.
Certain 2017-2018 Forester A/C condensers corrode internally within the tube walls (distinct from the more common external road-debris puncture). The corrosion perforates the condenser, refrigerant and oil leak out, and the A/C blows warm. Subaru opened service program WRB-21 to… Repairs typically run $400-$900. Severity: medium.
The front CV (constant-velocity) axle boots on Foresters crack and tear with age and from suspension flex and road debris. Once the boot splits, grease slings out and dirt/water get in, so the now-dry CV joint wears and produces a clicking or popping that is loudest during tight,… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
Foresters commonly throw a P0420 'Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)' code and an illuminated check-engine light. While the converter itself is the part that degrades, the underlying root cause on FB25 Foresters is frequently the well-documented excessive-oil-con… Repairs typically run $200-$2,200. Severity: medium.
The forward (front) bushing in the front lower control arms wears out prematurely on 4th-gen (SJ) Foresters, often by 40,000-70,000 miles on normally-driven, paved-road vehicles. As the bushing degrades it allows the control arm to shift, producing a rattle/clunk, a vibration or… Repairs typically run $400-$1,400. Severity: medium.
In regions with heavy road-salt exposure, the steering rack/pinion (EPS) gearbox housing on 4th-gen Foresters can corrode to the point a crack forms in the gearbox body. This produces uneven or notchy steering effort and, in advanced cases, a knock or play in the rack. Subaru doc… Repairs typically run $0-$2,200. Severity: medium.
Foresters are prone to early front brake rotor distortion (thickness variation) that produces a pronounced pulsation/judder felt through the steering wheel and brake pedal when braking, often appearing at relatively low mileage. Owners across multiple generations report warped/ju… Repairs typically run $300-$700. Severity: medium.
Forester wheel bearings (both front and rear hub assemblies) fail prematurely, often well before 100,000 miles. The most consistent symptom is a low-pitched grinding, humming or 'airplane' droning noise from the affected corner that grows louder with speed; rear bearing wear is o… Repairs typically run $250-$600. Severity: medium.
The FB25's hydraulic timing-chain tensioners can bleed down overnight, so on a cold start the chain is momentarily slack and slaps the chain cover/guides, producing a metallic rattle for the first few seconds until oil pressure builds. A brief rattle is common; a rattle that pers… Repairs typically run $800-$2,200. Severity: medium.
The boxer engine's two valve covers face outward and sit low on each side, exposing the cork/rubber valve cover gaskets and the spark plug tube seals to heat cycling and the path of any leaking oil. As these seals harden and shrink, oil seeps out and visibly drips onto the exhaus… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
Foresters commonly throw front oxygen/air-fuel-ratio sensor heater-circuit codes (P0031 low, P0037 downstream) as the sensors age. The sensors live on the hot exhaust, so the wiring harness near them turns brittle and chafes, and the internal heater element degrades. The result i… Repairs typically run $150-$450. Severity: low.
On power-liftgate Foresters the gas-charged lift struts lose pressure prematurely. The gate opens under power but then sags or falls shut under its own weight once fully open, and the problem worsens in cold weather as strut gas pressure drops. A weak or failing strut can also co… Repairs typically run $100-$500. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.