Shawnee, OK
Crash
STRUCTURE:BODY
My drivers side seatbelt broke in a minor fender bender and was replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11725931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2018 Subaru Forester body problems
14 of the 678 complaints about the 2018 Subaru Forester are about the body and structure — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 12,000 miles.
14
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Body
13
92.9%
Structure
1
7.1%
Body & Structure across every Subaru Forester year
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Boise, ID
Crash
1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11528442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington Heights, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11522864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Braintree, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11506445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bloomington, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY
The windshield cracked itself.
NHTSA complaint #11472703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,000 miles
Longmont, CO
STRUCTURE:BODY
CRACKING WINDSHIELD ONCE A YEAR SINCE LAST YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11413527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 miles
Lompoc, CA
Crash
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11407119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 miles
East Wenatchee, WA
STRUCTURE:BODY
WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING 35 MPH ON A SURFACE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11383326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 miles
Albuquerque, NM
STRUCTURE:BODY
SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD
NHTSA complaint #11317927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 miles
Windsor, CO
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11315692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,242 miles
Marlboro, MA
Crash
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11219240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,010 miles
THE Dalles, OR
Crash
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11209053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,500 miles
Rodchester, MI
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SUBURBAN SUBARU, 1821 MAPLELAWN DR, TROY, MI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BUILD UP OF DIRT AND DEBRIS IN THE WHEELS AND WHEEL WELLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO POWER WASH THE WHEELS AND WHEEL WELLS TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE IDLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV HIGH AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DROVE FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE DRIVER WAS GETTING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ROLL BACKWARDS ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. *TT CONSUMER STATED VIOLENT VIBRATION AND SHAKING AT 45MPH OR GREATER ESPECIALLY IN WINTER MONTHS WITH SNOW AND MUD BUILD UP. AUTOMATIC BRAKES SLAM FREQUENTLY WHEN IN REVERSE. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE ON AN INCLINE ENGINE STARTS REVVING. VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS WHILE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. UPDATED 11/19/18
NHTSA complaint #11128069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,300 miles
Streetsboro, OH
Crash
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11120029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.