2018 Subaru Forester

2018 Subaru Forester recalls (3)

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

  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.

  Remedy: 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 this recall is WRG-21.

• AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

  Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.

• TIRES

  Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. The Certification Label may indicate the incorrect wheel size, tire size, and air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

  Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WTS-78.

2018 Subaru Forester safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2018 Subaru Forester owner complaints (15)

• AIR BAGS

  The passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS), including the occupant detection sensor system in the passenger seat, has malfunctioned. The SRS/airbag warning light is illuminated. The vehicle produced diagnostic trouble codes B1650 and B1760. The affected passenger seat and components remain installed in the vehicle and are available for inspection upon request. As the SRS light is on, none of the airbags may not deploy as intended in a crash because the occupant detection system is incorrectly classifying an adult passenger as “Empty or CRS.” With an adult seated normally and wearing the seat belt, the system continues to display “PASS AIR BAG OFF.” This could prevent or improperly control deployment of vehicle airbag during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Yes. The problem was confirmed by a Subaru dealership. The dealership diagnosed the passenger Occupant Detection System/SRS issue and confirmed that the passenger occupant detection system is malfunctioning. The vehicle produced diagnostic trouble codes B1650 and B1760. The vehicle has been inspected/serviced previously by a Subaru dealer in connection with the passenger occupant detection system recall. The recall repair was completed before I purchased the vehicle. Subaru of America has also been contacted regarding the current SRS issue and opened a case. The SRS/airbag warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster. The passenger airbag indicator also displays “PASS AIR BAG OFF” when an adult is seated normally in the passenger seat. The SRS warning light appeared after I had purchased the vehicle. A subsequent diagnostic scan reported codes B1650 and B1760. The vehicle had previously received the applicable passenger occupant detection system recall repair before I purchased it.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS

  Airbag light came on - dealership confirmed it is an occupant detection system failure - wiring harness has gone bad. No history of moisture exposure, which would leave faulty part as the problem. Similar to Subaru recall from 2020 on heated passenger seats - this vehicle was not included in that recall, but is in the same year range and has heated seats. Entire bottom piece of front seat must be replaced, including wiring harness and seat mounting bracket; otherwise air bags may not deploy in case of accident. Quick online search reveals this problem has been prevalent in other 2018 Foresters not included in the original recall.

• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Discovered (06/08/26) that the engine would not turn over without the accelerator being pushed down when warm from driving after resting 30-60 minutes. Car was taken to Capital Subaru. No codes were triggered. The throttle body was cleaned. No change. The Crankshaft Position Sensor was replaced, the ECU was reprogrammed, then the EVAP Purge Valve was replaced. A bottle of fuel injector cleaner was added to the gas tank by the dealership mechanics. No improvement. Then both CAM sensors were replaced. No improvement. All with no effect. Finally the injectors were pulled and a rail pressure test was conducted. The injectors were not holding pressure for more then 2-3 minutes. The warm start issue was fixed when the injectors were replaced on July 31, 2026.

• AIR BAGS

  - The passenger-side Occupant Detection System (ODS) sensor, which is part of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag system, has failed. This component was previously replaced under a Subaru safety recall completed in May 2020. The SRS airbag warning light is now illuminated again, indicating a failure of the same system. The vehicle and failed component are available for inspection upon request. - The failure of the ODS sensor directly impacts the functionality of the passenger airbag system. This creates a significant safety risk because the airbag may not deploy correctly—or at all—in the event of a crash. This puts both the driver and any passenger at increased risk of serious injury or death. Since this is a critical safety system, its failure compromises the overall crash protection of the vehicle. - The issue is indicated by the illuminated SRS airbag warning light and has been identified as related to the Occupant Detection System. A dealership has confirmed that the ODS sensor requires replacement. The failure is consistent with known issues related to the prior recall repair. - I contacted Subaru of America regarding this issue, but they declined to provide assistance. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no accident has occurred. - The SRS airbag warning light illuminated. There were no prior symptoms before the warning light appeared. The light has remained on consistently since then, indicating a persistent fault in the airbag system. - This issue is especially concerning because the component that failed was previously replaced under a safety recall. A recall repair should resolve a safety defect, not temporarily mask it. The failure of a critical airbag system component only a few years after a recall repair suggests that the original remedy may not have been a permanent fix. This raises serious safety concerns not only for my vehicle but potentially for other vehicles that received the same recall repair.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS

  I brought my vehicle to an authorized Subaru dealership (Byers Imports, LLC in Columbus, Ohio) to diagnose the reason for the airbag warning lamp illuminating. The dealer had the manufacturer's WUM-98 Safety Recall (NHTSA Campaign Number 19V701000) performed to remedy a defective Occupant Detection System (ODS) sensor harness.Despite the recall remedy being completed, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag warning light re-illuminated on the dashboard, completely disabling the front passenger-side airbag.The dealership confirmed that the passenger-side airbag remains completely disabled and inoperable due to a hardware failure of the internal occupant detection sensor mat. Because the initial WUM-98 recall was previously marked as "closed" in Subaru's automated system, the manufacturer refused to cover the repair under the recall. I was forced to pay $1,258.34 out of pocket up front to order a replacement front passenger seat cushion assembly (Part #64139SG061LL) to restore basic airbag safety to the vehicle.The initial federal safety recall remedy failed to permanently correct the underlying safety hazard. The vehicle continues to exhibit the exact same life-threatening defect (disabled passenger airbag) targeted by the original recall, and the manufacturer is shifting the financial burden of this failed remedy onto the consumer.

• AIR BAGS

  I am filing a formal complaint against Subaru of America for refusing to remedy an active federal safety recall (NHTSA Campaign 19V701000 / Subaru Recall WUM98). My passenger airbag is currently disabled (DTC B1760). SRS light goes on and off and visit to the Sheehy Fredericksburg Subaru location confirmed that the occupant detection system is failing and I need a cushion assembly replacement. Subaru Customer Advocacy Department claims they already performed the initial wire harness replacement for this recall back in March 2020, but unable to provide me with the invoice or documentation of where this repair was done, and they are using this as their sole justification to refuse proceeding with Step 6 on Page 8 of the official recall bulletin—which explicitly mandates the replacement of the complete seat cushion assembly if the condition persists. When I referenced federal law (49 U.S.C. § 30120(g)(1)) regarding the 15-year statutory limit for free recall remedies, the representative denied coverage claiming 'it has been 6 years.' Subaru is actively denying a mandated safety remedy, ignoring its own technical guidelines, and endangering passenger safety.

• AIR BAGS

  B1760 code for ODS AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF is On. There is a recall open for many other Subarus, same make, model & year. Safety concern for my daughter as she rides passenger. I had the problem diagnosed and documented receipt from ACS in Roseville California. I contacted Maita Subaru of Sacramento and they said there is not and wasn’t a recall for my Subaru. Very concerning, please help.

• AIR BAGS

  I had a recall for my ODS sensor which controls the passenger airbag. I went and had it "taken care" of due to a recall. They did not fix it. My passenger airbag will still randomly shut off while I am driving down the road. I tried talking tk the dealership and they only say "we fixed the part we needed to replace". This is a huge safety issue. If I were tk wreck and my passenger airbag was turned off, someone would die.

• AIR BAGS

  The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated while his wife was seated in the passenger’s seat. The message that the passenger’s side air bag was disabled was displayed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Subaru AC component cascading failures, starting 25,000 miles, light driving. July 2023 AC blowing hot. Recharged with dye. Subaru Dealer said no leak found. July 2024 AC expansion valve leaking and was replaced $500. (This failure would have directly effected the evaporator.) July 2025 AC system needed to be recharged. December 2025 evaporator replaced $1,680. March 2026 Compressor replaced $1,750. June 2026 Evaporator Sensor needs replacing $1,200.

• AIR BAGS

  Passenger airbag system doesn’t detect occupancy in seat

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  June 2025: I proactively replaced the battery October 2025: Left the car parked for 17 days. Dead battery. Got a jump, drove for 2 hours. May 2026: Left the car parked for 10 days. Dead battery. Got a jump, drove to mechanic who replaced it under warranty. Saw article about Subaru class action lawsuit about this issue, so I'm reporting it. I will visit the Subaru dealer where I purchased to car and ask them about it and Subaru's plans for permanent repair.

• VISIBILITY

  The air conditioning system of my 2017 Subaru Forrester suddenly went out without warning. I noticed a defect when the A/C started buzzing with a high pitched sound and blowing semi-warm air instead of cool. I took my auto to a car repair shop. He provided this diagnostic analysis: Normal coolant level in the system. Performed Leak Detection Test- no detectable leak found at this time. A/C system pressures are too high on both pressure ports. A/C compressor has an internal noise. System is clogged. Ventilation interior cabin filter inspected and given a check at 24, 027 miles. Inspected , removed and replaced engine and cabin air filters at 41,600 miles. Inspected and removed and replaced engine and cabin air filters at 56,375. There are no other A/C related inspection or maintenance requirements to be accomplished (reference Subaru Forrester Maintenance/ Automation Subaru Arapahoe.My vehicle currently has 64,695 miles. My mechanic is currently working up an estimate for the A/C condenser, clutch, pump replacement... essentially the entire system. I consider this a latent defect and wish to be compensated for the repairs. Due to the weather, I wish to have the repairs accomplished and then be reimbursed. I have read articles on line stating this defect has become commonplace for 2017 and 2018 Subaru Forresters. This should be a recall item.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Cascading air conditioning system failures in my 2018 Subaru Forester. The failures occurred in the following sequence: 1. Expansion Valve Failure – The AC expansion valve failed, requiring repair. 2. Evaporator Core Failure – Shortly thereafter, the evaporator core failed, causing complete loss of air conditioning and requiring a second very costly repair. 3. AC Compressor Failure – Then the compressor started failing as well, resulting in a third major costly repair. Based on my research, a significant number of 2018 Subaru Forester owners have reported the same pattern of cascading AC component failures, suggesting a systemic design or manufacturing defect in the AC system. Subaru of America, to my knowledge, has not issued a recall.

• ENGINE

  The A/c compressor seized up causing the belt to break. Looked up online and it seems it's a common occurrence with this year and model.