{"id":"2018_subaru_forester","make":"Subaru","make_slug":"subaru","model":"Forester","model_slug":"forester","year":2018,"url":"/subaru/forester/2018/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":38646,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AV-S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":26,"hwy":32,"comb":28,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":315,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2250,"save_spend":0,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2018"},{"id":38647,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AV-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":23,"hwy":27,"comb":25,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":359,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":3100,"save_spend":-4250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2018"},{"id":38645,"model":"Forester AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Manual 6-spd","cyl":4,"displ":2.5,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":22,"hwy":28,"comb":24,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":368,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2600,"save_spend":-1750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"FJX","modified":"Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2018"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Compact SUV","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"21V587000","component":"FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2021-07-29","owner_notified":"2021-09-24","units":175968,"summary":"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.","consequence":"Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.","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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WRG-21","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"19V701000","component":"AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-10-03","owner_notified":"2020-02-11","units":366282,"summary":"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.","consequence":"If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.","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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WUM-98","initiated_by":"ODI","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V455000","component":"TIRES","mfr":"Subaru of America, Inc.","reported":"2018-07-10","owner_notified":"2018-07-26","units":3654,"summary":"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.\"","consequence":"Installing incorrect tires or applying incorrect tire air pressure may increase the risk of a crash.","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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"WTS-78","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":3,"critical_count":0,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":76,"grade":"C","complaints":{"count":493,"crash":26,"fire":1,"injured":9,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Visibility/Wiper",135],["Air Bags",121],["Unspecified",82],["Electrical System",70],["Engine",31],["Vehicle Speed Control",30]],"by_year":{"2017":3,"2018":34,"2019":69,"2020":89,"2021":96,"2022":71,"2023":46,"2024":34,"2025":29,"2026":22},"excerpts":[["2021-09-12","Air Bags","Repeatedly the passenger air bag turns off during road trips (warning lights turn on) with passenger in front seat. This will be my second complaint because I felt you all needed time to add my cars VIN to your recall list. Anytime we are in the car and it is deactivated it puts the passenger at risk if an accident wou\u2026"],["2021-09-06","Vehicle Speed Control","Sudden unexplained acceleration incident. Car accelerated without input from driver and rear-ended a parked vehicle in front of the vehicle Eyesight system did not engage to warn or prevent impact with rear end of car in front. The vehicle was travelling at low speed and suddenly accelerated. This is dangerous because \u2026"],["2021-09-06","Engine","Sudden unexplained acceleration incident. Car accelerated without input from driver and rear-ended a parked vehicle in front of the vehicle Eyesight system did not engage to warn or prevent impact with rear end of car in front. The vehicle was travelling at low speed and suddenly accelerated. This is dangerous because \u2026"]]},"investigations":[{"action":"PE19009","component":"AIR BAGS","opened":"2019-08-06","closed":"2020-01-22","campaign":"19V701000","subject":"Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure","summary":"The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a"}],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.169,"seats":5,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":26,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":28,"ncap":5,"complaints":493},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}