This bulletin provides information on paint codes for vehicles in the 2026 line up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Subaru Forester body problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Subaru Forester have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Forester | 17 |
| 2015 Forester | 17 |
| 2016 Forester | 6 |
| 2017 Forester | 12 |
| 2018 Forester (this page) | 10 |
| 2019 Forester | 18 |
| 2020 Forester | 13 |
| 2021 Forester | 3 |
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Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin announces the initialization service procedures to be followed when diagnosing and/or repairing Power Rear Gate (PRG) systems.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗We recently informed retailers and customers of an extension to the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 2014-2018 Forester Rear Gate Stays.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty for the rear gate stays on the listed models and model years.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty for the rear gate stays on the listed models and model years. This will apply to Forester models with or without the power rear gate (PRG).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten complaints describe four distinct failure patterns on 2018 Foresters. One owner reports the hood latch releasing while driving on the highway without the release lever being touched—this happened twice before. The safety secondary catch prevented the hood from fully opening, but it still created a visibility hazard.
Multiple complaints allege unintended acceleration in low-speed scenarios: one owner backing out of a garage experienced the vehicle shooting forward into the garage wall, then backward out of the garage uncontrollably; another in stop-and-go traffic had the car accelerate despite brake and emergency brake input, resulting in a pickup truck collision; a third owner had the vehicle accelerate while shifting into Park and hitting a building. In each case, the driver eventually stopped the vehicle by putting it in Park and turning off the ignition.
One owner reports door rust developing where seam sealer was improperly applied, with water collecting and metal perforating. The dealership stated Subaru would not cover the defect until the rust fully perforated through the metal.
Two separate owners report spontaneous windshield cracking—one a 2-foot center crack while parked at 12,000 miles, the other while driving at 35 mph. Neither received manufacturer coverage for replacement.
Same Subaru Forester body reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Hood latch failure—spontaneous unlatching
Hood latches without manual trigger, releasing while vehicle is in motion. Safety secondary catch prevents hood from fully opening, but creates hazard.
When: While driving on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise; Hood bouncing against secondary release; Hood fully closed prior to release; No manual input to release lever
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own when shifted into Drive or Reverse, unresponsive to brake input or emergency brake. Occurs in low-speed parking or stop-and-go traffic scenarios.
When: During backing out of garage; in stop-and-go traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver input; Unresponsive to brake pedal; Emergency brake ineffective; Continues to accelerate after shifting to Park and ignition off required to stop
Repairs/costs cited: One incident resulted in collision with garage wall and utility room; another in collision with pickup truck
Door seam sealer defect—corrosion and perforation
Seam sealer improperly applied, allowing water intrusion in door seams. Rust develops and perforates metal, separating inner and outer door shells.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Rust visible in seam areas; Metal perforation; Separation of inner and outer door shell; Water collection in door seams
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership warranty denial until rust completely perforates through metal
Windshield spontaneous cracking
Windshield develops cracks without collision or impact. One instance a 2-foot center crack while parked; another while driving at 35 mph.
When: At 12,000 miles; during highway driving at 35 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Long center crack across windshield; No impact or collision reported; Occurs both while parked and in motion
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement required; no manufacturer coverage or assistance provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No coverage for windshield replacement
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2018 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 21,363 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.