This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Subaru Forester steering problems
severe 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 24 steering complaints filed for the 2018 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 13 model years of Subaru Forester we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 24.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcingan extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) GearBox Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaruâs dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is announcing an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for the Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly for certain 2012-2018 MY vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗As part of Subaru of Americaâs dedication to customer satisfaction, this letter is to inform you of an extension to the Basic New Car Limited Warranty for your vehicleâs Electronic Power Steering Gear Box Assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides helpful tips to simplify the diagnosis of sound concerns originating in the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox (steering rack) assembly. If a vehicle presents with a ?rattling?, ?knocking? or possibly a ?clanging? type sound coming from the steering rack and / or a vibration felt through the steering wheel, use the flow chart below to help make diagnosis of the concern easier.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe multiple distinct steering failures. The most common is premature lower-control-arm bushing wear at 50,000–60,000 miles, causing intense vibration and rattling at highway speeds. One owner reports the problem appeared at just 24,000 miles; Subaru has issued TSB 05-63-18R acknowledging a material defect in the bushing, though no recall has been issued.
Steering lockup is another recurring complaint. The wheel freezes mid-drive without warning, sometimes accompanied by lane-keep-assist warnings, and does not respond to driver steering input until the driver turns the ignition off and back on. One owner experienced four such incidents over two weeks at 41–60 mph and reported the vehicle rocking violently side-to-side while locked. Dealers consistently cannot replicate the failure.
Several owners report sudden loss of power steering entirely or extreme difficulty turning the wheel, occurring across a wide mileage range (3,370 to 90,400 miles). One owner lost power steering simultaneously with loss of eyesight and rear braking after a cold start, suggesting possible electrical linkage of critical and non-critical systems.
Loose steering feel—where the wheel feels disconnected from actual steering—is reported intermittently and proves difficult for mechanics to diagnose or repair, even when tie rods and linkages check out.
Vehicle drift to the right, uneven tire wear, and unexplained alignment issues are also cited. One owner's alignment performed after control-arm repair did not resolve the loose steering feel.
Same Subaru Forester steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Front lower control arm bushings wearing prematurely, causing steering vibration and clunking. Owners report Subaru changed the material composition to address recurring failures (TSB 05-63-18R cited), but original defective design may not be adequately covered.
When: Around 50,000–60,000 miles; one owner reported 24,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intense shaking at highway speeds; Steering rattle or vibration while driving; Front-end vibration and rattle at 60+ mph
Repairs/costs cited: Right front lower control arm assembly replacement; dealer service included alignment. One owner reported torn bushing on right lower control arm assembly.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 05-63-18R references material change to bushing cushion. No recall mentioned in narratives.
Steering Wheel Lockup—Lane Keep Assist and Related Systems
Steering wheel locks intermittently without warning, often accompanied by lane-assist or lane-departure warnings. Wheel may not respond to driver input while locked, creating extreme hazard. Dealer unable to replicate the issue repeatedly.
When: Varies; one owner reported 4 instances over two weeks at 41–60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks and does not respond to driver input; Lane keep assist and lane departure warning symbols appear; Vehicle rocks side-to-side when wheel locked; Warning light with steering-wheel symbol appears; Requires system restart or ignition off/on to resolve
Codes mentioned: Lane keep assist warning symbol, Lane departure warning symbol
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to replicate or repair; no loaner vehicle offered
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru of America case number 230306-0200125 acknowledged by manufacturer; no resolution reported
Loose or Disconnected Steering Feel
Steering wheel feels loose or disconnected from its steering ability without warning, requiring a quarter to half-inch turn adjustment before normal feel returns. Intermittent, difficult to diagnose. One owner notes issue appeared after tie-rod replacement by independent mechanic.
When: Intermittent; one owner reported issue since at least February with no worsening
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel feels loose and disconnected; Steering feels normal again after slight wheel adjustment; No warning lights or messages (except tie-rod replacement noted in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic found no issues with mechanical steering linkages or tie rods upon inspection; no repair completed
Power Steering Failure—Complete Loss or Difficulty
Power steering ceases to function or becomes extremely difficult to turn. Can occur after cold start or while driving. One owner experienced complete power steering loss immediately after startup along with loss of other safety systems (eyesight, rear braking). Another owner reported very difficult steering requiring restart to resolve.
When: One owner at 51,000 miles; another at 77,978 miles; one at 90,400 miles; one with only 3,370 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering while driving; Power steering extremely difficult to turn in either direction; Power steering fault message displayed; Power steering warning light illuminated; Loss of power steering correlated with loss of eyesight and rear braking in one instance
Codes mentioned: Power steering fault message, Power steering warning light
Repairs/costs cited: One instance resolved by turning vehicle off and restarting; one owner abandoned vehicle as unsafe pending diagnostics
Steering Alignment and Tracking Issues
Vehicle drifts to the right, requiring continuous left-hand steering correction to maintain lane. Steering wheel feels slightly off-center (left of 6:00 position). Alignment performed post-repair did not resolve in one case. Uneven tire tread wear reported in one complaint.
When: Ongoing; varies by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts or pulls to the right on level road; Steering wheel appears centered but does not correspond to vehicle direction; Difficulty maintaining lane at highway speeds; Uneven tire tread wear on new tires
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed post-control arm replacement in one case; did not resolve loose steering feel. Another owner had steering shaft bolt found loose and retorqued to spec; issue persisted.
Lane Keep Assist Nuisance Activation
Lane keep assist activates unexpectedly while vehicle is centered in lane on clear, straight highway. Strong steering input forces vehicle toward adjacent lane without valid warning condition.
When: One instance reported on clear day at 10 AM
Symptoms owners cite: Lane keep assist activates without valid trigger while vehicle is properly centered and straight; Lane departure warning activates simultaneously; Strong pull/steering force toward adjacent lane; Windshield had dried insect residue but not visually impairing
Eyesight System Disengagement in Weather
Eyesight safety package disengages or shuts off during rain or snow, disabling cruise control, lane assist, and other safety features for extended periods. Dealer states behavior is acceptable.
When: Occurs during rain or snow conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Eyesight system suddenly disengages; Cruise control ceases to work; Lane assist stops functioning; All eyesight package features disabled; One owner also experienced eyesight shutdown with loss of rear braking and power steering after cold start
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states eyesight shutdown in rain is normal operation
Unintended Acceleration While Turning
Vehicle suddenly accelerates without driver input while making parking maneuvers or low-speed turns, causing collision or property damage. Driver believes acceleration was unintended rather than steering-related.
When: While parking or low-speed maneuvering
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly while turning into parking space; Vehicle accelerates when brake pedal is pressed (in one instance); No steering input triggering acceleration
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My 2018 Subaru Forester front low control arms and wheel bearing were damaged after about 24000 miles of driving in 5 years. I got it second hand in 2020 and it had only about 14000 miles. I had them replaced due to safety concern.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat was extremely hot. Additionally, air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the taillights were inoperable. While his wife was driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the taillight…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 6,000 and 51,000 miles, with the median around 14,771. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,000; a quarter make it past 51,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.