YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 20 brake complaints for the 2018 Subaru Forester, 4% of its 495 total complaints, with 7 crashes and 2 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure was 15,100 miles. No related recalls are listed for this brake issue.

Brakes complaints
20
4% of 495
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
15,100 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while the brake pedal was depressed, often while parking or shifting between drive and reverse, leading to collisions with objects like garage doors, trees, or signposts.
  • Some drivers report the brake pedal failed to respond at all, causing the vehicle to roll backward into an obstacle despite the pedal being applied.
  • Several complaints describe the brake pedal feeling spongy or mushy, sinking toward the floor after several miles of driving, with dealers stating the vehicle was operating as designed.
  • Owners report the vehicle idling or revving unexpectedly high while stopped with the brake applied, followed by a forward lurch when the brake was released.
  • One complaint describes a loss of steering control tied to a warning beep while braking during a turn on the highway.

When 2018 Subaru Forester brake complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 21, 2017, latest Mar 20, 2026.

2018 Subaru Forester brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2017Aug 2018Jun 2019Oct 2020Feb 2021Jan 2022Oct 2024Mar 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2017 to Mar 2026; peak May 2019 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2018 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Forester model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (15%)
  2. 201121 (14%)
  3. 201219 (18%)
  4. 201310 (13%)
  5. 201434 (8%)
  6. 201545 (7%)
  7. 201634 (8%)
  8. 201720 (3%)
  9. 201820 (4%)
  10. 201934 (4%)
  11. 202015 (2%)
  12. 20217 (3%)
  13. 202210 (10%)
  14. 20235 (7%)
  15. 20241 (3%)
  16. 20256 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Subaru Forester?
NHTSA lists 20 brake-related complaints for the 2018 Forester, which is 4% of the 495 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2018 Subaru Forester brake problems?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this brake issue.
At what mileage do 2018 Forester brake problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 15,100 miles.
Have any crashes or injuries resulted from these brake complaints?
NHTSA data shows 7 crashes and 2 injuries linked to the 20 brake complaints reported for the 2018 Forester.
How does 2018 compare to other Forester model years for brake complaints?
The 2018 Forester's brake complaints made up 4% of its total complaints, similar to 2017 (3%) and 2019 (4%), but lower than years like 2012 (18%) or 2010 (15%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.