YearToAvoid

2018 Subaru Forester Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA lists 22 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2018 Subaru Forester, 4% of its 495 total complaints for the year. Common issues are premature wheel bearing and control arm wear, tire pressure sensor faults, and tire tread or sidewall failures, often reported near a median 18,000 miles. No related recalls are listed.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
22
4% of 495
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
18,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical suspension symptoms owners report

  • Front wheel bearings and lower control arm bushings wear out prematurely, sometimes as early as 18,000 to 24,000 miles.
  • Owners describe steering wheel shaking or vibration at highway speed, in some cases linked to failed control arm bearings.
  • Tire pressure sensors trigger false low-pressure warnings even after tires are checked and properly inflated.
  • Owners report rear wheel bearing noise appearing around 55 mph, requiring dealer replacement.
  • Tires show sidewall dry rot or tread shredding well before their rated mileage, in one case at 20,000 miles.

When 2018 Subaru Forester suspension complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 7, 2018, latest Nov 9, 2025.

2018 Subaru Forester suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2018Feb 2021Feb 2022Jan 2023Sep 2023Dec 2024Nov 2025
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2018 to Nov 2025; peak Apr 2019 (2).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2018 Subaru Forester

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Forester model year

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

  1. 20108 (3%)
  2. 20110 (0%)
  3. 20125 (5%)
  4. 20130 (0%)
  5. 2014105 (26%)
  6. 201588 (14%)
  7. 201628 (7%)
  8. 201721 (4%)
  9. 201822 (4%)
  10. 201911 (1%)
  11. 20203 (0%)
  12. 20216 (3%)
  13. 20225 (5%)
  14. 20235 (7%)
  15. 20241 (3%)
  16. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many suspension, wheel, and tire complaints does the 2018 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 22 complaints in this category for the 2018 Forester, which is 4% of its 495 total complaints for the year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Subaru Forester suspension or wheels?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this component area on the 2018 Forester.
At what mileage do these suspension problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 18,000 miles, though some owners reported issues both earlier and later.
What specific parts fail most in the 2018 Forester's suspension?
Owner complaints most often mention front wheel bearings, lower control arm bushings, tire pressure sensors, and premature tire wear or failure.

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.