2018 Subaru Forester Brakes Problems

My drivers side seatbelt broke in a minor fender bender and was replaced.

NHTSA ID

11725931

Incident

Jul 3, 2025

The CVT parking brake switch has failed. The failure leads to the inability to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle is in park. This happens repeatedly, with the only temporary solution being to restart the car, and force the shift lever from "park" to "drive" and back again rather violently. Yes, the problem was confirmed by the dealer and by Subaru of America; the latter issued a limited 1-year warranty extension for the issue a couple of years ago, but it has expired without any further extension (before the problem first presented on my car). The vehicle was inspected by a dealer that confirmed the problem and wanted to charge me to repair it. There were no prior messages, warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the problem first happening.

NHTSA ID

11716896

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

After starting the car for the first time of the day, letting it warm for a minute or two, I started driving and when I went to stop at a stop sign about three blocks from my starting point I pressed the brake. The engine started to rev immediately so I had to stomp the brake to the floor and push the gear selector to the neutral position to avoid hitting a pedestrian and the dog she was walking. She was within 10 feet of the front of my car when I finally stopped. I have not taken it to a dealer yet since I am sure they will not be able to replicate the intermittent problem. There were no warnings of any kind that this was about to happen. I did note though, that the cold engine temperature indicator light on the dashboard was still illuminated.

NHTSA ID

11621926

Incident

Oct 23, 2024

I was the first car stopped at a red light of an intersection coming off the freeway, in far right lane. When the light turned green, as I released my foot off the brake and not even stepping on the gas the RPM surged with full force accelerating without my foot on the gas. I stepped on the brake but it would not engage - it locked. The steering wheel locked and only had minimal movement, as much movement as you would get in a parked position. There was no way to stop the car. Given the lane position and obstructions ahead (freeway on ramp), the car ran over a median and scraped along side the curb and on top to damage the front passenger wheel enough for it to pop. Only when the wheel broke did the car’s brake re-engage and I was able to put it into park. The vehicle has not yet been inspected and is available in my driveway for inspection. There was no warning or indicators leading up to this. In fact, the vehicle had just been inspected for an oil change at the dealership three weeks prior. This accident would have caused a fatality, mine, if not many others if there had been cars ahead of me or cars had been in the intersection or if the wheel did not break in time before merging with the freeway traffic. I am fearful to drive this car again. There were absolutely NO indicators leading up to this or right before it happened. The car simply took over and there was no control of it.

NHTSA ID

11504015

Incident

Jan 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving into a parking space at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, which caused a collision. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle crashed into a traffic signpost, a boulder, and then a tree, which stopped the vehicle. No injury was sustained and no medical treatment was received. No air bags were deployed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the computer system did not show a failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Prior to the collision, the vehicle had inadvertently accelerated on several occasions. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID

11447453

Incident

Jan 12, 2022

Mileage

3,800 mi

While turning in a parking lot car accelerated and hit a tree. Foot was on brake and airbags didn’t deploy despite extensive damage. Body shop estimator said computer wouldn’t confirm problem. It was not caused by floor mat! No warning lights prior to incident.

NHTSA ID

11446303

Incident

Dec 31, 2021

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO CAUSING DAMAGE. SHORT CRACK IN MOTION THAT GREW OVER SEVERAL NIGHTS WHILE PARKED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER

NHTSA ID

11407915

Incident

Apr 11, 2021

Mileage

51,356 mi

UPON ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, WITH BREAK PEDDLE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT EXTREME SPEED HITTING A PROTECTIVE BARRIER. AFTER A REST PERIOD, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND WITH BREAK PEDDLE ENGAGED LURCHED BACKWARD AT THE SAME EXCESSIVE SPEED HITTING ANOTHER OBJECT. AFTER A LONG PERIOD WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE IS TO BE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11397546

Incident

Feb 22, 2021

Mileage

19,000 mi

VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGH.

NHTSA ID

11388472

Incident

Jan 3, 2021

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, WHEN THEY PRESSED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND PARTIALLY THROUGH THE CEMENT WALL INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOWEVER IT WAS STILL BEING DETERMINED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE RECEIVED INJURIES THE HIP AND LEG AREA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD SPOKEN TO THE DEALER (CASTLE SUBARU BURNSHARBOR MI) WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REQUESTED THE BLACK BOX AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

11388371

Incident

Dec 31, 2020

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 A SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH UP A HILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU SHERMAN OAKS (5747 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401 (818) 670-7450) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11366720

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

35,000 mi

AS IT STANDS IN P (PARK) IT HAS A REALLY HIGH IDLE EVEN IN NEUTRAL AS IF IT WANTS TO GO. THEN IN DRIVE IT WILL LURCH REALLY FAST. OR I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND IT STARTS TO REV HIGH THEN AFTER 3-5SEC OF SEEING REV CYCLE IN THE 2000-3000S IT CALMS DOWN. I ALMOST REAR-ENDED A CAR YESTERDAY. IF YOU SLIGHTLY PULL OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL WANT TO JOLT FORWARD. WHEN IT REVS HIGH AND I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT JOLTS FORWARD THEN SLOWS AS IF IT RECOGNIZES I NEVER HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN ALL OF THESE TIMES I NEVER HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S SCARY AND I'D RATHER FOCUS ON THE DRIVING THEN MY CAR ACTING STRANGE. BUT I REALISED THAT WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY MY BRAKES COMPLETELY WORE OUT. I WENT FROM A 7/10 TO A 1/10 IN BETWEEN A 3000 MILE SERVICE! IT ALL BECAME MORE APPARENT AFTER THE 30,000 MILE MARK

NHTSA ID

11363312

Incident

Oct 6, 2020

Mileage

34,000 mi

2018 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKING ISSUE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY/MUSHY AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES. THE PEDAL WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THIS RESPONSE. *JS

NHTSA ID

11241505

Incident

May 11, 2018

I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I DON'T REMEMBER IF I WAS TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE, OR GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPEN WITHIN SECONDS. CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I SLAMMED ON BRAKES STILL MOVING, I PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, STILL MOVING, I HIT BACK END OF PICK-UP TRUCK. BY THEN I HAD PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

11219240

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

Mileage

37,242 mi