2018 Subaru Forester consumer reviews

I love my car. I take it in every six months for service. Never had a problem in the four years I have it as long as you take care of it all is well

I bought the car new in 2018. Based on everything I had heard and read about Subaru I thought it would be a great fit for commuting to and from school (about 200 miles round trip). I have about 112k miles on it as of writing this review. The car was absolutely great! Until around 60k miles… Around that time odd things started to pop up. I starting having to replace a lot of light bulbs, which I thought was odd. Since then I have had to replace dozens, DOZENS, of light bulbs. I’ve also had to replace the battery and assume the new one will be going out soon (very corroded). Seems as though there might be an electrical problem somewhere. I’m not a “car guy”. Other than electrical stuff, the mechanics of the car began fading quickly around 70k miles, which I thought was like infancy in Subaru miles. Currently at 112k miles and I’ve had to replace suspension components, engine components, axle components, and now the compressor is out (fyi the part alone is almost $900!). There seems to be some kind of serious exhaust leak that comes into the cab when sitting still and (again not a car person) the engine just overall sounds not good. But hey the light bulbs have stopped burning out! Overall I am very disappointed in this car and will not be purchasing another Subaru. From the extensive research I’ve done on the car since I’ve owned it, it looks like it is an overall great car, just not mine. I’ll be looking to get rid of it ASAP as to avoid putting another dime into it.

Basic car reliable not technical or complex. So that helps on maintenance cost. Got as a used car and it’s qualified as a certified car. But here is the “but”. This just allows the dealership to charge you for a extended warranty. And also the dealership I bought from. After I paid for a certified car and had to pay for extended warranty. This didn’t mean a thing to the dealership. The dealer has a New BS charge for consumer that buy used cars now. They call it ”GAP” insurance. That’s just a pure profit charge for them. Because most major insurance will cover your loan of the car. Muller and berman autoare both hitting consumers up for this charge here in the Chicago area. Buyer be aware. This is my 3 Subaru. All used, but I don’t think I will buy another car until after the chip shortage is over. All the dealership are over charging and hidden fees on consumer.

Some problem with console being awkward to use. Also road noise is quite overwhelming at times. GPS not accurate in shortest routes to destination, but adds miles to trip which are unnecessary.

Never failed me, but road noise is too much. Console too awkward for everyday use. Paint not the best on exterior as shows wear around handle area.

To be fair the ride was good and the comfort level was adequate. If only it would have lasted. At 120,000 miles just 20,000 miles out of warranty the ac quit. It cost $1,740 to fix, then within the next 300 miles the transmission quit. That would have cost $7,500 to replace as they do not rebuild transmissions. We are very disappointed in Subaru. And we have since heard of others who have had problems with their Subarus at low mileage. We have had much better experiences with all the Toyotas we have owned. Buyer beware of Subaru.

Very happy with the forester. Plenty of room. Easy to drive with a nice ride. The car was clean and looked new! Would highly recommend to family and friends!

I am finding that this vehicle fits me well and suits my needs. It is comfortable to ride in and is easy to handle. I like the additional features that this has to offer, such as moon roof and heated seats.

I like cars that are straightforward in design and function. The Forester meets that criteria. Roomy, lots of window area. Few bells and whistles on Premium edition, which means fewer things to break. Suspension is fairly stiff, so don't expect the bumps to be smoothed out. Engine is strong and smooth. CVT tranny is mostly shirtless, has a few dialed in steps as the SUV comes to speed. Just what we were after.

Intake manifold needed replacing at 40k. Small branch cracked windshield-replaced. Poor handling on wet surfaces. Concern over 2018 recalls worried that it will burn oil like my Legacy does.