2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2018 Subaru Forester
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 2018 Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 194 | 490 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 506 | 400 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 26 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–29 | 24–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 19,250 mi | 18,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Crosstrek | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 64 | 135 |
| Electrical System | 32 | 69 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 94 |
| Engine | 32 | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 30 |
| Power Train | 14 | 23 |
| Seats | 4 | 29 |
| Visibility | 9 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 24 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 12 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 31 |
| Battery drain | 0 | 16 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 7 |
2018 Subaru Crosstrek
2018 Subaru Forester
Compare all Subaru Crosstrek vs Subaru Forester years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.