Skip to content
Vehicle speed controlPart report

2018 Subaru Forester Vehicle speed control Problems

Complaints
30about this part
Share
6%of 498 total for the year
Median mileage
18,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2018 Subaru Forester, 6% of the 498 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 18,000 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I had my foot on the break (riding the break and was slowing down to take a left turn onto a residential road, and as I left off the break to start turning because I was now going slow enough, the car accelerated for a second. Rpm randomly shot up and the car jumped forward. It happened quickly and subsided just as quickly.”

NHTSA complaint #11355538, filed 2020-09, 26,000 miles

“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 complaint #11219240, filed 2019-06, 37,242 miles

“On several occasions while driving on the highway, my eyesight feature suddenly disengages and my cruise control ceases to work and no lane assist or other safety features contained with the eyesight package work for extended periods of time. This has occurred when it is raining or snowing.”

NHTSA complaint #11292420, filed 2020-01, 15,050 miles

“As I was easing into a parking space in my townhome community in front of my neighbor's house, the car suddenly accelerated on its own and jumped the curb, landing on the sidewalk and pushing in the wall of the house. Airbags did not go off and luckily nobody was home or standing on the sidewalk. I was not injured. The car sustained minimal damage (bumper was askew) but the house wall needed to be replaced and the tenants were unable to live there for two weeks.”

NHTSA complaint #11243766, filed 2019-08, 11,490 miles

“I turned into a parking space covering the brake and came to a stop. I went to shift into park and when the gearshift lever started to move the car accelerated uncommanded and ran into the building.”

NHTSA complaint #11407119, filed 2021-04, 40,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202613%
202555%
202413%
202368%
202299%
2021126%
2020244%
2019273%
2018306%
2017336%
2016379%
20157011%
20144210%
201379%
20121817%
2011139%
2010249%
20091911%
2008612%
2007811%
20062023%
20051718%
2004125%
2003158%
20022326%
20012921%
200045%
199965%
19981414%

Other parts of the 2018 Subaru Forester

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
156 complaints
Air bags
99 complaints
Other or unknown
85 complaints
Electrical system
71 complaints
Engine
32 complaints
Seats
30 complaints
Steering
25 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
23 complaints
Fuel system
21 complaints
Suspension
15 complaints
Brakes
14 complaints
Body and structure
14 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Subaru Forester

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology