What 488 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester Wilderness

Twice in the last 4 months, after turning into a parking place and accelerating gently to pull forward into the space, the car surged forward much more than it should have given my light acceleration. The first time this happened I slammed into a split rail fence which broke, damaging the vehicle. The fence parts went over a restraining wall and damaged a house. I was able to stop the car but it came very close to going over the 6 foot restraining wall, which might very well have killed me. It happened again today in a different location but similar circumstance and no damage was done because I was able to stop before it hit the house. The car surged on its own. I had the damage to the car fixed, but the problem has not been confirmed by a service center. The damage was inspected by my insurance company and repaired by an auto body shop. My insurance rates will be increased because of the incident. There were no warning lights, messages or other symptoms prior to the episodes.

NHTSA ODI 11558442

I took our 2018 Subaru Forester through a car wash. The usual washing procedure went just fine with me in the car idling in neutral as it went through. When it came to the end of the wash cycle, I coasted out and then shifted into drive. Instantly the car surged forward at an alarming speed and I could not stop it. The car crossed a busy street. I fortunately did not collide with cars. The car continued into a field next to a Ford dealer’s lot at a high speed and I was unable to stop it. I managed to swerve right to avoid crashing into the cars parked on the Ford lot. This sent the car back toward the road. Fortunately I hit a lone fire hydrant along the road, shearing the hydrant completely off. The hydrant was dragged along under the front left tire until it hit the curb stopping the car. The air bag did not deploy and I was not injured. This all occurred in a matter of seconds.

NHTSA ODI 11456421

Unknown system that failed but vehicle equiped with EyeSight and all of Subaru safety features. Air bag did not deploy. Pulling into curbed parking space at city park. Speed <10 mph while in parking lot. Applied brake while pulling in space to park and car accelerated jumping the curb. The car was out of control and luckily heading into the woods. Tried to apply brake again but car kept accelerating. Car went approximately 10-12 feet and crashed into a tree. I suffered only stiffness and sore muscles from the seatbelt. An accident report was filed with local police department. No warning lamps, messages or other messages appeared prior to the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11453186

Sudden unexplained acceleration incident. Car accelerated without input from driver and rear-ended a parked vehicle in front of the vehicle Eyesight system did not engage to warn or prevent impact with rear end of car in front. The vehicle was travelling at low speed and suddenly accelerated. This is dangerous because it does not provide enough time to prevent from hitting an object in front of the vehicle like a car or person. The problem has not been reproduced by by the manufacturer who sent a technician who inspected the vehicle and could not find any saved info in the event data recorder or saved diagnostics codes. Complaints were filed with the dealership before the incident that the eyesight system did not appear to be functioning correctly. The first time this has happened was 6/02/2021 in the afternoon on a clear day on a clear pathway without any obstructions. The second time this happened was 9/06/2021. The second incident the vehicle accelerated while travelling at low speed with the eyesight system briefly warning tone beeping. The brakes were applied quickly and the car seemed almost to stall. The engine made a noise as the stalling conditions ended and the car went back to normal. Subaru filed a service report SR# 1-70302162357. State Farm opened a claim 3620R756C.

NHTSA ODI 11431870

Sudden unexplained acceleration incident. Car accelerated without input from driver and rear-ended a parked vehicle in front of the vehicle Eyesight system did not engage to warn or prevent impact with rear end of car in front. The vehicle was travelling at low speed and suddenly accelerated. This is dangerous because it does not provide enough time to prevent from hitting an object in front of the vehicle like a car or person. The problem has not been reproduced by by the manufacturer who sent a technician who inspected the vehicle and could not find any saved info in the event data recorder or saved diagnostics codes. Complaints were filed with the dealership before the incident that the eyesight system did not appear to be functioning correctly. The first time this has happened was 6/02/2021 in the afternoon on a clear day on a clear pathway without any obstructions. The second time this happened was 9/06/2021. The second incident the vehicle accelerated while travelling at lo speed with the eyesight system briefly warning tone beeping. The brakes were applied quickly and the carr seemed almost to stall. The engine made a noise as the stalling conditions ended and the car went back to normal. Subaru filed a service request previously. SR# 1-70302162357.

NHTSA ODI 11431872

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 ODI 11407119

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SUBARU WHITE PLAINS 258 E MAIN ST, ELMSFORD, NY 10523, (844) 338-8731) WHERE IT'S AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11405351

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 ODI 11397546

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 ODI 11388371

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 ODI 11243766

WHILE PARKING IN A LOT: WHEN PULLING INTO A SPACE, HIT BRAKE PEDAL AND CAR ACCELERATED RESULTING IN MINOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND OTHERS CARS. I BELIEVE THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11220029

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 ODI 11219240

VEHICLE WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND STRUCK THE WALL OF THE GARAGE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE AND THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE RESIDENCE WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO SHEAR SEVERAL 2X6 STUDS AND 1/2" OSB SIDING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $15K IN DAMAGE THE DRIVER WAS WELL-RESTED AND HAD 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING A SIMILAR SIZE JAPANESE SUV WITH NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11162333