2018 Subaru Forester: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Nov 7, 2026 · WI

Approximately a half dozen times since I bought my 2018 Subaru Forester Premium new in December of 2017 it has exhibited unintended acceleration, usually after I start it or travelling slowly, as when doing parking maneuvers. When this happens the car will suddenly lurch forward and the engine will roar, even when my right foot is firmly on the brake and no foot on the gas pedal (I use my right foot only on the pedals). The only way I've found to stop this problem is to turn the car off. Upon restarting the car, it drives normally again until this problem reoccurs, which may be weeks or months later. I've examined the possible reasons that this is happening and have eliminated the possibility of the car mat or pressing the wrong pedal or both pedals at the same time. I've tried to press both pedals at the same time on purpose with the car off to check if this is possible, and am unable to press both pedals without my foot slipping between the pedals. I've also experienced the power steering warning light illuminate a few times upon starting the car, upon which the car has no power steering. Turning the car off and then back on again has solved that problem.

Filed Jun 20, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MT

Yesterday 6/19/25 I was driving out the driveway when the vehicle accelerated on its own, and not slowly, but like it had been punched. I was actually coasting at the time since I didn't want to stir up dust. My foot was not on the gas pedal. And it was not the floor mat. It happened on its own, the first time in 87,000 miles. It probably cannot easily be replicated as it was completely random, although now that it's happened once, it very well could happen again if there's a faulty or aging part or sensor. Neither the local dealer nor Subaru has acknowledged the problem (I called both today) but it's a SERIOUS safety issue. No check engine light or other means of warning. It just happened out of nowhere. Glad I was in the driveway and not in town waiting while a pedestrian was crossing the street.

Filed Dec 4, 2023 · Acceleration, Fuel system · MA · crash

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.

Filed Aug 18, 2023 · FL · crash

I was making a 90 degree left turn, at a very slow rate of speed, onto a tarred parking bay located in front of a hedge approximately 4 feet high. (This is a parking spot I was very familiar with, and moving extremely carefully which is necessary, because the small cat colony I was there to feed were milling around on the parking bay as they always do.) When I depressed my brake to bring the car to a complete stop, my vehicle surged forward through the hedge and landed up against a wall on the other side of the hedge. The movement was wholly unexpected, and directly contradictory to my braking to bring the vehicle to a stop. It felt as if I, the driver, was not actually in control of the vehicle for those few seconds. After the tow truck pulled it back onto the parking bay, although my Subaru was still mechanically drive-able, I had the vehicle towed to the closest Subaru dealer as it would have been irresponsible for anyone to drive the vehicle given the unexplained spontaneous acceleration issue that had just occurred. I immediately reported the accident to AAA Insurance and made the Claims Representative at the time, and subsequently the Insurance Adjuster, aware of the safety issue experienced. • The mechanical root cause is unknown • Immediately following the body shop repairs I sold the vehicle back to Subaru and made them aware of the safety issue. • I could have been injured. Fortunately, I was alone, and although in shock for several days, not physically hurt. • When I asked Subaru about the feasibility of getting data from the Event Data Recorder, to substantiate what happened, they advised that was not possible without a court order. • Yes, the vehicle was inspected by a Third Party Insurance Assessor but am unsure if they were made aware of the safety event that precipitated the vehicle's damage • There were no prior warning signs which made the occurrence extremely surreal and shocking.

Filed Jul 6, 2022 · NJ · crash

On June 8 after waiting for my garage door to rise, my 2018 Subaru Forester suddenly shot through the door, across the garage, through a 7 ft high wooden cupboard, through the back wall, across the basement steps, into the wall that backs up to the kitchen, shoving my stove one and a half feet into the kitchen. I was able to back out because I believe the right front tire ran on the top basement step, stopping me from falling into the basement. The insurance company has assessed the damage to both the car and the house. The car is in the body shop. The repairs do not address the reason it accelerated without me stepping on the gas. I had no previous warning that anything was wrong. Before driving up to the garage door I had just filled the car with gas from our gas tank located on the other side of the house. I had been driving very slowly around our circular driveway and had pushed the remote for the garage door. I wasn’t in a hurry. Now I am afraid to drive the car when it is returned to me.

Filed Mar 12, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · MI · crash

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.

Filed Sep 6, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · OK · crash

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.

Filed Sep 6, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · OK · crash

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.

Filed Mar 29, 2021 · Acceleration · 18,000 miles · NY · crash

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.

Filed Feb 23, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 19,000 miles · IL · crash

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.

Filed Jan 15, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 47,000 miles · IN · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Sep 17, 2020 · Acceleration · 26,000 miles · WA

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.