2018 Subaru Forester: hesitation when accelerating

5 of the 499 complaints about the 2018 Subaru Forester describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 31 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

2023
1
2022
2
2021
5
2020
3
2019
7
2018
5
2017
8
2016
5
2015
20
2014
8
2010
3
2007
1
2006
4
2005
1
2002
8
2001
5
2000
3
1999
2
1998
2

What owners say

Filed Dec 26, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · KS

In June 2022 I purchased a 2018 Subaru Forester Turbo Touring at Carmax. Soon after purchase the car hesitated a few times when I was turning. I was turning in front of oncoming traffic and it scared the ___ out of me. So I returned the car to CarMax and bought a similar replacement which is the VIN reported to you in this report. After a couple of months, this car is now doing the same thing , generally when turning but sometimes when merging into traffic. I press the gas, the car moves a bit, then it just dies - there's nothing there, simply no response. It does not turn off, it is just powerless. Then a few seconds later it gets gas and we squeal to safety. However I am just dead in the water, usually in front of oncoming traffic, until it decides to move. Pumping the gas does not help. I took the first Subaru to CarMax for a check up but they found nothing wrong so I just returned it. I am taking the second one in in January. Because the problem is intermittent, it is hard to diagnose but there's definitely a terrifying problem. I thought I was going to die when I had that first one and now this one is developing the same problem. There are a few posts on Google about the same problem. Is there a recall? Have others reported the same problem? I would appreciate any feedback you might be able to provide.

Filed Jun 23, 2021 · Acceleration, Transmission · GA

Follow up-to complaint #11420905 submitted 6/14/2021. The car was taken back to the dealership due to stall, hesitation, slowness, and erratic uncontrolled acceleration. Safety was the main issue. The dealer confirmed the concern and replaced the transmission with a remanufactured one. The problems still remain with the exception of the stalling. We believe this situation requires further thorough investigation and possible recall or new transmission installation.

Filed Nov 29, 2018 · Acceleration · 4 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru forester. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated before suddenly launching forward. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (fc kurbeck subaru, 200 w. Decatur ave, pleasantville, nj) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4.

Filed Nov 22, 2018 · Transmission · 9,300 miles · OR

Occasionally when I slowly accelerate from a stop, as when I pull into a driving lane from a parking lot a stop sign, the car will move a few feet and then stop. The engine will still be turning approx. 2000 RPM but the car will not move . When I apply the accelerator the RPM does not change and the car still will not move. After anywhere from 3-5 seconds the car will accelerate normally. Otherwise the car performs normally and there is no hesitation at higher speeds. As a result, I am sitting helpless in a traffic land with cars bearing down on me. S far we have not been hit. I have been unable to replicate this problem and it may occur a few times in one day or nit for several days. I took it to my local subaru dealer and they were unable to duplicate the problem on a test drive. However, a service writer with the same model did describe a similar experience. The service dept. Ran diagnostic tests and said that everything is normal. Subaru customer service said that unless they can duplicate the problem there is nothing they can do. When I googled this problem I found several similar complaints involving several subaru models and also that subaru is aware of the problem but apparently has not found a solution.

Filed Jun 29, 2018 · Transmission · 2,945 miles · NJ

I have trouble making turns for it hesitates before it will kick in,yesterday I was almost hit by a police car going on a call, lights/siren on . I just made a turn and it hesitated icouldn't get out of his way. This is an ongoing problem with this car.