2018 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet

Seat belt or seat problems

36owner reports
14,000median miles
$1,216median quote
1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 18, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

36 of the 493 complaints on this car describe seat belt.

Tick what matches of 36 reports

the belt will not latch or release

the belt locks or will not extend

a seat moves or rocks

a seat heater or motor failed

there is a recall

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the seats covers the 2018 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the seats on the Forester

PE99-020opened Mar 5, 1999

Seat Belts · model years 1999

Seat belt anchorage separation. Closed mar 26, 1999.

NHTSA summary

ODI HAS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE, LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE, BECAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING.IN ADDITION, THE OWNER INSPECTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT WAS PARTIALLY BACKED-OUT.THE COMPLAINT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND HEATED FRONT SEATS.BECAUSE OF THESE OPTIONS, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR AT THE PORT OF ENTRY IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON.SUBARU STATES THAT A SMALL QUANTITY OF VEHICLES WITH HEATEDFRONT SEATS DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER.THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE SUPPLIED SEPARATELY FROM THE FRONT SEATS AND AN OUTSIDE VENDOR INSTALLED BOTH THE LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES TO THE SEAT FRAME.SUBARU HAS SEARCHED THEIR FILES AND FOUND NO ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS OR WARRANTY CLAIMS ON FORESTER VEHICLES FOR LOOSE SEAT BELT BOLTS.SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED THAT WITH THEIR CURRENT QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTIONS THAT SUCH A CONDITION CANNOT GO UNNOTICED IN THE FUTURE.

None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.

What owners paid

10 of the 36 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $200 to $1,483.

$200$1,216$1,483

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 6,500 and 23,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.

218

719

321

422

723

424

525

426

What owners wrote

“Passenger front seat. Airbag light is on when someone is sitting in the seat and seatbelt indicator dings when nothing is in the seat.”
Filed Mar 10, 2026

“My airbag warning light comes on intermittently. My mechanic found it is due to a recalled part but my vin number is not listed on the recall even though it meets the criteria. Subaru Safety Recall WUM-98 NHTSA Recall ID 19V 70. The person in the passenger seat's safety is at risk if the airbags don't deploy in the event of a crash.”
Filed Jul 1, 2025

“airbag alert for front passenger seat is lit and disabling the airbag. the seat was empty and dry with nothing in it.”
Filed Feb 13, 2025

“The sensor in the seat has been intermittently working for years and finally quit. It costs close to $2000 to fix and there is no way to switch the air bag to stay on. It seems this is an issue with other 2018 Subaru foresters and for some reason the recall did not apply to my VIN.”
Filed Oct 2, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 36 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.