Climate System
AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.
What Owners Say
"This problems started years before I even got the car, I think in about 2019. Something happened where the AC would run for a while then something would "freeze" and it would blow hot air. My parents (who I bought the car from) didn't mind, but it finally got so bad I ended up getting the compressor replaced in 2023."
Anonymous, NY (2018 Subaru Forester)"The a/c began blowing warm air and needed to be replaced. Then it only worked for a short period and required to be fixed again. They found plastic bags and other debris. I think the mechanic at the dealer put them there."
Anonymous, TX (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Just stopped working"
Anonymous, FL (2018 Subaru Forester Unsure)"AC compressor is very noisy and cooling is intermittent. This just started a few days ago and I haven't had it repaired yet."
Anonymous A., MD (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Failled Just few months after warranty"
Anonymous A., QC (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"The air compressor and condendenser went out out and was covered by warranty. Then a year later went out and I had to pay over $1,000 to have it fixed."
Anonymous A., (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"My ac began to stop last summer but always came back on. This summer it is doing the same thing, but not coming back on by itself. My local mechanic is replacing it because his estimate was $900 less than the Subaru dealership."
Anonymous, NH (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"A/C compressor failed at 84,000 miles and needs replacing."
Anonymous, CA (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Of course the A/C failed when we were over 750 miles away from home, in August, during a heat wave. Ocracoke, the island we were staying on in NC had garages, but none did any A/C work! We had to wait ten days until we were near Buxton, NC to find a mechanic to replace the compressor. He didn't accept charge cards though, so I had to withdraw over $1000 from an ATM over the course of several days!"
Anonymous A., NY (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"No A/C at beginning of this season. Compressor was locked up & had to be replaced."
Anonymous A., NJ (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"It had been a intermittent problem since the first year of owning it, but the dealership could never find the fault. After the warranty had expired, they were happy to fix the problem for $1,500. A stern letter resulted in a refund from Subaru."
Anonymous, CA (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"It failed and needed to be replaced. Replacement cost was $1500. I contacted Subaru and they agreed to pay for the repair."
Anonymous, MI (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"The A/C compressor belt broke as we were coming off the interstate--heard a loud screech and engine started smoking. Unfortunately could not get it back to local dealership until after hours, but they had it fixed within the day. I do wonder if this had been an issue that was building up--my significant other and I noticed that the cabin air conditioning fluctuated during a long road trip months before this happened, but after the trip it wasn't that much of an issue. I had also had multiple "multi-point inspections" with Subaru during regular maintenance in the interim, and the issue wasn't caught beforehand (so now I'm not quite sure what all the multi-point inspections entail...)."
Anonymous, OH (2018 Subaru Forester)"Compressor failed. It was replaced in one day under warranty. Problem solved."
Anonymous, NC (2018 Subaru Forester Touring 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Caused the engine to lose power, especially when trying to accelerate"
Anonymous, GA (2018 Subaru Forester Touring Unsure)"AC compressor seized after 6 years and about 51000 miles. Compressor was replaced."
Anonymous, CO (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Contacted my service center when the AC was not properly cooling. Center inspected and informed me the compressor was "failing" and would need to be replaced."
Anonymous, NC (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Cooling was weak last fall, completely dead this spring, dealer replace A/C compressor which fixed the problem. No leaks found, just a bad compressor."
Anonymous A., MI (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Compressor issue is causing A/C to randomly stop working and blow warm damp air while driving, even if temp is set to lowest setting. Problem is still ongoing."
Anonymous A., NJ (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"The AC compressor went on this car, about 12 months ago. This shouldn't have occurred on a 5 yr old car."
Anonymous A., NY (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"A/C compressor failed and was replaced; A/C now works fine."
Anonymous, VA (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Problem started in Summer of 2023. AC would work on start up and slowly decline. It would be blowing warm air within one hour of driving. It was diagnosed as a bad compressor. Had it replaced with after market part.It took two replacements to finally fix problem. Not a Subaru issue."
Anonymous, (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"A/C compressor is belt-driven, and the motor that the belt turns broke - seized up completely, got extremely hot. Couldn't drive car until it was replaced."
Anonymous, DE (2018 Subaru Forester XT 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"COMPRESSOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED"
Anonymous, FL (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Stopped working Had to replace air cinditioner"
Anonymous, TX (2018 Subaru Forester Touring 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"This spring the unit stopped cooling and had to be replaced."
Anonymous, ME (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Made a loud noise on startup and failed to cool the air"
Anonymous A., CO (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"The car could not cool down to a comfortable temperature. Put up with it for a month in the summer and had the unit replaced. Which solved the issue."
Anonymous, NH (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"it just all of a sudden stopped working 1 month ster the warrenty expired. it cost $1700to repair"
Anonymous A., ON (2018 Subaru Forester Touring 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"AC quit working. Compressor clutch failed. Compressor had to be replaced."
Anonymous, IL (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Compressor stopped working"
Anonymous, TX (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"The AC compressor went out. The car stopped blowing cold air with the AC on. There is a record of the compressors going out prematurely. Had the compressor replaced at the dealership."
Anonymous, IL (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Not cooling as well, unsure why."
Anonymous, MI (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"It just stopped working, there where no indications that is was failing."
Anonymous, MI (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"I had no AC for 2 summers. The local repair shop added freon that restored the cool air, but not as cool as it was before.At the start of warm weather the same shop diagnosed the need of a new compressor, & ordered one that never came. A Spring tune-up @ a Subaru dealer diagnosed the need for a new compressor @ $1600. On drive home,no AC!!! On return visit dx. was Wrong dx of bad compressor, it really needed a new condenser!!! I had to pay $100 for some discount to get out of there. The AC was back."
Anonymous, MN (2018 Subaru Forester Touring 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"It just stopped working, just as the weather was warming up!"
Anonymous, FL (2018 Subaru Forester Unsure)"Our Forester is the basic model and the Heater system is poor; takes a good 30 minutes at highway speed to feel the warmth. But basic or not the heater should work better. I think that Subaru should not sale such basic vehicle. Subaru should be better than Basic. Nonetheless, I like the Subaru Forester. I am thinking on replacing the basic 2018 Forester and get a 2014 Premium Forester."
Anonymous, MI (2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"It was basically the same issue as that previously described."
Anonymous, OH (2018 Subaru Forester)"Took on a long road trip. Next time driven it failed to cool car Blower worked. No cool air. Have not taken it to shop yet."
Anonymous, TX (2018 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"Not sure how a low mileage, garaged vehicle loses it's compressor and condensor not even 4 years after purchase.. Expensive repair"
Anonymous, FL (2018 Subaru Forester Touring 2.5-L 4 Cyl)"I have an appt tomorrow at the dealer, this is their educated guess."
Anonymous, PA (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)
"A/c compressor went bad and started to leak freon. Common problem with Subarus"
Anonymous, HI (2018 Subaru Forester Limited 2.5-L 4 Cyl)