Foundation problems happen for different reasons such as:
Drainage problems: These problems can result in water damage due to poor soil conditions, houses built in swampy or low-lying areas, not grading the ground around the foundation properly or gutters and downspouts that have been poorly placed or clogged.
Soil problems: Certain types of soils can easily expand. Building a foundation on unstable soil can result in major foundation issues down the road, like foundation settling or sloping.
Bad construction:  A foundation can be damaged if the contractor building the foundation doesn’t test the soil and build accordingly or if the foundation itself wasn’t poured correctly.
Older homes: Although building materials are meant to stand the test of time, some older homes may have been built using materials that aren’t as structurally sound as the materials used today.
These problems can cause other structural problems, which may lead to basement repair, crawl space repair and even general house structure repairs.