Subaru Forester 2025 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Subaru Forester 2025 and 97 complaints filed by owners. It has 72% fewer complaints than the average Subaru Forester from 2016–2025 (344 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Subaru Forester 2025? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Subaru Forester 2025
Equipment and labels
NHTSA campaign 26V436000 · 2026-07-07
What happens
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire selection and rims."
Consequence
An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 27, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Child seat anchors
NHTSA campaign 25V419000 · 2025-06-19
What happens
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles. The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose.
Consequence
A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the child seat anchor bolts and, if necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-25.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Wheels
NHTSA campaign 25V033000 · 2025-01-23
What happens
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles equipped with 18" aluminum alloy wheels. The wheels may have been manufactured with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface, which can result in the wheel being improperly attached and cause a loss of vehicle stability.
Consequence
A loss of vehicle stability increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the wheels, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRB-25.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
97 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
11 with a crash · 2 with a fire · 6 injuries · 1 deaths
Most reported problems on the Subaru Forester 2025
- Fuel and propulsion: 13 (13% of complaints)
- Wipers: 13 (13% of complaints)
- Forward collision avoidance: 12 (12% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 8 (8% of complaints)
- Exterior lighting: 8 (8% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Subaru Forester 2025
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Check for loss of power, stalling or uneven acceleration on the test drive.
- Test every wiper speed and the washer.
- Ask whether the system braked on its own for no reason ("phantom braking") and whether software updates are pending.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Subaru Forester recalls by year
- 2016 : 3 recalls · 415 complaints
- 2017 : 1 recalls · 587 complaints
- 2018 : 3 recalls · 498 complaints
- 2019 : 3 recalls · 834 complaints
- 2020 : 0 recalls · 601 complaints
- 2021 : 0 recalls · 210 complaints
- 2022 : 1 recalls · 98 complaints
- 2023 : 1 recalls · 74 complaints
- 2024 : 2 recalls · 29 complaints
- 2025 : 3 recalls · 97 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Subaru Forester 2025 have?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Subaru Forester 2025. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Subaru Forester 2025?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: fuel and propulsion (13 of 97 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 14, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).