2025 Subaru Forester recalls and problems

The 2025 Subaru Forester has 3 safety recalls and 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

102

Crashes / fires

13 / 2

Injuries / deaths

7 / 1

Recalls may cover only some 2025 Subaru Forester vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2025 Subaru Forester recalls

Recall 26V-436: Equipment

Reported Jul 7, 2026 · 541,237 vehicles affected · Subaru of America, Inc.

Problem: 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."

Risk: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 25V-419: Child Seat

Reported Jun 19, 2025 · 2,938 vehicles affected · Subaru of America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 25V-033: Wheels

Reported Jan 23, 2025 · 20,366 vehicles affected · Subaru of America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: A loss of vehicle stability increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

2025 Subaru Forester problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Forward Collision Avoidance	20
Unknown or Other	19
Visibility/Wiper	13
Fuel/Propulsion System	13
Electrical System	10
Exterior Lighting	8
Visibility	7
Back Over Prevention	7
Service Brakes	5
Air Bags	5
Vehicle Speed Control	5
Power Train	4

Most reported parts

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 9
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 6
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 5
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior — 4
Back Over Prevention › Warnings — 4
Back Over Prevention › Rearview System Braking — 2
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices — 1
Visibility › Windshield — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 4,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2025 Subaru Forester complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Nov 9, 2026

After reversing, the car will shift into drive but will not drive. The power steering signal pops up and takes restarting the car and opening and closing the door to get the car to actually drive. When taken to a dealership, I was told there was nothing they can do about it. This is a major safety concern that almost caused an accident by having the car unmoving in the middle of the road.

Suspension · reported Nov 8, 2026

Rear right trailing arm failed. There is rust seen at spot of failure. Snapped while braking for a red light. Lost total control of vehicle. Rear end of vehicle fish tailed multiple times and vehicle wouldnât stop. Almost ran the red light due to inability to stop and lost control. I had 4 children in the car. If other cars were around us or we ran the red light, we very easily could have collided with full speed vehicles in intersection and died. Yes problem can be inspected and confirmed by independent service provider - Firestone in [XXX] on [XXX]. Vehicle was towed to Ciocca Subaru in…

Air Bags · at 7,000 miles · reported Oct 29, 2026

The contact leased a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway with his wife seated in the front passengerâs seat, the passengerâs air bag status indicator displayed that the air bag was off. The vehicle was taken to a local Subaru dealer for inspection. Initially, the dealer stated that the passenger did not meet the required weight threshold and that the Occupant Classification System (OCS) did not recognize the passenger in the seat. After performing diagnostic testing, the dealer determined that the OCS needed to be recalibrated. The…

Steering · reported Oct 23, 2026

There have been intermittent failures of numerous vehicle systems over the last 4 months. Some of these systems have impacted the cars safety systems including but not limited to steering, braking, collision avoidance, inability to enter vehicle in an unfamiliar location and stranding owner hundreds of miles from home.

Forward Collision Avoidance · reported Oct 16, 2026

my car came to a sudden and immediate stop, causing the car behind me to collide with my rear end. in researching this, i have discovered that my car make and model are subject to a class action suit for what is called "phantom braking." I was not injured but the driver of the other car claimed that his son in the back seat was injured. There were no warning indicators going off, either visual or audio. the vehicle's condition was observed by a XXX Police Officer at the scene, and an accident report (XXX) was filed, to be available sometime next week. I contacted my insurance company, State…

Other Subaru Forester years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2025 Subaru Forester have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2025 Subaru Forester: 26V-436 (equipment), 25V-419 (child seat), 25V-033 (wheels). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2025 Subaru Forester?

Owners report forward collision avoidance problems most often (20 reports), followed by unknown or other (19). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 4,000 miles.

Are Subaru recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Subaru dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.