RecallMyCar

2025 Subaru Forester Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2025 Subaru Forester, and owners have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
96
owner complaints to NHTSA
11 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
26–35
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2025 Subaru Forester

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 26V436000 Reported 541,237 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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…

    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,…

  2. Child seat

    NHTSA 25V419000 Reported 2,938 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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.

    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…

  3. Wheels

    NHTSA 25V033000 Reported 20,366 vehicles potentially affected Subaru of America, Inc.

    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.

    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…

96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2025 Subaru Forester have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 4,925 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 52 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I never ride in the back seat and very infrequently have back seat passengers. However, every time I do they all complain about how difficult it is to "buckle up", I never thought much about it until”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Seat belts

“The contact owns a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on a road trip at interstate speed with the contact and her daughter inside the vehicle, the vehicle star”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 28, 2026 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2025 Subaru Forester (Forester AWD, Forester Hybrid AWD, Forester Sport/Touring AWD, Forester Wilderness AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined26–35 mpg
City / Highway25–35 / 28–34
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6); Automatic (AV-S8)

Compare Subaru Forester model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Subaru Forester model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Subaru Forester1101
1999 Subaru Forester1131
2000 Subaru Forester075
2001 Subaru Forester0139
2002 Subaru Forester188
2003 Subaru Forester3189
2004 Subaru Forester2219
2005 Subaru Forester193
2006 Subaru Forester288
2007 Subaru Forester174
2008 Subaru Forester150
2009 Subaru Forester17178
2010 Subaru Forester17262
2011 Subaru Forester16147
2012 Subaru Forester15105
2013 Subaru Forester1277
2014 Subaru Forester2403
2015 Subaru Forester3615
2016 Subaru Forester3415
2017 Subaru Forester1587
2018 Subaru Forester3498
2019 Subaru Forester3833
2020 Subaru Forester0601
2021 Subaru Forester0209
2022 Subaru Forester198
2023 Subaru Forester174
2024 Subaru Forester229
2025 Subaru Forester396
2026 Subaru Forester324

Checking a specific 2025 Subaru Forester

How do I know if my 2025 Subaru Forester has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2025 Subaru Forester; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Subaru dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 25V033000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Subaru models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.