2025 Subaru Forester: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2025 Subaru Forester at 26–35 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 99 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
4
EPA combined mpg
26–35
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORESTER HYBRID.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Subaru dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2025 Subaru Forester recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2025 Subaru Forester, newest first.
Equipment: Other: Labels
NHTSA 26V436000Reported Jul 7, 2026
Filed by
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRH-26)
Units affected
541,237 (estimate)
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline: Storage: Tank assembly: Filler pipe and cap
NHTSA 26V106000Reported Feb 23, 2026Park outside
Filed by
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRD-26)
Units affected
69,870 (estimate)
Problem
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek hybrid, and 2025 Forester hybrid vehicles. When the fuel tank is near full capacity, an increase in ambient temperature may cause the fuel to expand and spill out of the filler neck due to an insufficient seal on the fuel cap.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures, and to limit the fuel level to 50% until the remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the fuel filler cap gasket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 16, 2026.
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRC-25)
Units affected
2,938 (estimate)
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.
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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. WRB-25)
Units affected
20,366 (estimate)
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.
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2025 Subaru Forester fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2025 Subaru Forester crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2025 Subaru Forester NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2025 SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.4%
Standard
2025 SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.4%
Standard
2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD
Not rated
5 stars
5 stars
Not rated
—
Standard
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2025 Subaru Forester owner complaints
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Subaru Forester, most recently on Oct 23, 2026. 13 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 7 injured people and 1 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2025 Subaru Forester complaints
