Subaru Forester Recalls — All NHTSA Recall Campaigns

Q: How many recalls does the Subaru Forester have?

The Subaru Forester has 9 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA, spanning model years 1998 through 2026. Individual vehicles may be subject to fewer recalls depending on their specific model year and production date.

Q: Is my Forester under recall?

Whether your specific Forester is subject to a recall depends on your vehicle's exact VIN, not just the model year. A recall may apply to a specific production date range or certain build configurations. Enter your 17-digit VIN at VinCheckEngine or NHTSA.gov/recalls to see which, if any, open recalls apply to your exact vehicle.

Q: What is the most recalled Forester year?

Based on NHTSA recall data, the 2025 Subaru Forester has the most recall campaigns associated with it, with 3 campaigns. However, this reflects recall campaigns for that model year — not necessarily the number of defects in vehicles built that year.

9 recall campaigns on record across 6 model years of the Subaru Forester. Data sourced directly from NHTSA and updated daily.

Check Your Specific VIN — Free All Subaru Recalls

Recall Campaigns

Owner Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

6 affected model yearsMost recalled year: 2025

Affected Model Years

20262R 20253R 20241R 20231R 20081R 19981R

R = recalls · C = complaints. Click a year to see the full problems report.

Recall Breakdown by Component Category

Suspension/Wheels2 campaigns (22%)

Other2 campaigns (22%)

Transmission1 campaign (11%)

Brakes1 campaign (11%)

Engine1 campaign (11%)

Seat/Restraints1 campaign (11%)

Visibility/Lighting1 campaign (11%)

All Subaru Forester Recall Campaigns

#23V7540002023 Subaru ForesterTransmission

Issued: Sep 11, 2023

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.

Risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer servi…

#11V4640002008 Subaru ForesterSuspension/Wheels

Issued: Jun 9, 2011

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK,…

Risk: A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE W…

#99V0400001998 Subaru ForesterBrakes

Issued: Mar 3, 1999

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.

Risk: THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

#23V7230002024 Subaru ForesterEngine

Issued: Invalid Date

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.

Risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Subarus independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner…

#25V0330002025 Subaru ForesterSuspension/Wheels

Issued: Invalid Date

WHEELS

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. Su…

#25V4190002025 Subaru ForesterSeat/Restraints

Issued: Invalid Date

CHILD SEAT

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 c…

#26V4360002025 Subaru ForesterOther

Issued: Jul 7, 2026

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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 …

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 ma…

#25V8890002026 Subaru ForesterOther

Issued: Invalid Date

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.

Risk: A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear hatch support brackets and, if necessary, replace the stay and support bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contac…

#26V3460002026 Subaru ForesterVisibility/Lighting

Issued: Invalid Date

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles. The sliding glass panel of the power moonroof assembly may have been improperly bonded to the sliding frame, allowing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

Risk: A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the power moonroof glass panel for proper adhesion and, if necessary, replace the glass panel assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2026. Owners…

Recalls by Component

1Engine Recalls

#23V723000MY 2024

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak co…

1Brakes Recalls

#99V040000MY 1998

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WE…

Subaru Forester Recall — Frequently Asked Questions

How many recalls does the Subaru Forester have?

The Subaru Forester has 9 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database, spanning model years 1998 through 2026.

Is my Forester under recall?

Recall applicability depends on your specific VIN — not just the model year. Some recalls cover only certain production date ranges or trim levels. Enter your 17-digit VIN at VinCheckEngine or NHTSA.gov for an exact answer.

What is the most recalled Forester year?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2025 Subaru Forester has the highest recall campaign count (3 campaigns). However, the total count of campaigns is not the same as the number of defects — some campaigns are issued as expansions of earlier recalls.

Does a Forester recall mean my car is unsafe to drive?

Not necessarily. Recalls range from critical safety hazards — where NHTSA advises against driving — to minor inconveniences like a label error. Check the consequence field of each recall to understand the severity. If your specific VIN is subject to an open recall, contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.

Who pays for recall repairs on a Forester?

The manufacturer is legally required to pay for all recall repairs under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer, regardless of whether you are the original owner or whether the vehicle is out of warranty.

Check Your Specific Subaru Forester for Open Recalls

Model-level recall data tells you what campaigns exist. A VIN-specific check tells you exactly which ones apply to your vehicle — based on production date, serial number, and configuration.

Free VIN Check — Check My Forester

Subaru Forester Problems & Complaints All Subaru Recalls All Makes — Recall Center