Verdict
2025 Subaru Forester: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2025 Subaru Forester — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most SUV.
Owners filed 79 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 87% of 2025 SUVs. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (19%). 3 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2025 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
79
Reports to NHTSA, 2025
Safety recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
28.5
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 87% of 2025 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2025 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (19% of 79 reports), followed by visibility/wiper (11%).
+ 11 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 79 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11647040, ODI 11741735, ODI 11741630, ODI 11741648, ODI 11740460.
Recalls(3)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
EquipmentJul 2026 · 26V436000Details +Close −
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 are expected to be mailed August 25, 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.
Wheels · 25V033000Details +Close −
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.
Child Seat · 25V419000Details +Close −
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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2025 SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester Hybrid AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 34 | 35 |
| Forester AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 26 | 33 | 29 |
| Forester Sport/Touring AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 25 | 32 | 28 |
| Forester Wilderness AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S8) | 25 | 28 | 26 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2025 Subaru Forester: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2025 Subaru Forester?
Owners filed 79 NHTSA complaints about the 2025 Subaru Forester — more complaints than 87% of comparable 2025 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2025 Subaru Forester?
The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (19% of complaints) and visibility/wiper (11%).
How many recalls does the 2025 Subaru Forester have?
3 recalls have been issued that affect the 2025 Subaru Forester, covering components such as equipment. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Subaru Forester get?
The EPA rates the 2025 Subaru Forester between 26 and 35 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.