2025 Subaru Forester Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2025 Subaru Forester has a complaint index of 80, ranking 5th worst among 21 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Owners most often report visibility/wiper issues (22% of complaints), fuel system problems tied to sudden acceleration (18%), and electrical faults (17%), plus three recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 80/100
- #5 of 21 Forester years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 93
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25.5 city / 32.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 1
Top 2025 Subaru Forester problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other21 (23%)
- Visibility & Wipers20 (22%)
- Fuel System17 (18%)
- Electrical System16 (17%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras14 (15%)
- Engine8 (9%)
- Brakes6 (6%)
- Airbags4 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe unintended acceleration while pulling into parking spaces, sometimes with the brake pedal depressed, resulting in collisions with walls, buildings, or landscaping.
- Several complaints describe the vehicle failing to stop or accelerating unexpectedly during low-speed maneuvers, with airbags not deploying despite significant front-end impact.
- Some drivers report headlights that are seriously deficient in low beam, making nighttime driving difficult.
- One report describes a rear-end collision followed by a secondary impact with a highway divider, during which the hood opened and smoke or fumes came from the front of the vehicle without airbag deployment.
- A brake failure was reported that led to a crash into a residential garage with no warning lights illuminated beforehand.
2025 Subaru Forester recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V436000Jul 7, 2026Other541,237 vehicles
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 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.
- NHTSA 25V419000Jun 19, 2025Other2,938 vehicles
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 customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-25.
- NHTSA 25V033000Jan 23, 2025Suspension, Wheels & Tires20,366 vehicles
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. Subaru's number for this recall is WRB-25.
2025 Subaru Forester fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 25.5 MPG
- Highway
- 32.5 MPG
- Combined
- 28.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,275
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2025 compared with other Forester years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2025 Subaru Forester reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Forester ranks 5th worst out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 80 and an Avoid verdict. Visibility/wipers, fuel system, and electrical issues are the top reported problem areas.
- Does the 2025 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists three recalls: an incorrect gross axle weight rating label, improperly tightened child seat anchor bolts, and 18-inch alloy wheels with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2025 Forester?
- Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 22% of complaints (20 of 93), with a median mileage at failure of 4,000 miles.
- How does the 2025 Forester compare to other Forester years?
- With a complaint index of 80, the 2025 Forester ranks worse than most other years; only 2019 (100), 2020 (95), and 2015 (90) score higher, while 2024 (20) earns the Best verdict.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Subaru Forester?
- EPA rates the 2025 Forester at 28.5 mpg combined (25.5 city / 32.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275.