2025 Subaru Forester Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#4 most-complained of 16 Forester years
The 2025 Subaru Forester has a Complaint Index of 80 with 93 complaints and 3 recalls, ranking 4th worst of 16 model years. NHTSA data shows this year is rated Avoid relative to other Forester years, with unintended acceleration and braking complaints standing out.
- Complaints
- 93
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 11 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 25.5 city / 32.5 hwy
Top 2025 Subaru Forester problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle suddenly accelerating while pulling into parking spaces, even with the brake pedal pressed, resulting in collisions with walls, buildings, or fixed objects.
- Some drivers describe the brake pedal being depressed but the vehicle failing to stop, in one case leading to a crash into a residential garage.
- Front airbags reportedly did not deploy in several front-end and side-impact collisions despite significant vehicle damage.
- One owner reported defective low-beam headlights that made the vehicle unsafe to drive after dark.
- A separate incident involved a rear-end collision followed by a secondary crash into a highway divider, with smoke or fumes reported from the front of the vehicle.
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?
- NHTSA lists 93 complaints and a Complaint Index of 80 for the 2025 Forester, ranking it 4th worst among 16 model years tracked, with a verdict of Avoid relative to other Forester years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2025 Subaru Forester?
- The top problem area is Visibility & Wipers, making up 22% of complaints, followed by Fuel System at 18% and Electrical System at 17%, per NHTSA data.
- Does the 2025 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2025 Forester, covering an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating label, loose child seat anchor bolts, and improperly manufactured 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2025 Forester compare to other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 80, the 2025 Forester ranks worse than most other years, including 2024 (index 0, Best) and 2021-2023 (rated Good), but better than 2019 (index 100, Avoid).
- 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.