2025 Subaru Forester: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2025 Subaru Forester: 3 recalls, 97 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
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Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Wheels Vehicle recall #25V033000 · 2025 · 20,366 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A loss of vehicle stability increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheels, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2025.
Child seat Vehicle recall #25V419000 · 2025 · 2,938 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
The fix: 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #26V436000 · 2026 · 541,237 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: An incorrect gawr label May lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Other / unknown (19): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (2).
- Visibility/Wiper (13): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Fuel & propulsion (13): the most common themes are leaks (5), warning light on (2).
- Forward collision avoidance (12): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
The 2025 Subaru Forester has 97 owner complaints, ranking #19 of 29 Forester model years for complaints (well below the 224 average). Complaints peaked in 2026 (53 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 1 year old, at a median of 2,800 miles. Neighboring years: 2024 (29 complaints, 2 recalls), 2026 (25 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 | 33 | 29 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2025 Subaru Forester.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2025 Subaru Forester have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2025 Subaru Forester. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2025 Subaru Forester problems?
Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are other / unknown (19), visibility/wiper (13), fuel & propulsion (13).
What gas mileage does the 2025 Subaru Forester get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (AV-S8)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2025 Subaru Forester repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.