This page covers 6 recalls, 66 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2025 Subaru Forester.
29–35 mpg combined
6.7–8.1 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2025 Subaru Forester, visibility and forward collision avoidance are the most-reported areas across owner complaints. On the visibility side, owners frequently describe problems with the adaptive headlights, specifically a noticeable dark shadow in the center of the beam, smaller shadow patches toward the outer edges, and the lights dimming unexpectedly on road grade changes, all of which owners say meaningfully reduces nighttime visibility. Wiper performance draws a separate cluster of complaints. Forward collision avoidance is also a recurring topic, with owners reporting situations where the system did not intervene as expected during collisions. A smaller number of complaints touch on airbag non-deployment during front-end impacts, and parts availability delays appear across multiple reports, with owners describing extended wait times for repair components to become available through dealers.
66
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
6
With Injuries
By System
The 2025 Subaru Forester has 6 recalls, with two serious issues: on hybrid models, a fuel cap that doesn't seal properly can allow fuel to spill from the filler neck and create a fire risk, and on vehicles with 18-inch aluminum wheels, the wheels may not be properly secured and can cause a loss of stability.
Both the fuel cap issue and the wheel defect each represent a single underlying problem filed across multiple records, so only two distinct hazards are involved there. On the safety equipment side, also limited to hybrid models, the bolts securing the child seat anchor points in the rear may not have been tightened correctly. Those bolts can loosen over time, and in a crash the anchors can pull free, leaving a child seat without a secure connection to the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel cap seal may not prevent fuel from spilling out of the filler neck when the fuel tank is nearly full and ambient temperature rises, causing the fuel to expand.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel filler cap gasket at no cost to restore a proper seal.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber seal on the fuel filler cap may not seal properly, allowing fuel to leak from the fuel filler neck.
What the fix does
Subaru will replace the fuel filler cap gasket at a dealership to stop the leak.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the universal anchorage system for child car seats may not be properly tightened. During a crash, these bolts could loosen and the anchors could separate.
What the fix does
Subaru will inspect and tighten the lower child seat anchor bolts at a dealership. Until repaired, use rear seat belts to install child seats instead of the universal anchorage system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that secure child seat anchors may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, which could cause them to loosen over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the child seat anchor bolts as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain 18-inch aluminum wheels may have manufacturing defects that prevent wheel lug nuts from securing the wheels properly.
What the fix does
Subaru will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will inspect and replace affected wheels if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 18-inch aluminum wheels may have been made with an incorrect lug seat surface, allowing the wheel to attach improperly and lose stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the wheels at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
