2025 Subaru FORESTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
90 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
2,775 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 90 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 13.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Unknown Or Other: 18; Visibility/Wiper: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Electrical System: 8; Exterior Lighting: 8; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 5; Service Brakes: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 80 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 46 |
2024: 7; 2025: 37; 2026: 46
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11612097 · 2024-09-02 (September 2, 2024)
The head lights are seriously defective in low beam. In low beam the car is not road worthy. It is dangerous! It is available for inspection upon request. We did not drive the car after dark until a week after taking delivery. We were at risk as was any other vehicle on the road at that time. We have not driven the car after dark since. The dealer who sold the car to us has been made aware of the problem. No one has inspected the car. There were on warnings or symptoms.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11612097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11615460 · 2024-09-19 (September 19, 2024)
Low visibility and dark (shadowy) spots on road surface when low beam LED lights are on, and you’re driving on a dark rural road. The cutoff of the visual field is uneven, with a shorter visual field and dark spots on driver side. Got the car on August 17th. I didn’t drive it at night until the morning of September 5th. That’s when I noticed the problem with the lights. Took car to Subaru dealer on September 10th. According to the dealer the lights are level and working as designed. On September 11th I called Subaru and reported the problem, a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11615460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11615548 · 2024-09-20 (September 20, 2024)
Paddle shifter does not work appropriately, when shifting rapidly using paddle shifters, right shifter (up-shift) occasionally commands transmission to shift down.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11615548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11621041 · 2024-10-21 (October 21, 2024)
I have noticed my new Suburu driver side mirror shakes during highway speeds and this causes cars and backgrounds to look blurry. I didn't notice this on my other mirrors. It makes it difficult to drive and is distracting.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11621041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11624677 · 2024-11-12 (November 12, 2024)
I believe there should be a windshield recall due to abnormally easy cracking. I purchased/took ownership of my 2025 Subaru Forester, Touring model, on September 3, 2024. The odometer was just 4 miles. Barely a month later I had 2 cracks in the windshield; the 1st happened on October 2, 2024 and the 2nd occurred on October 13, 2024. Both happened simply while driving on interstate roads and something hitting my windshield (nothing big, didn't see any object and didn't even hear the 2nd one, just noticed the crack when I got home) . Two differe…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11624677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11627686 · 2024-11-27 (November 27, 2024)
The low beam lighting on my 2025 Subaru Forester is dangerous. The beam is set so that it is flat on top and too low. When the car dips at all the beam does not allow you see straight ahead. This is very dangerous when you cannot use the high beam as with oncoming traffic. I have taken it to the dealer and they state that the low beam is set according to Subaru specifications. Contact with Subaru America offered no correction.This is a dangerous condition and needs to be corrected.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11627686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11627995 · 2024-11-29 (November 29, 2024)
Driver's side mirror vibrates when driving at highway speeds on freeways; vibration is so bad that it makes the image blurry when using the mirror to change lanes
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11627995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11633781 · 2025-01-02 (January 2, 2025)
The vehicle, which has less then 1k miles, had the rubber "pad" on top of the brake pedal dislocate while driving. Did not know until I tried to brake to pull into driveway, pad obstructed the break. Had to put full weight on brake to make the vehicle stop, and was able to put in park. Could have easily caused collision.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11633781 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
25V033000 · Wheels
Reported: 2025-01-23 (January 23, 2025)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V419000 · Child Seat
Reported: 2025-06-19 (June 19, 2025)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗26V436000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2026-07-07 (July 7, 2026)
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."
Consequence: 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 24, 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 campaign record ↗