Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Subaru Forester. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Incorrect Weight Rating on Label/FMVSS 110
- Summary
- 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 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.
Moonroof Glass May Detach
- Summary
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles. The sliding glass panel of the power moonroof assembly may have been improperly bonded to the sliding frame, allowing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
- Consequence
- A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the power moonroof glass panel for proper adhesion and, if necessary, replace the glass panel assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Rear Hatch Support Bracket May Fail
- Summary
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.
- Consequence
- A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rear hatch support brackets and, if necessary, replace the stay and support bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-25. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 20, 2025.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (24)
24 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 20.8% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 20.8% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 20.8% |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 20.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 8.3% |
| Visibility | 2 | 8.3% |
| Engine | 1 | 4.2% |
| Lane departure | 1 | 4.2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 4.2% |
| Power train | 1 | 4.2% |
How 2026 compares with other Forester years
Best and worst Forester years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 587 | 1 |
| 2018 | 498 | 3 |
| 2019 | 833 | 3 |
| 2020 | 601 | 0 |
| 2021 | 208 | 0 |
| 2022 | 98 | 1 |
| 2023 | 74 | 1 |
| 2024 | 29 | 2 |
| 2025 | 95 | 3 |
| 2026 | 24 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2026 Subaru Forester suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 35 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 255 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 35 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 35 / 34 / 35 | $1,900 | 255 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 310 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 28 / 26 | $2,600 | 347 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2026 Forester for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2026 Subaru Forester FAQ
How many recalls does the 2026 Subaru Forester have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 26V436000 (equipment), 26V346000 (visibility), 25V889000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2026 Subaru Forester problems?
Owners filed 24 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (5), Forward collision avoidance (5), Unknown or other (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2026 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT version at 35 city, 34 highway and 35 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2026 Subaru Forester get?
NHTSA rated the 2026 Subaru Forester suv awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17.4% rollover risk).
How does the 2026 Forester compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Subaru Forester model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (208) and the 2019 the most (833). The 2026 drew 24. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.