NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 21 owner complaints for the 2026 Subaru Forester (including the hybrid).
3Safety recalls
21Owner complaints
0Complaints citing a crash
0Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: equipment, visibility, and body structure. Most-reported area: forward collision avoidance (5 complaints, 24%). Includes the Forester Hybrid.
3 safety recalls for the 2026 Subaru Forester
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
Equipment
Jul 7, 2026
labels
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling)
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.
The fix and full notice
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. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-26.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent 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.
Risk: A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid vehicles.
These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.
Risk: A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Forester vehicles.
NHTSA listing: FORESTER. Subaru campaign WRG-25.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
The areas named in the 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Forester. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Forward collision avoidance5 · 24%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (4); warnings (4)
Electrical system4 · 19%
Visibility/wiper4 · 19%
Fuel and propulsion system2 · 10%
Visibility2 · 10%
Body structure1 · 5%
Lane departure systems1 · 5%
Unknown or other4 · 19%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Subaru Forester recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2026 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forester drew the most (525).
Owner complaints
2026: 21 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Complaints
2016
414
2017
587
2018
495
2019
833
2020
601
2021
207
2022
98
2023
73
2024
29
2025
93
2026
21
Safety recalls
2026: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Subaru Forester
Model year
Recalls
2016
3
2017
1
2018
3
2019
3
2020
0
2021
0
2022
1
2023
1
2024
2
2025
4
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID SUV HEV AWD
Rollover risk 17.4%
SUBARU FORESTER SUV N/A AWD
Rollover risk 17.4%
SUBARU FORESTER WILDERNESS SUV N/A AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Questions
What are the most common 2026 Forester problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: forward collision avoidance (5), electrical system (4), visibility/wiper (4). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2026 Subaru Forester safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2026 Subaru Forester earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Forester has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Subaru dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: FORESTER, FORESTER HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.