How do I know if my Subaru Forester has a recall?

To know if your Subaru Forester has an open recall, start by entering your vehicle's VIN or license plate in our Safety Recall Checker. We will find recalls that affect your vehicle and need to be repaired.

How do I check my VIN for recalls for free?

Check your Subaru Forester VIN for free by entering it into our Safety Recall Checker.

What happens if my Subaru Forester has an open recall?

If your Subaru Forester is affected by a recall, it means that NHTSA and the manufacturer have identified an issue with your vehicle. After you check your vehicle, you can contact a dealership to schedule a repair.

How long does a recall take to fix?

How long it takes to fix a recall depends on the exact repairs needed. Something simple like a software update can be done in minutes, but complex mechanical repairs may take days or weeks. Ask the dealership when you schedule your appointment.

Do you need a warranty for a recall?

Your Subaru Forester does not need to be under warranty to get recalls fixed. Recalls for safety-related items on your Subaru Forester are taken care of by Subaru at no cost to you even if your vehicle warranty has expired or if you are not the original owner of the vehicle.

How long does a recall last on a car?

A recall does not expire as long as the vehicle manufacturer remains in business or continues to make the replacement parts. Generally, recalls can be fixed for free up to 15 years after your car's date of manufacture.

Why should you check for safety recalls?

Road Safety Risks

Open recalls can be dangerous for you and your family.

Mail Delays

Older or used cars can be more difficult for manufacturers to locate.

Risk of Costly Damage

We'll connect you with a dealership near you to fix the recall at no cost.

Subaru Forester

41 Recalls

NHTSA 25V-889 · OEM WRG-25

Rear Hatch Falls Unexpectedly Due To Bracket Failure

5,603 Potential Units Affected

A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.

Vehicles Affected: 2026 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 25V-419 · OEM WRC-25

Child Seat Anchor Bolts Loose

2,938 Potential Units Affected

A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2025 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 25V-033 · OEM WRB-25

Incorrect 18 Inch Aluminum Wheels Have Incorrect Lug Surface Resulting In Attachment Concerns

20,366 Potential Units Affected

A loss of vehicle stability increases the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2025 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 23V-755 · OEM WRQ-23

Reverse Lights And Backup Camera Inoperative

95,830 Potential Units Affected

An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2021 Subaru Legacy, 2022 Subaru Forester and 6 others

NHTSA 23V-754 · OEM WRP-23

Front Driveshaft Components Crack And Fracture

4,701 Potential Units Affected

A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2023 Subaru Forester, 2024 Subaru Forester and 3 others

NHTSA 23V-723 · OEM WRO-23

Coolant Leaks Onto Hot Engine Components Causing Fire Risk

49 Potential Units Affected

Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Vehicles Affected: 2024 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 22V-838 · OEM WRJ-22

Front Seat Belt Does Not Restrain Passenger Securely

16 Potential Units Affected

The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Vehicles Affected: 2009 Subaru Forester, 2010 Subaru Forester and 3 others

Recalls

Subaru Forester Recalls by Year

2027 Subaru Forester Recalls

2026 Subaru Forester Recalls

2025 Subaru Forester Recalls

2024 Subaru Forester Recalls

2023 Subaru Forester Recalls

2022 Subaru Forester Recalls

2021 Subaru Forester Recalls

2020 Subaru Forester Recalls

2019 Subaru Forester Recalls

2018 Subaru Forester Recalls

2017 Subaru Forester Recalls

2016 Subaru Forester Recalls

2015 Subaru Forester Recalls

2014 Subaru Forester Recalls

2013 Subaru Forester Recalls

Model Recalls By Year

Recall FAQs

If your Subaru Forester is affected by a new safety recall, Subaru will attempt to contact you by sending you a notice in the mail. This notice will detail the defect, when parts for repair will be ready, how to get your car fixed, and whether your unrepaired car is currently safe to drive or not.

If you aren't the original owner, have changed addresses, or have never visited your local dealership for service or maintenance, then you most likely will not receive a recall notice in the mail.

Another way to know whether your Subaru Forester has an open recall is to enter your VIN or license plate into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker above. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-digit alphanumeric code that can be found on the bottom edge of your car's windshield, on the driver's side. It can also be found on your vehicle's registration card.

You can check your Subaru Forester for recalls by entering your VIN or license plate into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker found above. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-digit alphanumeric identification code on the bottom edge of your car’s windshield, on the driver’s side. It can also be found on your vehicle’s registration card.

Checking your VIN is the best way to find out if your car is affected by any recalls. Identical vehicles of the same make, model, year, and trim may not be affected by the same recall. A VIN is unique to a specific vehicle.

Your Subaru Forester is affected by a recall if the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided that a problem with your car makes it a safety risk or fails to meet safety standards. When this happens, the vehicle manufacturer is obligated to fix your vehicle.

Normally, you will receive a letter in the mail that explains the recall and how to get the defect fixed promptly and at no charge to you. The letter will explain what the exact defect is, when the parts will be ready, how to get your car fixed, and whether your car is safe to drive or not.

But in many cases, the manufacturer won't know you own an affected vehicle, which is why you should check your Subaru Forester for safety recalls frequently.

Use our Safety Recall Checker to check your Subaru Forester for open recalls.

How long it takes to fix a recall depends on many different factors:

How many vehicles are affected by the recall? How complex is the problem to fix? How many different parts are involved in the repair? Are the repair parts available? Has the dealership received the parts for the repair yet? Do dealership technicians have training to conduct the specific repair? How many recalled cars can the dealer repair each day (while also doing their daily service business)?

Recalls are unrelated to your warranty coverage. Any recalls that are issued for safety-related items on your Subaru Forester will be repaired by the vehicle manufacturer at no cost to you. Even if your vehicle's warranty has expired and you are not the original owner of the vehicle, you are still eligible to have any open safety recalls on your vehicle repaired.

You can check for any open recalls on your Subaru Forester by entering its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker above. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, contact a dealer as soon as possible to have repairs done.

Safety recalls that address a defective part or system on your Subaru Forester that came from the factory do not expire and can generally be fixed up to 15 years after the date of manufacture. Even if you are not the original owner, you can have repairs done to resolve any open recalls. This is important, especially if the recalls are safety-related. The only exceptions are if the carmaker is no longer in business or if the dealership can no longer get the needed parts. Recall repairs are generally free up to 15 years after the date of manufacture.

To check whether there are any open recalls on your Subaru Forester, enter its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker here. Your Subaru Forester VIN can be found at the base of the windshield or on your registration card. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, contact a dealer as soon as possible to have repairs done.

Subaru Forester Recalls

Check your specific VIN or plate below.

There are 41 recalls that may affect your Subaru Forester.

Check your Subaru Forester for safety recalls and get them fixed for free at a Subaru dealership near you.

Subaru Forester

41 Recalls

NHTSA 25V-889 · OEM WRG-25

Rear Hatch Falls Unexpectedly Due To Bracket Failure

5,603 Potential Units Affected

A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.

Vehicles Affected: 2026 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 25V-419 · OEM WRC-25

Child Seat Anchor Bolts Loose

2,938 Potential Units Affected

A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2025 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 25V-033 · OEM WRB-25

Incorrect 18 Inch Aluminum Wheels Have Incorrect Lug Surface Resulting In Attachment Concerns

20,366 Potential Units Affected

A loss of vehicle stability increases the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2025 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 23V-755 · OEM WRQ-23

Reverse Lights And Backup Camera Inoperative

95,830 Potential Units Affected

An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2021 Subaru Legacy, 2022 Subaru Forester and 6 others

NHTSA 23V-754 · OEM WRP-23

Front Driveshaft Components Crack And Fracture

4,701 Potential Units Affected

Vehicles Affected: 2023 Subaru Forester, 2024 Subaru Forester and 3 others

NHTSA 23V-723 · OEM WRO-23

Coolant Leaks Onto Hot Engine Components Causing Fire Risk

49 Potential Units Affected

Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Vehicles Affected: 2024 Subaru Forester

NHTSA 22V-838 · OEM WRJ-22

Front Seat Belt Does Not Restrain Passenger Securely

16 Potential Units Affected

The seat belt assembly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Vehicles Affected: 2009 Subaru Forester, 2010 Subaru Forester and 3 others