2025 Subaru Forester
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 26 of 91 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more fire reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 29 in 2024 to 91 in 2025.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | vs. 2025 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–2,400 | 2,150–2,400 | 1,800–2,400 | 1,800–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–29 | 26–29 | 26–35 | 26–35 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–35 / 28–34 | 24–35 / 28–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 310–338 | 310–338 | 255–338 | 255–347 | |
| Complaints filed | 73 | 29 | 91 | 19 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 8 | 4 | 11 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2025 Subaru Forester have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2025 Subaru Forester?
Visibility & Lighting: 26 of 91 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 26–35 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2025 Subaru Forester?
EPA estimates $1,800–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 310 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (low) | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 317 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 338 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 35 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | $1,800 (low) | 255 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 26V436000 · Jul 8, 2026
Defect: 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.
CHILD SEAT · Campaign 25V419000 · Jun 20, 2025
Defect: 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.
WHEELS · Campaign 25V033000 · Jan 24, 2025
Defect: 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.