The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 9 of 35 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 100 in 2025 to 35 in 2026.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 35
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,800–$2,400
- Combined MPG
- 26–35
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–2,400 | 1,800–2,400 | 1,800–2,400 | 1,750–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–29 | 26–35 | 26–35 | 26–36 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 25–26 / 28–33 | 25–35 / 28–34 | 24–35 / 28–34 | 24–38 / 28–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 310–338 | 255–338 | 255–347 | 249–347 | |
| Complaints filed | 31 | 100 | 35 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 4 | 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 2026 Subaru Forester have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2026 Subaru Forester?
Electrical: 9 of 35 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Subaru Forester get?
EPA rates it 26–35 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 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 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 317 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 347 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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 (4)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
- Defect
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek and Forester vehicles. The castle nut on the left-front lower control arm ball joint may be improperly fastened, which can lead to the ball joint separating from the lower control arm.
- Consequence
- A ball joint that separates from the lower control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the left-front lower control arm ball joint assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 16, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI26.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- 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 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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
- Defect
- 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.