NHTSA has 98 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Subaru Forester[1]. Here is what owners report, grouped by the part they name.
Most reported problems
Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.
- Unknown or other. 19 complaints[5]. These reports do not point to one clear part, so they cover a mix of topics.
- Visibility and wipers. 13 complaints[6]. Owners describe windshields that cracked on their own, a rear window that broke while parked, a wiper speed control that acted up, and a side mirror that shakes at highway speed.
- Forward collision avoidance. 13 complaints[7]. In the stories we read, owners describe hands-on-wheel warnings that appear even when they are gripping the wheel. Others say the driver assist system shuts off or the screen goes blank.
- Fuel and propulsion. 13 complaints[8]. Owners describe fuel smells in the garage, leaks near the tank, and trouble with rear seat belt buckles.
- Exterior lighting. 8 complaints[9]. Owners describe low beam headlights with a sharp cutoff, dark patches and shadows on the road at night.
- Electrical system. 8 complaints[10]. Some of these reports mention injuries.
- Visibility. 7 complaints[11]. This is a separate group from the visibility and wiper group above.
- Brakes. 6 complaints[12]. This group has more crash reports than its size suggests.
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2025 Forester is necessarily included.
- Equipment › Other › Labels (26V436), July 2026. About 541,237 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe And Cap (26V106), February 2026. About 69,870 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Child Seat (25V419), June 2025. About 2,938 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
- Wheels (25V033), January 2025. About 20,366 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[16]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[17] | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 |
| Forester Sport/Touring AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[18] | 25 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 |
| Forester Wilderness AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[19] | 25 / 28 / 26 | $2,600 |
| Forester Hybrid AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive[3] | 35 / 34 / 35 | $1,900 |
Safety ratings
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2025 Subaru Forester with 2.5L 4-cylinder[21] | 162 to 182 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
| Version | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORESTER 4DR SUV[22] | 183 in | 72 in | 68 in | 105 in | 3,580 lb |
How 2025 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 101 | 1 |
| 1999 | 131 | 1 |
| 2000 | 75 | 0 |
| 2001 | 139 | 0 |
| 2002 | 88 | 1 |
| 2003 | 189 | 3 |
| 2004 | 219 | 2 |
| 2005 | 93 | 1 |
| 2006 | 88 | 2 |
| 2007 | 74 | 1 |
| 2008 | 50 | 1 |
| 2009 | 178 | 17 |
| 2010 | 262 | 17 |
| 2011 | 147 | 16 |
| 2012 | 105 | 15 |
| 2013 | 78 | 12 |
| 2014 | 403 | 2 |
| 2015 | 615 | 3 |
| 2016 | 415 | 3 |
| 2017 | 592 | 1 |
| 2018 | 498 | 3 |
| 2019 | 834 | 3 |
| 2020 | 603 | 0 |
| 2021 | 210 | 0 |
| 2022 | 100 | 1 |
| 2023 | 74 | 1 |
| 2024 | 31 | 2 |
| 2025 | 98 | 4 |
| 2026 | 29 | 4 |
NHTSA's counts for the Forester show 98 complaints and 4 recalls for 2025[2]. Among the 29 model years listed, 10 have fewer complaints than 2025 and 18 have more[2]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (29) and the most are for 2019 (834)[2]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2025 Forester?
The complaint record for this model year is not small, with 98 complaints on file[1]. Some of those reports mention crashes and injuries, so they are worth reading with care[1]. The complaints are spread over many parts, and no single group dominates[5]. Owners describe headlight and windshield worries, driver assist warnings, and fuel smells in the stories we read. These are unverified reports that are not adjusted for sales, so check the recall and by-year sections before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2025 Subaru Forester?
- NHTSA has 98 complaints on file[1]. The biggest named groups are unknown or other, visibility and wipers, forward collision avoidance, and fuel and propulsion[5][6][7][8].
- Does the 2025 Subaru Forester have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year facts show 4 recalls for this model year[2]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2025 Subaru Forester?
- See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
- Is the 2025 Subaru Forester reliable?
- Owners filed 98 complaints with NHTSA[1]. These are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide and not a score. The crash ratings and by-year sections give more context.
- Is 2025 a good year for the Subaru Forester?
- See the by-year comparison on this page, which lines up complaints and recalls for each year[2].
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Subaru Forester
Compare all model years of the Subaru Forester
Similar cars from 2025: small suvs
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 98 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Subaru Forester (12 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 7 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Subaru Forester model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Forester Hybrid AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 35 city / 34 highway / 35 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 19 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 13 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 13 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 13 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 8 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 8 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 7 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 26V436, filed July 7, 2026: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 26V106, filed February 23, 2026: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe And Cap. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 25V419, filed June 19, 2025: Child Seat. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 25V033, filed January 23, 2025: Wheels. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Forester AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Forester Sport/Touring AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 32 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Forester Wilderness AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 28 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2025 Subaru Forester with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 162 to 182 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORESTER 4DR SUV: length 183 in, width 72 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 105 in, curb weight 3,580 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov