2025 Subaru Forester Problems

88 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Unknown Or Other · verdict AVOID 36/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Unknown Or Other18
Visibility/Wiper13
Fuel/Propulsion System12
Forward Collision Avoidance9
Electrical System8
Exterior Lighting8

In the owners’ words

“Purchased new 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Sport on 01 May 2025 (owned 19 months). Approximately 156 DAYS (a little over 5 months) after purchase we began having trouble with an unknown fuel system defect which prevents the vehicle from being refueled, disables our hybrid system, disables safety features such as the vehicles eyesight system, cruise control, and RAB. Vehicle leaking strong gas smell. Issue has been inc”NHTSA complaint, 2025 Subaru Forester owner
“The harness was missing stitching on one side. They're supposed to be two levels to connect the harness for a smaller child. One side had two levels. The other side it only had one. Safety first is sending me a brand new harness.”NHTSA complaint, 2025 Subaru Forester owner
“Two occurences of rear hatch window shattering spontaneously while vehicle was parked, powered off. No symptoms, warning lamps, or messages were present. First incident, six months after production/purchase, factory-installed window shattered spontaneously while owner was seated in the car, parked, and engine turned off. Second incident, two months later, OEE replacement window shattered while vehicle was parked, ”NHTSA complaint, 2025 Subaru Forester owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
23/01/2025WheelsSubaru 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 resul
19/06/2025Child SeatSubaru 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.
07/07/2026Equipment:Other:LabelsSubaru 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

Questions owners ask

Is the 2025 Subaru Forester reliable?

On the federal record it scores 36/100: 88 owner complaints (88 per year on the road) and 3 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2025 Subaru Forester?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Unknown Or Other, with 18 of 68 categorised reports.

Share this verdict

The 2025 Subaru Forester scored 36/100 on the federal record.

Full 2025 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Forester yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking