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2026 Subaru Forester

HybridGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA19
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA35 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2026 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forester Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 19 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Forester Hybrid AWDHybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl353435$1,800
Forester AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263329$2,150
Forester Sport/Touring AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl253228$2,250
Forester Wilderness AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl242826$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 50131, 49530, 49532, 49537.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
○minor

Equipment

WRH-26
541,237 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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."RiskAn incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixSubaru 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V436000reported Jul 7, 2026Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Visibility

WRF-26
69,663 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskA detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V346000reported May 28, 2026Subaru of America, Inc.
▲high

Structure

WRG-25
5,603 vehicles
ProblemSubaru 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.RiskA rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V889000reported Dec 18, 2025Subaru of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
19complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2026: 19

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance7
Electrical System4
Visibility/Wiper4
Unspecified3
Visibility2
Fuel/Propulsion System2

What owners describe

“While the vehicle was stationary and off, the rear windshield shattered and fell in the vehicle for the second time in just over 3 weeks.”Sep 7, 2026 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“"My 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is subject to safety recall Campaign 26V346000 for moonroof adhesive failure. A yellow chemical fluid leaked out from the driver's side moonroof seal assembly and ran down the body panel, burning completely through the factory clear coat down to bare metal. While the fluid is not act…”Sep 3, 2026 · Structure · NHTSA owner report
“When I am driving forward, or turning, sometimes the car automatically beeps very loud and puts on the breaks and the car in front of me is far away. It’s stressful and problematic. It doesn’t seem like an effective feature. This has happened like 10 times”Aug 22, 2026 · Forward Collision Avoidance · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWDnot rated★★★★★★★★★★not rated17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Forester model years

D

2025 Subaru Forester

4 recalls · 90 complaints

C

2024 Subaru Forester

2 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2023 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 73 complaints

A

2022 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 97 complaints

A

2021 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 207 complaints

A

2020 Subaru Forester

0 recalls · 598 complaints

C

2019 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 833 complaints

C

2018 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 493 complaints

A

2017 Subaru Forester

1 recalls · 584 complaints

C

2016 Subaru Forester

3 recalls · 411 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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