2025 Subaru Forester problems and complaints

Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Subaru Forester. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (19), Fuel/Propulsion System (13), Visibility/Wiper (13).

Key takeaways

  • 93 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 11 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 6 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Unknown Or Other1920%
Fuel/Propulsion System1314%
Visibility/Wiper1314%
Forward Collision Avoidance1011%
Electrical System89%
Exterior Lighting89%
Visibility78%
Service Brakes66%
Vehicle Speed Control55%
Wheels44%
Back Over Prevention44%
Fuel System44%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2025 SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD5/55/55/54/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-14

The radio/HVAC system in the 2025 Subaru Forester has a major delay problem which causes the unit to freeze and not accept user input, delay connectivity, and HVAC conteol, and volume comtrol/on/off, etc. This can take up to 90 seconds to work and if already driving, causes unnecessary fiddling which is a safety conc...

Forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-09-14

Driving in middle lane on i-87 heading towards albany (around it), car alarmed (flashed a red box on dashboard) and then the AEB braked for shadows in front and caused cars to swerve behind us with semi trucks getting too close. Could not get the car to stop breaking and other drivers were very upset at us. Will be tak...

Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-10

I recently noticed that the metal lip and outer cap area of my fuel filler neck is rusting. This isn't just a cosmetic issue this is the exact surface where the gas cap needs to seal to keep the fuel system airtight. Because it’s rusting it’s going to ruin that seal, cause fuel vapor leaks, and trigger a check engine l...

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More for the 2025 Subaru Forester

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.