2024 Subaru Forester Engine Recall (23V723)

Recall 23V723 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2024 Subaru Forester in recall 23V723?

The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.

Is it safe to drive a 2024 Forester with recall 23V723?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the engine and engine cooling.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V723?

Recall 23V723 covers 49 vehicles: 2024 Subaru Forester.

NHTSA lists 49 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Forester engine recall?

Yes. Subaru’s independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts.

Subaru’s independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRO-23.

When was recall 23V723 announced?

Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 23V723 to NHTSA on October 26, 2023.

This recall was filed 35 months ago. If your Forester was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Forester is part of recall 23V723?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V723 is open on your Forester, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2024 Forester vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Forester owners do about recall 23V723?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V723000 applies to your Forester.
2. Call a Subaru dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the engine and engine cooling happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Forester owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the engine.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the engine have been filed since recall 23V723 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 29 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the engine. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2024 Subaru Forester: 29 complaints in total, 1 about the engine

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

Took to Local dealership for 20,000 mile oil change. After the oil change the service advisor informed me of an oil leak on the right side of the engine. He could not confirm where the leak was from. I have scheduled to have it repaired under factory warranty.

2024 Subaru Forester owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11710142, filed January 10, 2026

Can recall 23V723 make my Forester a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Owners often ask whether this engine and engine cooling recall means their Forester qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Forester went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V723