2025 Subaru Forester Child Seat Recall (25V419)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 2,938 vehicles · Reported June 19, 2025
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 2,938 2025 Subaru Forester vehicles. The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose. A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V419 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V419000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRC-25 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 19, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2025 Subaru Forester |
| Units affected | 2,938 |
| Build dates | November 28, 2024 to March 5, 2025 |
| Component | Child Seat |
| Safety risk | A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Subaru Forester in recall 25V419?
The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose.
Subaru 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.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Forester with recall 25V419?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Forester shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the child seat, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V419?
Recall 25V419 covers 2,938 vehicles: 2025 Subaru Forester.
NHTSA lists 2,938 vehicles in this campaign, built November 28, 2024 to March 5, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Subaru | Forester |
What is the fix for the Forester child seat recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the child seat anchor bolts and, if necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the child seat anchor bolts and, if necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-25.
When was recall 25V419 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 25V419 to NHTSA on June 19, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 15, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 28, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Subaru of America, Inc.'s filing). |
| March 5, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| June 19, 2025 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V419000. |
| August 15, 2025 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 15 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 97 days. 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 25V419?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V419 is open on your Forester, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 25V419000 is open on your Forester, it will be listed there, along with Subaru recall number WRC-25. You can also ask any Subaru dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Forester owners do about recall 25V419?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V419000 applies to your Forester.
- Call a Subaru dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any child seat symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Forester owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 19 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 25V419 was reported on June 19, 2025, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 2 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after June 19, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 95 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 19 of them involve the other equipment. 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.
- 2025 Subaru Forester: 95 complaints in total, 19 about the other equipment
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Recently, my mother died in a car accident. A bystander reported that she was driving normally and then suddenly drove off the road. The police investigated and found that the conditions weren't likely to contribute to an accident. There was no immediate explanation for what happened.
2025 Subaru Forester owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11647040, filed March 7, 2025
Infotainment system not working correctly. Cannot connect Apple car play. If is does a partial connection, just my phone contacts show when screen states “iPhone connected” When and if a partial CarPlay installation shows up, it automatically turns off the WiFi on my iPhone.
2025 Subaru Forester owner, NH, NHTSA complaint 11654406, filed April 14, 2025
Bought 2025 Subaru Forester in January 2025. Within 300 miles of driving brought it back to place I bought it, complained about constant vibraton in Sterring wheel at high speeds around 55 – 65 MPH. They said the wheels were out of balance, they re balanced them and the problem was resolved, BUT IT WASN'T.
2025 Subaru Forester owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11656309, filed April 23, 2025
Can recall 25V419 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Even an equipment recall can matter in a lemon law claim if the problem keeps coming back or the 2025 Subaru Forester spends many days at the dealer.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025 Subaru Forester has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Forester been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Subaru Forester recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V419
Did the recall 25V419 fix work?
Since recall 25V419 was reported on June 19, 2025, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 2 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 15, 2025.
Is the 25V419000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Forester is part of recall 25V419000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V419000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.