2026 Subaru Forester Hinge and Attachments Recall (25V889)

Recall 25V889 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Subaru Forester in recall 25V889?

These vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect and/or incorrectly oriented rear hatch support bracket which can detach without prior warning.

Subaru 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.

Is it safe to drive a 2026 Forester with recall 25V889?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A rear hatch support bracket that detaches can allow the rear hatch to fall unexpectedly during use and increase the risk of injury.

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 hinge and attachments, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 25V889?

Recall 25V889 covers 5,603 vehicles: 2026 Subaru Forester.

NHTSA lists 5,603 vehicles in this campaign, built September 11, 2025 to October 30, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Forester hinge and attachments recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the rear hatch support brackets and, if necessary, replace the stay and support bracket, free of charge.

Dealers 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.

When was recall 25V889 announced?

Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 25V889 to NHTSA on December 18, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 29, 2026.

This recall was filed 9 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 49 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 25V889?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V889 is open on your Forester, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 25V889000 is open on your Forester, it will be listed there, along with Subaru recall number WRG-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 25V889?

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 25V889000 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 hinge and attachments 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 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 22 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 25V889 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 22 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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.

• 2026 Subaru Forester: 22 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 25V889 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)).

Body and latch defects on the 2026 Subaru Forester may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.

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.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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 25V889