2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Label Recall (26V436)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 541,237 vehicles · Reported July 7, 2026
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 541,237 2021-2026 Subaru Ascent; 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid; 2025-2026 Subaru Forester; 2025-2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid 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." An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Owners first received an interim notice; check NHTSA for whether the remedy is now available for your VIN.
Recall 26V436 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V436000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRH-26 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 7, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2026 Subaru Ascent; 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid; 2025-2026 Subaru Forester; 2025-2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid |
| Units affected | 541,237 |
| Component | Equipment > Other > Labels |
| Safety risk | An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Interim notice issued; remedy may now be available, check NHTSA for current status |
What is wrong with the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid in recall 26V436?
These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label.
Subaru 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."
Is it safe to drive a 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid with recall 26V436?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Crosstrek Hybrid shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the labels, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V436?
Recall 26V436 covers 541,237 vehicles: 2021-2026 Subaru Ascent; 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid; 2025-2026 Subaru Forester; 2025-2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid.
NHTSA lists 541,237 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2026 | Subaru | Ascent |
| 2026 | Subaru | Crosstrek Hybrid |
| 2025-2026 | Subaru | Forester |
| 2025-2026 | Subaru | Forester Hybrid |
What is the fix for the Crosstrek Hybrid label recall?
An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.
Subaru 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 27, 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.
When was recall 26V436 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 26V436 to NHTSA on July 7, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 26, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Subaru of America, Inc.'s filing). |
| July 7, 2026 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V436000. |
This recall was filed 2 months ago. If your Crosstrek Hybrid was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Crosstrek Hybrid is part of recall 26V436?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V436 is open on your Crosstrek Hybrid, 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 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid owners do about recall 26V436?
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 26V436000 applies to your Crosstrek Hybrid.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Subaru dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the labels happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Crosstrek Hybrid owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 386 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 62 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 26V436 was reported on July 7, 2026, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) 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 July 7, 2026, 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 386 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 62 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.
- 2021 Subaru Ascent: 102 complaints in total, 16 about the other equipment
- 2025 Subaru Forester: 95 complaints in total, 19 about the other equipment
- 2022 Subaru Ascent: 55 complaints in total, 6 about the other equipment
- 2024 Subaru Ascent: 50 complaints in total, 5 about the other equipment
- 2023 Subaru Ascent: 45 complaints in total, 9 about the other equipment
- 2026 Subaru Forester: 22 complaints in total, 5 about the other equipment
- 2025 Subaru Ascent: 15 complaints in total, 2 about the other equipment
- 2026 Subaru Ascent: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the other equipment
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
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 26V436 make my Crosstrek Hybrid 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 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 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 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Crosstrek Hybrid 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.
A recall with no fix can support a buyback on its own.
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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 Crosstrek Hybrid been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V436
Did the recall 26V436 fix work?
Since recall 26V436 was reported on July 7, 2026, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) 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.
Is the 26V436000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Crosstrek Hybrid is part of recall 26V436000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 26V436000 (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.