Subaru Ascent and Forester have wrong weight rating label

NHTSA campaign 26V436000 · Reported Jul 7, 2026 · Subaru of America, Inc.

An incorrect weight rating on the label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	26V436000
Reported to NHTSA	Jul 7, 2026
Manufacturer	Subaru of America, Inc.
Part affected	Equipment:other:labels
Vehicles covered	10 model/year combinations, model years 2019–2026
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Subaru is recalling certain Crosstrek Hybrid, Forester, Forester Hybrid and Ascent vehicles. The certification label on these vehicles shows an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating, the maximum weight an axle is rated to carry. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet a federal safety standard covering tire and rim selection. Subaru will mail owners a new label free of charge, and owners who prefer can have a dealer install the new label instead, also free.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your vehicle is covered. 2. Watch for the replacement label in the mail, or ask a Subaru dealer to install it; you can also call Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 (recall number WRH-26). 3. The new label, whether mailed or dealer-installed, is free of charge.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 26V436000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (10)

2019 Subaru Ascent
2020 Subaru Ascent
2021 Subaru Ascent
2022 Subaru Ascent
2023 Subaru Ascent
2024 Subaru Ascent
2025 Subaru Ascent
2025 Subaru Forester
2026 Subaru Ascent
2026 Subaru Forester

Who to contact

Subaru — official Subaru recall lookup

Customer service: 1-844-373-6614

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

Other Subaru Forester recalls

Oct 19, 2026Subaru Crosstrek and Forester Front Suspension Joint May Separatecritical
May 28, 2026Subaru Forester Moonroof Glass May Come Loosehigh
Dec 19, 2025Subaru Forester Rear Hatch Support Bracket May Detachhigh
Jun 19, 2025Subaru Forester Child Seat Anchor Bolts May Loosenmedium
Jan 23, 2025Subaru Forester Alloy Wheels May Be Improperly Attachedhigh
Nov 9, 2023Subaru Outback, Forester switch failure disables reverse lights, cameramedium

All 15 Forester recalls

Official notice

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Summary: 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."
Safety risk: An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.