Subaru is issuing a massive safety recall impacting more than half a million sport utility vehicles across the United States. Federal safety regulators warned that the affected vehicles feature incorrect weight limit labels that could lead drivers to unintentionally overload their SUVs. This dangerous labeling oversight significantly increases the overall risk of a highway crash.
The recall targets an estimated 541,237 vehicles that fail to meet national motor vehicle safety standards, according to a July 13 notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Affected models include certain 2019 through 2026 Ascent models, 2025 and 2026 Foresters, and 2025 and 2026 Forester Hybrids. The recall also includes the 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid.
More than half a million Subaru drivers are being hit with a recall after the automaker discovered several models were manufactured with an incorrect label. At least in this case, the fix is easy.
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Regulators discovered that the safety certification sticker on these vehicles displays an incorrect gross axle weight rating for the rear axle. "An incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash," the federal warning explicitly stated. If drivers rely on the incorrect data, they could overload their vehicles with too much heavy cargo or too many passengers.
This overloading puts dangerous strain on the vehicle's tires and suspension, potentially causing a sudden mechanical failure while driving on the road. The federal agency first alerted Subaru regarding the calculation discrepancy back in May. After conducting a swift internal review of its engineering data, the automaker decided to initiate a safety recall in late June.
Fortunately, Subaru has not received any reports of crashes or injuries related to the labeling error. The manufacturer expects to mail official notification letters to impacted vehicle owners beginning August 25. These letters will include a corrected weight sticker that owners can easily paste over the inaccurate label.
Owners who do not feel comfortable applying the sticker themselves can visit any authorized local dealer. Technicians will gladly install the corrected sticker free of charge to resolve the safety hazard. Consumers can also call the federal vehicle safety hotline or check their vehicle identification numbers on the official government website.