2026 Subaru Forester problems

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MD

• Symptom: Total electrical and mechanical shutdown at highway speed (70 mph) immediately following the manual disengagement/deactivation of the cruise control system. • Behavior: Complete loss of engine power, power steering assist, braking assist, and all instrument cluster functionality. • Post-Incident Diagnostic: An OBD-II code reader scan registered zero active, pending, or historic DTCs, indicating an instantaneous loss of primary ECU/ECM power or a critical grounding drop rather than a sensor-driven component fault.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Body · AZ

At only 800 miles of ownership, the moonroof had a leak that allowed water penetration into the cabin.

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Lights · 7,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the headlights activated but failed to illuminate beyond 80 ft. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the headlight aim adjustment was low, and that an auto-headlight leveling beam computer system reinitialization was required. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH in a construction zone, the vehicle was pulling toward the construction cones. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the EyeSight computer programming was unfinished. The dealer performed an EyeSight calibration A-DC ratio from 0 percent to 99 percent. The computer system then displayed "Finished". The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure was a factory defect. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · NY

Just bought a 2026 Subaru forester on August 30, 2026. It was a floor model. Never used the moonroof or opened the sliding cover except for day 1 when showing my kids, and second time was today, October 23rd. Noticed a big hairline crack. I can feel like crack from the outside, but not from the inside. The line is fine and thin starting from the front edge to 2/3 of the glass. Found out there’s a recall on this problem, but my vin # is not part of it. Online images confirm other people’s cracked moonroof on their 2026 forester look the same. Wondering why my vin doesn’t confirm. Will be calling service dept.

Filed Oct 24, 2026 · Body, Electrical · AL

UPDATE TO EXISTING ODI 11761974 - 2026 Forester Wilderness - WRF-26 Power Moonroof Glass Adhesion Recall / 26V346000 Component/system failed: Power moonroof tracking assembly bonding area / roof panel paint. Available for inspection upon request, garaged, unrepaired with exposed bare metal. On 08/18/2026 at 3364 miles dealer completed WRF-26 recall and marked PASSED. On same repair order same day same dealer documented: "YELLOW FLUID COMING OUT OF DRIVERS SIDE OF SUNROOF CAUSING DAMAGE TO PAINT. DOWN TO BARE METAL AT THIS TIME." Macro photos taken BEFORE that RO was opened on 08/18 at 07:35 AM show yellow/orange chemical extruding FROM UNDER black rubber tracking channel seal, not deposited on top. Fluid burned through factory clear coat to primer and bare steel. Photos on 08/15 show same leak path. Photo on 10/09 at 4605 miles shows bare metal still exposed with corrosion starting at edges. Safety risk: Chemical discharge from moonroof bonding area causes paint failure to bare metal on roof structure. Exposed steel will corrode. If factory bonding adhesive is failing and leaking, potential for moonroof glass adhesion failure per WRF-26. Has problem been reproduced/confirmed by dealer? Yes. Dealer documented coming OUT causing bare metal. Authorized collision estimate $1,830 - Body 9.8 hrs, Paint 5.3 hrs, Mechanical 2.4 hrs (sunroof R&I 1.5 + headliner R&I 3.6) for full roof strip + headliner drop + side-curtain airbag disassembly. Body shop advised spot repair will not hold and still requires removing sunroof assembly. Has vehicle/component been inspected by manufacturer? Yes. WRF-26 marked PASSED. On 10/01/26 service manager issued formal written refusal: "does not have an on-site body shop, and we are not able to perform or coordinate the alternative paint touch-up/mitigation process." Manufacturer case #260817-2301925 claimed wiped away before evaluation, unable to determine if moonroof or tree sap, external environmental, customer complaint not diagnosis,

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · TN

On Thursday October 1st upon leaving work the dashboard and infotainment system glitched and rebooted while driving. I thought I was seeing things. I was stopping at a stop sign ad paying attention to the road. Everything seemed fine at that point. On October 3rd while driving approximately 45 MPH our 2026 Subaru Forester stalled and quit running without any warning or warning lights. Both the dashboard lights and the infotainment system went black then came back on. After restarting the car the transmission would not engage. Subaru of America had it towed to the closest dealership. A loaner was obtained. Said dealership found nothing and said car was good to go. Upon pick up a buzzing sound was noted upon start. Left the car again. The phone charger was replaced. Still nothing found of the original stall while driving. Under duress, the was driven to the original dealership it was purchased from. Still nothing found of the original stalling issue.

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · WI

Mid-afternoon - clear day - dry pavement - cruise control set at 70+ MPH on Interstate 35. Car suddenly detects obstacle and starts phantom breaking excessively. Causes complete terror that we're about to hit something - only there was no obstacle to be found. Alarm eventually shut off and after a few moments, I was finally able to accelerate again. Luckily, there were no cars directly behind me or that would have been a huge pile up. Reported concern to Subaru dealer - referred to corporate - they have had my car for 25 days. Today I was notified that due to not signing a waiver issued today stating I would turn all eyesight data over to any third party vendor and law enforcement - both now and in the future data - the safety case was at an impasse. No further explanation as to how this concern would be addressed. Corporate has not contacted local dealer with next steps. It is a 2026 forester with under 15,000 miles on it. No explanation as to why they could not have a form with a reasonable request - I.E. timeframe, no law enforcement involved, etc. Concern for this is the phantom braking with no explanation as to why and refusal to fix it.

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Body · AZ · 1 injury

I opened the hood all the way to add washer fluid. While doing so, the hood came crashing down on my head.

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Driver assistance · WA

The pre-collision breaking system activated while I was driving 35mph on a straight road with no cars or obstacles present. There was enough force generated in the abrupt stop that the seatbelt locked and unsecured items were thrown to the floor.

Filed Oct 9, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · 6,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2026 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the engine sputtered before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with an inoperable fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure returned three weeks later. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicated the failure but determined that the failure was caused by a blown fuse and the fuse was replaced. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.