YOUR SUV COULD BE AT RISK AS JAPANESE AUTOMAKER RECALLS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES
Thousands of Subaru owners are being urged to check their vehicle after the automaker issued a recall that could lead to a crash if drivers overload their SUVs.
The recall impacts 540,450 vehicles across several Subaru models: the 2019-2026 Ascent, 2025-2026 Forester, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid and 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles have a federally required certification label that lists the wrong gross axle weight rating (GAWR).
The rating tells car owners the maximum weight each axle can safely support, including passengers, luggage, cargo and any equipment being hauled.
If that information is wrong, drivers could mistakenly overload the vehicle without realizing it.
Federal safety regulators warned that an incorrectly stated GAWR 'may lead to vehicle overloading, increasing the risk of a crash.'
This issue is not related to an actual defect, but rather the label attached to the vehicle. Because the incorrect information violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, Subaru is required to issue a recall.
The overwhelming majority of affected vehicles are the three-row Subaru Ascent, with 383,800 SUVs included in the recall. Another 77,504 Forester Hybrids, 49,849 Foresters and 29,297 Crosstrek Hybrids are also impacted.
Subaru said the problem first came to light after NHTSA notified the company of a potential issue with weight rating listed on the certification labels in May.
The automaker then conducted an investigation covering Subaru vehicles dating back to 2003 before deciding on June 30 to launch the recall.
Despite the large number of affected vehicles, Subaru said it has not received any reports of crashes, injuries or technical problems.
Rather than replacing parts, Subaru will fix the problem by sending owners a corrected certification label that can be added over the existing one. Each owner will get instructions explaining how to apply the new label.
Owners who would rather not install it themselves can take their car to a Subaru dealer, where they'll tag on the new label for free.
Dealer notifications are expected to begin around July 13, while owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed between late August and early September. Subaru also reassures customers that Vehicles built after June 9, 2026, were produced with the corrected certification labels.
This is just the latest in a string of recalls impacting American car owners.
Just weeks prior Ford issued an urgent recall of over 110,000 Mustangs. According to NHTSA, in some cold-weather conditions, the windshield wipers on the vehicle may only work on the high-speed setting.
As a result, drivers could have reduced visibility, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The company confirmed dealers will repair or replace any damaged parts free of charge and impacted owners will receive notices beginning July 13 with more information.
Auto expert and World Car of The Year judge Lauren Fix previously told Daily Mail these safety problems can be 'concerning,' but recalls alone should not be a 'dealbreaker' when driving or choosing a car.
'What matters is how the company handles it and whether the specific model has a pattern of ongoing issues,' Fix said.
'Ford offers strong trucks and SUVs, broad dealer support, and competitive performance and electrified options.'
'Like many automakers navigating new technology and supply chain pressures, it has faced quality challenges in certain models,' she added.
Read more 2026-07-16T17:28:03Z
