NHTSA safety recall National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Subaru Forester recall: The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened

Recall published 1+ years ago

The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose.

The hazard: Seat belt or seat defect

This campaign is about the restraint system — the belts, buckles, anchorages or seat frames that only do their job once.

What the notice says: A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

Why it matters: A seat belt, buckle, anchorage or seat frame may not restrain an occupant properly in a crash. The fault is invisible in normal driving because the part is never loaded until it is needed.

Recall details

Recall number
25V419000
Published
June 19, 2025
Risk level
NHTSA safety recall
Status
Open safety recall
Issued by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Brand
Subaru
Product type
Child Seat
Distribution
Nationwide
Vehicles
Subaru Forester
Lot / code info
NHTSA campaign number 25V419000

Products covered by this recall

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles. The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose.

Vehicles in this campaign

Check your product

The notice names 1 code you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Vehicle

Match this against the make and model on your registration.

  • Forester

Codes are lifted verbatim from the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Seat belt

Subaru — This campaign is about the restraint system — the belts, buckles, anchorages or seat frames that only do their job once.

  1. Check every belt and seat in the vehicle for the symptom the notice describes, including the ones nobody usually sits in.
  2. Keep the repair order the dealer hands you. It is your proof the campaign was closed out, and it matters at resale.
  3. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you do anything else. A campaign covers a build range, not every car of that model year, and the VIN lookup is the only thing that confirms yours is included.
  4. Call any franchised dealer for the brand, give them the campaign number from this page, and ask them to confirm parts are in stock before you book — part supply, not labour, is what delays a fresh recall.

Costs, reimbursement and your rights

The repair itself is free. What people most often miss is that money already spent can frequently be claimed back.

  • If you paid for the same repair out of pocket before the recall was announced, ask the manufacturer for reimbursement. Carmakers must run a reimbursement plan for pre-notification repairs; you will need the original invoice.
  • A dealer may not charge a diagnostic, inspection or shop-supplies fee for recall work. If one appears on the estimate, query it before you sign.
  • If a dealer refuses the repair, delays it unreasonably or tries to bill you, complain to the manufacturer’s customer line, then to NHTSA. Those complaints are logged against the campaign.
  • An unrepaired open recall can affect a sale or trade-in. Closing it out costs nothing and protects the value of the vehicle.

Remedy named in the notice: Dealers will inspect the child seat anchor bolts and, if necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-25.

Company contact: Subaru of America, Inc.

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Subaru child seat recalled?

The child seat anchor bolts may have been improperly tightened, allowing the bolts to come loose. A loose child seat anchor bolt increases the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Check every belt and seat in the vehicle for the symptom the notice describes, including the ones nobody usually sits in.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Dealers will inspect the child seat anchor bolts and, if necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-25.

Does the repair cost me anything?

No. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at a franchised dealer for as long as the campaign is open, whether or not the vehicle is still under warranty.

Related recalls