Subaru of America is recalling 541,237 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent SUVs in the United States due to an inaccurate certification label. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall on Tuesday.
The affected vehicles were manufactured with a label that incorrectly states the gross axle weight rating (GAWR), which reflects the maximum weight that each axle of a vehicle can support. The NHTSA warns that an incorrect GAWR label may lead to an overloaded vehicle, which could increase the likelihood of a crash. Subaru has not been aware of any crashes or injuries resulting from this issue in the U.S.
No mechanical repair is needed for the recall. Subaru plans to mail corrective certification labels to impacted owners to place over the faulty ones, though customers may also choose to have a dealer apply the label free of charge. This recall covers certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles.
Owner notifications are set to go out in late August, with additional letters to be mailed once the remedy is available. In the meantime, drivers can confirm whether their specific vehicle is included in the recall using the NHTSA’s website or Subaru’s recall lookup platform.