Subaru of America has recalled 541,237 SUVs after federal safety regulators determined that the rear-axle weight rating printed on the vehicles’ certification labels is incorrect. The flaw could cause drivers to unknowingly overload their vehicles and raise the risk of a crash.
The recall was filed with the NHTSA on July 13, 2026, under campaign number 26V436.
Which vehicles are affected
The campaign covers 541,237 vehicles: 2019, 2026 Ascent (approximately 384,407 units), 2025, 2026 Forester (49,946), 2025, 2026 Forester Hybrid (77,504) and 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid (29,297).
The Ascent alone accounts for the vast majority of the affected population, with its inclusion going back to the 2019 model year explaining why it accounts for the bulk of the recalled population.
Subaru identified the affected population through vehicle production records, and the condition was corrected on the production line starting June 9, 2026. All 541,237 vehicles included in the recall contain the defect.
The safety risk explained
NHTSA said in its recall notice that the vehicles’ labels have an incorrect gross axle weight rating, or GAWR, which could lead to an overweighted vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. GAWR is the load-carrying capacity of an axle system, according to NHTSA.
An incorrect rating can lead an owner to load the vehicle or a trailer beyond its true limit. An overloaded vehicle is harder to stop and easier to lose control of, which can lead to a crash.
There is no warning to the driver, since the number on the label simply does not match the rating Subaru’s engineers validated.
On affected vehicles, the Part 567 certification label lists an incorrect GAWR, putting them out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 covering tire selection and rims.
This Subaru recall is one of several major safety actions logged by NHTSA this month. Kia separately recalled 462,869 Telluride SUVs over a power-seat motor fire risk, while Hyundai and Kia recalled 14 EVs over SK On battery fire concerns.
No mechanical repairs needed
No mechanical repair is needed, Subaru plans to mail impacted owners a corrective certification label to place over the faulty one. Customers may also choose to have a dealer place the new label on their cars, free of charge.
Subaru, which was notified of the issue by NHTSA in May, is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the labeling error. NHTSA’s filing recommends owners of affected vehicles lean toward caution when hauling heavy gear or towing until the corrected label is installed.
Timeline and next steps for owners
Dealer notification is scheduled to begin on or about July 13, 2026. Subaru will start notifying owners of the issue by mail on August 25, 2026, and plans to notify owners about the remedy starting January 7, 2027.
The gap between the first notice and the final remedy reflects the time needed to print and distribute hundreds of thousands of vehicle-specific compliance labels.
Owners can check whether their vehicle is affected by entering their 17-digit VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup page. They can also call Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 and refer to recall code WRH-26, or reach the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recall is among the largest Subaru has conducted in recent years by volume, and it lands in an already busy year for the brand.
