Subaru of America has announced a recall affecting more than 541,000 of its SUVs due to an error on a vehicle label, according to a notice posted this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The vehicles in question were manufactured with a certification label that incorrectly lists the gross axle weight rating, known as GAWR. That figure represents the maximum load each axle of a vehicle is designed to handle safely.
The NHTSA cautions that an incorrect GAWR label “may lead to an overloaded vehicle,” which in turn could raise the chances of a crash occurring.
Subaru says it has no reports of any U.S. crashes or injuries tied to this labeling error. The good news for owners is that no mechanical work is required. Instead, Subaru plans to send affected owners a “corrective certification label” in the mail to place directly over the incorrect one. Owners who prefer can also visit a dealership to have the new label applied at no cost.
The recall applies to certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester and Forester Hybrid, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles.
Owners are expected to begin receiving notification letters in late August. Additional correspondence will follow “once the remedy is available,” according to NHTSA documents. In the meantime, drivers can check whether their vehicle is part of the recall by visiting the NHTSA website or using Subaru’s own recall lookup tool.
Subaru of America is a New Jersey-based subsidiary of the larger Japanese automaker.
