Subaru of America is recalling more than 541,000 vehicles in the US after finding that their certification labels list the wrong gross axle weight rating. The company said the issue affects 541,237 vehicles and that owners will need a corrected label.
The recall is drawing attention now because the label error is tied to a safety standard, not a mechanical part. NHTSA says the incorrect gross axle weight rating can lead to an overweighted vehicle and increase the risk of a crash, which is why Subaru is moving ahead with the fix even though it says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries linked to the problem.
The recall covers certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles, 2025 to 2026 Forester Hybrid and Forester vehicles, and 2019 to 2026 Ascent vehicles. Every vehicle included in the recall contains the defect, according to the company and NHTSA. Subaru’s recall number is WRH-26.
GAWR is the load-carrying capacity of an axle system, according to NHTSA, and the label mistake means the number printed on the certification label does not match what the vehicle was certified to show. That matters because the label is what owners and others use to understand how much weight a vehicle can safely carry, and the wrong figure can create confusion even if the vehicle itself has no mechanical fault.
Subaru was notified of the issue by NHTSA in May, but the company did not say how long the labels had carried the error before the recall was announced. Owners will be able to correct the problem either by placing a new certification label over the existing one after receiving it by mail or by going to a dealer for a free replacement, although Subaru has not said how many owners are likely to use each option.
Letters informing owners are set to go out on August 25, 2026. For owners, the key question is not whether the fix exists — it does — but whether their paperwork matches the vehicle they drive. In this recall, Subaru is treating a label error as a safety issue before it turns into something worse.
