Wheel & Tire complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 6% | 5,000 miles |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% | 10,000 miles |
| 2018 | 7 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2017 | 13 | 2% | 52,000 miles |
| 2016 | 18 | 4% | 40,000 miles |
| 2015 | 24 | 4% | 54,000 miles |
| 2014 | 13 | 3% | 64,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 4% | 26,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 2% | 30,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% | 16,000 miles |
| 2006 | 6 | 7% | 13,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 2% | 89,000 miles |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% | 56,000 miles |
| 2003 | 5 | 3% | 160,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% | 56,000 miles |
| 2000 | 8 | 11% | — |
| 1999 | 11 | 8% | 41,000 miles |
| 1998 | 8 | 8% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Bought 2025 Subaru Forester in January 2025. Within 300 miles of driving brought it back to place I bought it, complained about constant vibraton in Sterring wheel at high speeds around 55 - 65 MPH. They said the wheels were out of balance, they re balanced them and the problem was resolved, BUT IT WASN'T. I brought it back to them At 600 miles they looked it over and took it for a ride they said they did NOT feel the wheel vibration. I said how could you NOT feel it. I brought it back a 3rd time at 800 miles. They took it for a ride with me in passanger seat . Even as I told them I could feel it in armrest they still said they did not feel it. I opened a case with Subaru of America Advocates. they advised me to take it to a different dealer which I did. The second dealer acknowledge the wheel vibration at high speeds. …
I purchased a brand new 2025 Subaru Forester Wilderness and immediately noticed a persistent vibration in the steering wheel, seat, and footwell area. The vibration is present at all times - while driving at various speeds and even while idling. It is very distracting and uncomfortable. This ongoing vibration creates a constant sensation of movement that affects my comfort and ability to stay fully focused on the road. I have arthritis in both hands, and the steering wheel vibration causes physical discomfort, pain, and fatigue, especially on longer drives. I previously owned a 2024 Subaru [same model], which did not have this issue. I have also spoken with other owners of the 2025 model who are not experiencing this problem, so I do not believe this is typical for the vehicle. …
February 2020 both rear and front driver side tires (manufacturer provided) ripped potentially after hitting pothole. Dealership replaced 2 tires. November 2020 tire started a slow leak (in 5-7 days)- dealership fixed per manufacturer recommendations, leak continued at a lower pace (in 3-4 weeks)
I have had to replace the tire valve stems on ALL 4 tires. In addition, 1 of the replacement valve stems also had to replaced within 1 year when it was first replaced. All this within the first 3 years of owning the vehicle.
The car was parked for a week while visiting. (It has recently had its 30,000 mi.service) When I got in and started it, all the dashboard lights lit up including check engine. I tried reaching a Subaru near where I was visiting. No luck so I called my Subaru in VT. I was told I was safe to go as long as the Check Engine wasn't blinking. It wasn't so I drove home (I did note the steering wheel felt "tight".) When I went into the dealership upon my return, they did their computer diagnostic test. It was explained it could be as simple as not tightening the gas cap. The computer turned up something in the wheel. At first, he wanted to give me an appointment a week and a half out, but then found a car he could loan me that following Monday. I wanted to know why they needed it several days. He said it was to figure out the issue. …
Wheel studs on my 2019 Forester broke or stripped during a flat tire change. In [redacted], studs on this vehicle broke after dealership service where the lug nuts were overtightened; the dealer replaced them at no charge. On [redacted] I had a flat tire on a rural road in [redacted]. When we removed the wheel, multiple studs snapped or had stripped threads. We were left with a wheel held on only by 3 studs and had to drive 3 hours home that way, on a weekend when nearly everything was closed. COMPONENT: Wheel studs and lug nuts. I kept the broken parts and they are available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: A wheel held on by 3 studs can come off at speed. I was stranded in a rural area, then had to drive a long distance with a compromised wheel. I friend with a 2017 Outback had the same problem and the wheel came off entirely. …
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear wheels. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the wheel bearings replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the parts would be replaced free of charge. The failure mileage was approximately 77,409.
Wheel studs are of inferior quality, which leads to galling. Replacement of a wheel results in snapped studs. I have replaced three so far on two occasions within a week. Swapping to a spare in an emergency with broken studs will leads to accidents. As of now, I will need to drive with one broken stud to get it fixed. This is a known issue, the lugs were not over-torqued. The softness of the threads results in galling such that the threads tear out and fuse to the lug nut. How they have not issued recall/replacement/upgrades is astounding.
Related recalls (1)
Wheels
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2025 Forester vehicles equipped with 18" aluminum alloy wheels. The wheels may have been manufactured with an incorrectly specified lug seat surface, which can result in the wheel being improperly attached and cause a loss of vehicle stability.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheels, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Forester years have wheel & tire problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (24), 2016 (18), 2014 (13), 2017 (13) and 1999 (11) model years. Wheel & Tire complaints make up 4% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for Subaru Forester wheel & tire problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 25V-033 (wheels, Jan 23, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Forester wheel & tire problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles; 58% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the sidewall (10 mentions), followed by the lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.