Subaru is telling tens of thousands of its hybrid owners to keep their cars out of the garage and their fuel tanks no more than half full, after discovering that a faulty fuel-filler cap gasket can leak under certain conditions and create a potential fire risk.
The voluntary safety recall covers 51,707 examples of the 2025 Forester Hybrid and 17,446 of the 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, for a total of 69,153 affected SUVs, according to recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The campaign is listed as 26V106. Owner-notification letters are expected to be mailed by March 25, 2026, and VINs for affected vehicles became searchable on the agency website on February 16, 2026.
How the defect happens
Engineers found that when a vehicle is parked with a nearly full tank and the surrounding temperature climbs significantly, expanding fuel can be forced up the filler neck. If the cap gasket does not seal tightly enough, fuel can escape, creating a possible fire hazard if an ignition source is present. Subaru has reported multiple technical reports to regulators but says it is not aware of any fires or injuries so far, according to Car and Driver.
Fix and timeline
Dealers will replace the fuel-filler cap gasket at no cost to owners. Subaru’s remedy adds an improved gasket and an additional O-ring to increase sealing performance. The company plans to update production so that new Crosstrek Hybrids receive the revised part after March 6, 2026, and expects mailed owner notifications to begin in late March, according to Autoevolution.
What owners should do now
Owners of affected hybrids are being urged to keep the fuel level at half a tank or below, park the vehicle outside and away from garages or other structures, and arrange the free repair with a Subaru dealer as soon as replacement parts are available. Subaru can be reached at 1-844-373-6614; reference recall number WRD-26. Consumer guidance and contact details are also summarized by Cars.com.
Regulatory note
The recall documentation reiterates that under federal law, once a safety defect has been reported, a manufacturer may not sell or introduce into interstate commerce any vehicle that contains that defect. Subaru is required to submit periodic status reports to federal regulators while the remedy is carried out, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners looking for additional updates can call NHTSA’s vehicle-safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recall first surfaced in local coverage from WTSP Tampa Bay and was later confirmed in Subaru’s filing with federal safety officials. WTSP’s early report circulated among drivers and dealers as the NHTSA notice moved through official channels. For that initial local coverage, see WTSP.
