Recall 23V723 covers 49 2024 Subaru Forester vehicles with loose engine water pipe bolts that can leak coolant. Subaru will tighten bolts before sale.
Subaru is recalling 49 2024 Forester vehicles because loose engine water pipe bolts can let the pipe lose its seal and leak coolant. The coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe and increase fire risk, and Subaru dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The engine water pipe on the 2024 Subaru Forester is part of the engine cooling system. It carries coolant through the engine so heat can move away from hot metal parts and toward the radiator. The pipe must stay sealed and held tight by its attachment bolts, because coolant is under pressure when the engine is warm.
On affected Foresters, one or more water pipe attachment bolts were not tightened enough during engine assembly. Subaru traced the problem to an inadequate work instruction in that assembly process. A loose bolt lets the water pipe lose its seal, and coolant can leak from the joint instead of staying inside the cooling system.
There is no warning sign before failure. If the pipe starts leaking, an owner can see coolant under the vehicle, smell hot coolant, or see an engine temperature warning after the leak has already begun.
Who's affected?
| 2024 Subaru Forester | Engine and engine cooling |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 49 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2024 Subaru Forester is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
Leaking coolant can reach a hot exhaust pipe and increase the risk of a fire. If your VIN is included, schedule the repair promptly and avoid unnecessary driving until the bolts are tightened. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024 Subaru Forester is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Subaru dealer or Subaru customer service to confirm the free water-pipe bolt tightening that stops the coolant leak path.
- Reference recall number 23V723 and Subaru recall WRO-23 when you call.
- Expect no owner letter for this campaign; Subaru says the affected vehicles had not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners.
- Avoid driving if you see coolant leaking or smell coolant near a hot engine, and ask Subaru for repair instructions before moving the vehicle.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer or Subaru distributor processing facility, a Subaru technician tightens the water pipe attachment bolts so the pipe can seal correctly and stop coolant from leaking. The recall repair is free. Subaru's filing says the affected 2024 Forester vehicles had not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners, so owner letters are not being sent. Subaru's general reimbursement plan is on file. If you already paid for a related coolant leak repair, contact Subaru customer service with your repair documentation and ask how that plan applies to this recall.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 26, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| October 27, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 22, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 22, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 22, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V723?
Recall 23V723 covers 49 2024 Subaru Forester vehicles with engine water pipe attachment bolts that are loose. The pipe can lose its seal and leak coolant onto a hot exhaust pipe, increasing fire risk. Subaru's distributor processing facilities will tighten the bolts for free.
What should I do if my 2024 Subaru Forester is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific 2024 Subaru Forester is included in recall 23V723. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer or Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 and reference recall WRO-23. The bolt-tightening repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost to the owner, and Subaru's remedy is to tighten the engine water pipe attachment bolts for free. Parts and labor are covered through the recall process.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. If the engine water pipe loses its seal, coolant can leak onto a hot exhaust pipe. Subaru's repair tightens the loose water pipe attachment bolts so the pipe stays sealed.
Why did Subaru say no owner letters will be sent?
Subaru reported that the affected 2024 Forester vehicles had not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners. Because of that, Subaru said no owner notification letters would be sent. A VIN check still decides whether a specific vehicle is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V723000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-844-373-6614 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V723 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V723000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →