Subaru of America is recalling 275,000 Forester vehicles. The 2009 to 2012 model years of the Subaru Forester SUVs have rear center seat belt systems which do not meet federal safety standards and could inhibit the proper installation of child safety seats, said the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NHTSA says the automatic locking retractors in the rear center seat positions of the recalled Subaru Foresters do not lock properly. The failure increases the risk of injury to passengers sitting in that seat position during a collision. What's more, the seat belt flaw could prevent the proper installation of child safety seats in the rear center section of Subaru Forester vehicles.

Subaru will notify owners of Forester SUVs, manufactured from November 2007 to March 2012, who may be impacted by this federal safety recall in mid-April. Owners will be instructed to bring their recalled Foresters to local dealerships where mechanics there will replace the rear center seat belt assembly with a new, modified automatic locking retractor for free.

For more information, consumers can call Subaru's toll-free customer support line (800-782-2783) and reference Subaru's recall campaign identification number WQA-37. Consumers can also visit the NHTSA website, www.SaferCar.gov, for additional details on car recalls.

Recall: 2009-12 Subaru Forrester