Subaru’s Popular SUVs Face a Safety Recall
The Subaru Forester and Crosstrek are among the automaker’s most important models in the US, with both vehicles competing for the top spot in its sales lineup. The Forester has been doing much of the heavy lifting for the brand this year, while the Crosstrek remains a key option for buyers looking for a smaller crossover.
But now, a fresh safety recall has put a handful of these SUVs in the spotlight. Subaru filed a report with the NHTSA on October 19, 2026, revealing that some 2026 Forester and Crosstrek models might have a loose fastener lurking in the front suspension.
It’s a small recall, numbers-wise, but Subaru isn’t taking any chances. If a suspension part fails, your steering could go haywire, so the company wants to nip this in the bud before anyone hits the road again.
Subaru
Loose Castle Nut Could Cause Loss of Control
The recall is tiny – just eight vehicles in all. That’s four 2026 Crosstreks built between August 4 and 6, and four 2026 Foresters made from August 5 to 13. Subaru tracked them down using supplier records and some good old-fashioned traceability.
The problem centers on the left-hand front lower control arm ball joint castle nut, which may not have been tightened to the specified torque. According to Subaru’s investigation, some assemblies may have been placed in a finished-goods rack before the final tightening procedure was completed. Those parts were subsequently shipped to Subaru’s assembly line.
The issue came to light on September 15, when Subaru received a field report concerning a front lower control arm ball joint that had separated. The automaker began a 100% inspection of castle nut fastening conditions the following day and investigated the incident through October 9.
Subaru determined that insufficient tightening torque had allowed the ball joint to separate from the lower control arm, resulting in a loss of control while driving. Supplier records also showed that certain affected assemblies lacked a recorded inspection pass result.
Obviously, if the ball joint separates while the vehicle is moving, the driver could lose control, increasing the likelihood of a crash. Subaru also says there is no preceding warning, so drivers may not have an opportunity to react before the failure occurs.
Subaru Tells Owners to Park Their Vehicles
Subaru decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall on October 10. Dealers were notified on October 15 and instructed to contact affected owners, tell them not to drive their vehicles, and arrange towing to a dealership for inspection.
Dealers will inspect the left-hand front lower control arm ball joint assembly and replace it if necessary, at no cost to the customer. Subaru says the replacement component will have a properly tightened castle nut that meets the specified fastening requirements.
Owners should follow the no-drive advisory rather than attempting to take their vehicles to a dealership themselves. The recall report also advises owners to park their vehicles outside.
Subaru plans to coordinate directly with affected owners, with remedy notifications scheduled for December 16, 2026. The automaker has also implemented a 100% inspection of castle nut fastening conditions at its assembly plant to address the issue in production.
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