Subaru recall 26V-685: Do Not Drive: Loss of Vehicle Control
A ball joint that separates from the lower control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Do not drive these vehicles
NHTSA lists a “do not drive” advisory for this campaign: owners are told not to drive the affected vehicles until the remedy has been completed.
Campaign facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 26V685000 (26V-685)
- Manufacturer number
- WRI26
- Filed by
- Subaru of America, Inc.
- Report received
- October 19, 2026
- Component
- Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 8
- Model years
- 2026
- Built between
- August 4, 2026 and August 13, 2026
- Recall initiated by
- The manufacturer
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek and Forester vehicles. The castle nut on the left-front lower control arm ball joint may be improperly fastened, which can lead to the ball joint separating from the lower control arm.
The risk
A ball joint that separates from the lower control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Why suspension defects matter: Suspension failures tend to happen under load — in a turn, over a bump or while braking.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the left-front lower control arm ball joint assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 16, 2026. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRI26.
About the suspension
Suspension campaigns cover control arms, ball joints, springs, shocks, stabilizer links and their mounting points.
Vehicles covered by campaign 26V-685
- Subaru Crosstrek 2026
- Subaru Forester 2026
What to do
- The manufacturer has told owners not to drive these vehicles until the remedy is done. Ask the dealer about towing rather than driving in.
- Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s lookup (below) to confirm that your vehicle is included and that the repair has not already been done.
- Call a dealer for the brand and book the repair. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V-685 and the manufacturer’s number WRI26.
- Note any clunking, wandering or uneven tire wear and describe it when you book the repair.
- Safety recall repairs are carried out free of charge by the manufacturer’s dealers. If you already paid for this repair yourself, ask the manufacturer about reimbursement and keep your receipt.
Check by VIN
A campaign rarely covers every vehicle of a model year. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.
Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.
Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.
The official record
This page reproduces the campaign as filed with NHTSA. The NHTSA record is authoritative — if anything here differs, follow the agency.
Open campaign 26V-685 on NHTSA.gov