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Which Subaru suspension recalls mean you should stop driving right now?
⚠ 1 of these recalls carries a do-not-drive advisory.
All three Subaru suspension recalls come back to parts at the corners of the car that can loosen or come apart. Two involve the lower control arm: the 2021 Impreza, where a left-front control arm weld may fail and let the arm separate from the crossmember, and the 2023 Ascent, where an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut can cause retention pin failure and let the ball joint separate from the lower control arm. The third is a fastener problem rather than a broken part — on 2018-2019 Crosstrek, 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid and 2019 Forester models, the rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach. The Impreza and Crosstrek families account for most of the affected vehicles.
Warning signs to watch for
- Often no warning at all: Subaru says the Ascent ball joint can let go suddenly, with no symptom beforehand.
- Sudden loss of control, which is what both control arm recalls describe as the outcome of a separation.
- Rear stabilizer bracket bolts that are visibly loose or missing on Crosstrek and Forester models.
- A rear stabilizer bracket that has shifted position, which Subaru says raises the chance of a crash.
Is it safe to keep driving?
One of these is a stop-driving recall. Owners of the 2021 Impreza with the left-front control arm weld defect were told not to drive the vehicle until the repair is complete. The other two are different. Subaru did not tell 2023 Ascent owners to park the car, but because the ball joint can separate without warning, get the inspection done as soon as you can. The 2018-2019 Crosstrek, Crosstrek Hybrid and 2019 Forester stabilizer bolt recall also carries no stop-driving instruction, so keep driving, but do not put the visit off.
What the free repair involves
Every remedy is free of charge. On the Impreza, dealers inspect the control arm and replace it as necessary. On the Ascent, they inspect the front lower control arms and replace them if needed. On the Crosstrek, Crosstrek Hybrid and Forester, they retorque the rear stabilizer bracket bolts and replace any that are missing. None of these is a software or over-the-air fix.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-01 | Subaru Ascent front suspension ball joint may separate | critical |
| 2021-08-30 | Subaru Impreza front control arm weld may break · do not drive | critical |
| 2021-04-15 | Subaru Crosstrek and Forester rear suspension bolts can fall out | medium |
Common questions
My 2021 Impreza is under the control arm recall — can I at least drive it to the dealer?
Subaru's notice says not to drive the vehicle until the repair is complete, and it does not describe a drive-it-in exception. Contact your dealer or Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 and ask how to get the car in.
Will the Ascent ball joint give me any warning before it fails?
No. The notice describes a joint that can let go without warning and cause a sudden loss of control. That is why the inspection matters even though Subaru has not asked 2023 Ascent owners to stop driving.
Can I just tighten the rear stabilizer bolts on my Crosstrek myself?
The recall repair is a dealer job: they retorque the rear stabilizer bracket bolts and replace any missing ones free of charge. If bolts have already fallen out, mention that when you book so the dealer can plan for parts.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.