2026 Subaru Crosstrek & Subaru Forester Suspension Recall 26V685000 (Subaru WRI26)

NHTSA recall 26V685000 (Subaru recall WRI26) covers about 8 2026 Subaru Crosstrek & Subaru Forester vehicles (suspension), filed with NHTSA Oct 19, 2026. NHTSA lists a DO-NOT-DRIVE advisory: owners should not drive these vehicles until the repair is done.

Source: NHTSA campaign 26V685000 · Data as of Nov 6, 2026 · By CarWhere Research

Do not drive: NHTSA safety advisory

NHTSA lists a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign. Owners should not drive affected vehicles until the recall repair is done.

8
vehicles affected (potential)
2026
model years
Oct 19, 2026
filed with NHTSA
Do not drive
NHTSA advisory

What's recalled

Component: Suspension (front, control arm, lower ball joint)

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.

The remedy and its status

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.

Status: NHTSA’s record does not list an owner-notification date yet.

Subaru recall number WRI26

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number for 26V685000 as WRI26. Owner letters and dealer service departments often use this code, so a search for "WRI26 recall" refers to the same campaign.

Affected models and years

Models and model years NHTSA lists for this campaign. Not every vehicle of a listed model and year is included; check by VIN.

VehicleModel yearsMore
Subaru Crosstrek2026All Crosstrek recallsYears to avoid
Subaru Forester2026All Forester recallsYears to avoid

Key dates

Report filed with NHTSA
Oct 19, 2026
Owner notification
Not listed yet
Build dates covered
Aug 4, 2026 to Aug 13, 2026
Recall initiated by
the manufacturer
Filed by
Subaru of America, Inc.

Check your VIN for 26V685000

  1. Find the 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the door-jamb sticker, or your registration.
  2. Enter it in NHTSA's free VIN recall lookup. It shows every open recall on that exact vehicle, including this one if it applies and hasn't been repaired.
  3. If 26V685000 is open, call any Subaru dealer's service department and give them the recall number (26V685000 or WRI26). The repair is free.

Not sure of the exact model or year? Decode it first with the free VIN decoder.

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 26V685000?

NHTSA recall 26V685000 (Subaru recall WRI26) covers about 8 2026 Subaru Crosstrek & Subaru Forester vehicles (suspension), filed with NHTSA Oct 19, 2026. NHTSA lists a DO-NOT-DRIVE advisory: owners should not drive these vehicles until the repair is done. It covers certain 2026 Crosstrek and Forester vehicles.

Is it safe to drive a vehicle with recall 26V685000?

No. NHTSA's record for 26V685000 carries a do-not-drive advisory: owners should not drive the vehicle until the recall repair is done. Contact a Subaru dealer to arrange the repair.

How do I know if my vehicle is affected by 26V685000?

Only a VIN lookup can tell you. Not every vehicle of the listed models and years is included, and repaired vehicles drop off. Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Subaru dealer to check it.

What is the fix for recall 26V685000, and is it free?

NHTSA's record says: "Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed." NHTSA’s record does not list an owner-notification date yet. Safety-recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.

What is the Subaru recall number for 26V685000?

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number as WRI26. Dealers and owner letters often use that code (WRI26) instead of the NHTSA campaign number 26V685000.

Sources and method

  • NHTSA recall record for 26V685000, from NHTSA's public recall campaign database. Problem, risk and remedy text is NHTSA's own wording.
  • "Vehicles affected" is NHTSA's potential-units-affected count for the whole campaign.
  • Data as of Nov 6, 2026. NHTSA updates campaigns as manufacturers file amendments, so check the official record for the latest.

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