Improperly Tightened Lower Ball Joint Nut

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC (DRiV) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley replacement lower control arm and ball joint assemblies for 2018-2025 Subaru Forester and Crosstrek vehicles. The lower ball joint nut may be loose or may not have been tightened properly.

Risk / consequence

A loose nut may allow the ball joint to separate from the control arm, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the lower control arm and ball joint assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 2, 2026. Owners may contact DRiV customer service at 1-877-489-6659.

Chronology of events

1. May 2025

   May 2025-April 2026: DRiV reviewed four reports of ball joint separations in control arms, two of which appeared related to installation errors.

2. Apr 2, 2026

   April 2, 2026: Following review of a failed part from a fifth claim, DRiV initiated a root cause analysis of field reports.

3. Apr 29, 2026

   April 29, 2026: DRiV received a sixth report of a potential ball joint separation found prior to failure.

4. May 2026

   April – May 2026: DRiV’s investigation identified affected parts from two separate suppliers (Teknorot and KMMT). Review of the returned parts and samples of units from inventory identified missing cotter pins, poor thread fitment, out of specification nuts, and weld build up. Review of the suppliers’ manufacturing and quality processes found a lack of clear production controls.

5. May 4, 2026

   May 4, 2026: Issue escalated to DRiV’s executive management. Based upon results of the investigation, DRiV decided to conduct a safety recall for the subject parts. There are no reports of injuries.

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

May 22, 2026 - May 22, 2026 No Dealers

Owner notification

Jun 02, 2026 - Jun 02, 2026 Phased Recall