Subaru Recalls Ascent SUVs Over Faulty Control Arms

Subaru recently issued a recall that covers only a handful of cars but concerns serious safety hazards for people in those vehicles.

The automaker is calling back a total of five Ascent sport utility vehicles whose front control arms could become detached. That makes the vehicles potentially much more difficult to control for anyone behind the wheel.

“The castle nut was not sufficiently tight when the retention pin was installed during assembly,” Subaru said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “If the ball joint separates from the lower control arm while driving the vehicle may experience a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain Ascent SUVs built over a four-day span of March and April 2023, Subaru told NHTSA. 

The company expected to alert owners of the recalled cars via mail by the end of June. It is asking owners to bring their vehicles in for inspection and repair.

“Subaru dealers will inspect the 5 affected vehicles and, if the castle nut is determined to be loose, replace the lower control arm assembly at no cost to the customer,” the automaker said in the defect notice.

Subaru Defects and Recalls

Subaru and other auto manufacturers call back millions of vehicles every single year, citing a wide variety of defects and malfunctions that put everyone on the road at risk. These moves are often not announced until long after defective cars have left factories and dealership lots and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Earlier this summer, for instance, Subaru announced it was calling back more than 4,000 Imprezas whose brake lights could fail. The company acknowledged at the time that the defect increased the risk of accidents.

Subaru earlier in the year said it was recalling some 1,200 Solterra electric vehicles because their wheels could come off unexpectedly. It is also told owners not to drive the cars again until the problem is fixed.

How California's Lemon Law Works

Fortunately, Subaru and other car owners in California have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back covered vehicles that they are not able to or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.