What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($165)MiddleHigher-cost states ($210)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $210 and AR the lowest at $165, across 51 states.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 3-5 years (42%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 3 years old: 27% against 40%.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
458 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 458 owner complaints naming this part, control arm is named in 29% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the control arm most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the control arm too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 46%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 458 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
Outcomes owners reported in complaints about this part. Towed: 9; Crash reported: 6; Injury reported: 1.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 458 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2015 is the largest at 76 (17%), followed by 2016 at 72 (16%); the smallest shown is 2024 at 5 (1%).
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new steering and suspension parts rose 10.9% from December 2019 to August 2026, while the consumer price index for motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together, rose 55.2% (BLS, national).
Prices of new steering and suspension parts, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New steering and suspension parts: +10.9%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 24 equipment recalls that name suspension control since 2015 (suspension and steering), covering 128,723 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Dorman Products, Inc. in 2023, covered 27,528.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dorman Products, Inc.: Ball Joint | front control arm | certain Suspension Ball Joints, with part number BJ50075, and 2601797. | 27,528 |
| 2024 | Tenneco Automotive: Ball Joint | front control arm | certain aftermarket ball joints for 2013-2019 Ford Escape vehicles, MOOG part numbers K500346, K500347, NAPA. | 23,489 |
| 2022 | Tenneco Automotive: Sequoia, Tundra | front control arm | certain aftermarket ball joints for 2004-2007 Toyota Sequoia and 2004-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles, MOOG part. | 15,200 |
| 2025 | Cognito Motorsports: Rev C Ball Joint | front control arm | certain Rev C Ball Joints with part number 91253, for installation on 2011-2025 GMC and Chevrolet 2500HD and. | 12,160 |
| 2024 | Mevotech Us Inc.: Control Arms | front control arm | certain aftermarket lower control arms, part numbers 5CB801134 and 5CB801135. | 6,705 |
| 2026 | Tenneco Automotive: Lower Control Arm Assembly | front control arm | certain Beck/Arnley replacement lower control arm and ball joint assemblies for 2018-2025 Subaru Forester and. | 6,668 |
| 2020 | Gillig Llc: Rear Suspension Cont. Rod | rear | certain aftermarket rear suspension lower control rods, part number 82-74712-000. | 6,353 |
| 2023 | Ironman 4x4 Usa Ii Llc: Pro Forge | front control arm | certain Pro Forge upper control arms. Please see the recall report for a list of the affected part numbers. | 6,345 |
| 2017 | Trw Automotive Inc: Ball Joint | front control arm | certain aftermarket replacement Left Hand and Right Hand Lower Ball Joints, sold for use on Toyota 4Runner. | 6,086 |
| 2018 | Dorman Products, Inc.: Control Arm | front control arm | certain Dorman control arms, part numbers 521-898, 521-897, CA14583 and CA14584. | 4,025 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 6 foreign recall campaigns that name suspension control with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Hyundai Motor America in 2024-03.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-09 | General Motors | 170 | In some cases, these crashes were severe enough to deform the front lower control arm bushing of the vehicles. |
| 2017-06 | Ford Motor Company | 118 | Global recall process report of field action manufacturer ford - europe type of action update prior to sale � includes vehicles at dealerships field action number 17u15 subject focus/c-max rear suspension lower arm welds make, model and model year affected. |
| 2016-08 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 114 | Date: August 10, 2016 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Rear Suspension Arm issue on certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles 1. |
| 2019-05 | Mercedes-Benz | 104 | If the clevis were to break, the vehicle body would lower at the affected wheel, and contact the upper control arm of the suspension. |
| 2024-03 | Hyundai Motor America | 067 | Description of the defect/noncompliance: The bolt(s) securing the front suspension upper control arm(s) to the vehicle's frame could have sustained damage during installation due to insufficient heat treatment by the supplier. |
| 2019-03 | Mercedes-Benz | 063 | In that case, the vehicle height would be reduced at the affected wheel, as the vehicle body is lowered to the upper control arm of the suspension. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 16 NHTSA recalls that name suspension control filed 2015 to 2024, 63.2% of the 946,892 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 348,300 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe; | 3,738 | 99.4% | front control arm |
| 2024 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 338,238 | 87.0% | front control arm |
| 2016 | Mitsubishi Outlander, Lancer Wagon | 194,674 | 20.8% | front control arm |
| 2015 | Mazda Cx-9 | 193,484 | 63.9% | front control arm |
| 2016 | Mazda Cx-7 | 190,102 | 59.5% | front control arm |
| 2020 | Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, Rav4 | 9,502 | 96.1% | front control arm |
| 2024 | Nissan Frontier | 5,929 | 80.9% | front control arm |
| 2023 | Kia Forte | 3,866 | 87.3% | front control arm |
How bad are the streets in the biggest city, and does it show in suspension repairs?
New York City DOT's pavement inspections since 2021 rate 11.3% of inspected street length poor (1 to 3.99 on a 10-point scale), highest in Bronx (16.6%) and lowest in Brooklyn (8.6%); this is one city, not a national figure.
What it shows: Bronx is the largest at 16.6%, followed by Staten Island at 13.8%; the smallest shown is Brooklyn at 8.6%.
Which counties have the roughest roads?
FHWA's road-condition records show poor ride quality (above 170 inches per mile of roughness) on 89.1% of measured road miles in District of Columbia, DC, 74.1% in Baltimore city, MD and 65.4% in Marion County, WV, against 13.8% in the median county.
What it shows: District of Columbia, DC is the largest at 89.1%, followed by Baltimore city, MD at 74.1%; the smallest shown is New Castle County, DE at 51.9%.
Are the bridges and roads where I drive in poor condition?
FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory rates 6.9% of an average state's highway bridges poor; the share is highest in IA (19.2%), WV and SD, against a median state of 6.0%.
What it shows: IA is the largest at 19.2%, followed by WV at 18.6%; the smallest shown is NY at 9.4%.
Which New York counties have the most bridges flagged poor?
New York State DOT flags 10.0% of the bridges in its inventory poor, and the share is highest in Ulster County (21.1%), Columbia (19.8%) and Rensselaer (19.6%); this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Ulster is the largest at 21.1%, followed by Columbia at 19.8%; the smallest shown is Dutchess at 16.1%.
How often does this part fail a real inspection, by car age?
In 181,687 New Jersey initial inspections in 2025 of vehicles sent through the safety lane, 1.0% of cars aged 16+ years failed the steering and suspension test against 0.0% of cars under 3 years (record counts, not a sample).
What it shows: 16+ is the largest at 1.0%, followed by <3 at 0.0%; the smallest shown is <3 at 0.0%.
Has the maker published a fix?
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee L 2021–2026; Grand Cherokee 4xe 2021–2026 and 1 more | 9100811 Rev 4 | Jun 25, 2026 | Clunking when going over bumps, potholes, or turns. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 4xe 2021–2026; Grand Cherokee L 2021–2026 and 1 more | S2102000004 REV.D | Jun 25, 2026 | WL front control arm bushing - handling link has loose rubber. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 2021–2026; Grand Cherokee L 2021–2026 and 1 more | S2102000004 REV.C | Apr 24, 2026 | WL front control arm bushing - handling link has. |
| Jeep | Wagoneer S 2024; Cherokee 2024 | S2402000003 | Nov 22, 2024 | Front control arm bushing has rubber peeled away from the bushing. |
| Subaru | Forester 2015–2025; XV Crosstrek 2015–2024 and 12 more | 03-94-24 | Sep 4, 2024 | This bulletin outlines the judgment criteria to be used when inspecting front transverse link bushings to reduce unnecessary bushing replacement. |
| Chrysler | 300 2023 | 02-008-24 | May 15, 2024 | "Front Control Arm Bushings Under Cured The technician or customer may notice the following: Knock or rattle noise when going over bumps. |
27 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
Manufacturer warranty extensions naming this part (1)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | Pilot 2009–2010 | Dec 30, 2015 | WE-15-044 | Front suspension rear lower arm bushing cracking. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
I’ve found a plastic bushing that showed a $4.00 part could be responsible.
Front Upper Arm Bushing on both the Driver’s and Passenger sides needed to be replace after less than 25,000 miles.
The sway bar bushings failed under 36000 miles.
The front engine sub-frame bushings separated at 63,339 miles.
Check your car
Replacing control arm bushings costs $120 to $260 for one side with aftermarket bushings at a $100/hr shop. Doing both sides raises it to $240 to $520, and a $175/hr shop charges $195 to $410.
Of the complaints that list a model and year, 15.8% (163 of the 1,034) involve a model year that has a manufacturer service bulletin for this repair.
Control arm named alongside the bushing in 149 complaints, the strongest link in the data
The control arm appears with the bushing far more often than chance would predict, and the ball joint comes next. Many shops sell the arm as an assembly with new bushings and a new ball joint already installed, which explains why owner reports mention replacing the whole arm.
Shocks and struts also show up in the same complaints, though less often. A quote that bundles struts with bushings is common, but the complaint data ties the bushing much more closely to the arm and ball joint than to the struts.
If the shop wants to replace the whole arm, the control arm is named in 14% (149) of the 1,078 bushing complaints, so price a control arm replacement and set it beside a bushing-only job.
Chevrolet Equinox bushing complaints cluster around 90,000 miles on 2015-2016 models
The Equinox has one of the highest median failure mileages in the data at 90,000, with complaints peaking on 2015 and 2016 models. Its sibling, the GMC Terrain, peaks in the same two model years at a lower median of 66,000 miles.
Subaru Outback rear stabilizer bar bushing redesigned in bulletin 05-97-25
The Outback, Forester, Legacy, Crosstrek and Ascent each have several bushing-related bulletins. On a Subaru, a rear knock may come from the redesigned stabilizer bushing and not from a control arm bushing. Ask the shop which part the bulletin names before approving control arm work.
Tesla Model Y and Model 3 bushing complaints are newer, peaking on 2021-2023 Model Y cars
Most complaints involve 2015-2017 cars, but owners filed 31 Model Y and 25 Model 3 bushing complaints, and the Model Y peaks on 2021-2023 models. That gap points to a larger suspension-arm job than a bushing press.
Frequently asked questions
Should I replace the control arm or just the bushings?
The control arm is named alongside the bushing in 149 complaints, the strongest link in the data, and the ball joint comes next.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120502); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row file downloaded August 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall flat file (equipment recalls, report type E) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NYC DOT, Street Pavement Ratings (NYC Open Data 6yyb-pb25), SystemRating bands from the NYC DOT pavement rating metadata data from 2025
- FHWA Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) national section data, roughness (IRI) by county; poor-ride cut from the FHWA Conditions and Performance Report data from 2026
- FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 delimited state files (highway bridges, BRIDGE_CONDITION code P) data from 2024
- New York State DOT, Bridge Conditions (NYS Open Data wpyb-cjy8), poor_status flag data from 2025
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Vehicle Inspection Data file downloaded 2026-10
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Checked against RepairPal's range ($321–$437) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology