The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·22V485000·Announced 2022-08-07

2020-2021 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles recalled for transmission control defect

Subaru is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles for a transmission control unit programming error that may cause the drive chain to slip, resulting in loss of drive power and increased crash risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: Structural vehicle defect in the Transmission Control Unit that can cause loss of drive power and increase crash risk. Although no injuries are reported, the known defect affects 182 vehicles and meets the rubric criterion for structural vehicle defects.

Plain-English summary

Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2020-2021 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles. This recall is an expansion of the previous recall number 21V-955.

A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped. An improperly secured drive chain may then slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall affects an estimated 182 vehicles. Owners should contact their Subaru dealer or Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 to schedule the repair. Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect for chain slippage, and visually inspect the chain guide. If any damage is found, the transmission will be replaced at no cost. Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed on August 24, 2022.

The recalled product

Product
2021 SUBARU OUTBACK
Brand
SUBARU
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Automatic Transmission
Hazard
  • transmission-control-failure
  • chain-slip
  • power-loss
  • crash-risk
Affected units
182

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • OUTBACK
  • LEGACY

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · SUBARU

Same category