The defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
The risk
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Ascent | 2019, 2020 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2020 |
| Subaru Outback | 2020 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CHAIN/BELT | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Ascent | 2019 | 443 | 9 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2020 | 324 | 5 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2020 | 121 | 6 |
| Subaru Outback | 2020 | 901 | 6 |
Other power train recalls in 2021
32 of the 988 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2021 concerned the power train; Subaru of America, Inc. filed 101 campaigns in all.
| 21V978000 16 Dec 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V939000 2 Dec 2021 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 21V905000 19 Nov 2021 | Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. |
| 21V910000 19 Nov 2021 | Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. |
| 21V904000 19 Nov 2021 | E-One Incorporated |
| 21V899000 18 Nov 2021 | Spartan Fire, LLC |
| 21V817000 18 Oct 2021 | Braun Corporation |
| 21V804000 14 Oct 2021 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2021