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Subaru Outback and Legacy transmission software may break drive chain

NHTSA campaign 22V485000 · Reported 2022-07-08 · Subaru of America, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

Losing drive power in traffic can cause a crash, so while Subaru does not say to stop driving, schedule the repair promptly.

What's wrong, in plain English

The computer that controls your automatic transmission has a software mistake. It can let the transmission start pulling before the internal drive chain is fully clamped in place. The chain can then slip and break, and the vehicle can suddenly lose power to the wheels while you are driving. Dealers will reload the correct software, check the stored data for signs of slipping, and look at the chain guide. If there is damage, they replace the transmission.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for campaign 22V485000 (Subaru's number WRK-22).
2. Contact your Subaru dealer, or Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, to book the reprogramming and inspection.
3. Get the work done even if your vehicle was already handled under the earlier recall 21V-955 — it is free.

Affected vehicles (4)

Who to contact

Subaru — official Subaru recall lookup

Customer service: 1-844-373-6614

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Summary
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Safety risk
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
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 are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.