NHTSA campaign 21V955000 · Subaru campaign WRK-21
Subaru Recall 21V-955: Drive Chain May Break Causing Loss of Drive Power
NHTSA recall 21V955000 (Subaru campaign WRK-21) was reported by Subaru of America, Inc. on December 9, 2021, with 198,255 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Subaru Ascent, Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback for model years 2019–2020. Owners were notified on August 19, 2022, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 21V955000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Subaru VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 21V955000 (also written 21V-955 or 21V955)
- Filed by
- Subaru of America, Inc.
- Subaru campaign number
- WRK-21
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 198,255 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM)
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 96.58% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 21V955000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Subaru
Subaru Ascent
Subaru Legacy
- 2020 · Vehicles built July 15, 2019 – August 13, 2020 (per NHTSA)
Subaru Outback
- 2020 · Vehicles built July 15, 2019 – August 13, 2020 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 21V955000.
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 21V955000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.