2021 Subaru Outback Shift Linkage Recall (21V024)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 383 vehicles · Reported January 26, 2021
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 383 2021 Subaru Impreza; 2021 Subaru Outback vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen. A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V024 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V024000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRA-21 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 26, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Subaru Impreza; 2021 Subaru Outback |
| Units affected | 383 |
| Component | Power Train > Shift Linkage / Cable / Rod |
| Safety risk | A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Subaru Outback in recall 21V024?
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
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.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Outback with recall 21V024?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Outback shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the shift linkage and cable and rod, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V024?
Recall 21V024 covers 383 vehicles: 2021 Subaru Impreza; 2021 Subaru Outback.
NHTSA lists 383 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Subaru | Impreza |
| 2021 | Subaru | Outback |
What is the fix for the Outback shift linkage recall?
Yes. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-21.
When was recall 21V024 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 21V024 to NHTSA on January 26, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 26, 2021 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V024000. |
This recall was filed 69 months ago. If your Outback was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Outback is part of recall 21V024?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V024 is open on your Outback, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V024000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Outback owners do about recall 21V024?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V024000 applies to your Outback.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Subaru dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the shift linkage and cable and rod happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Outback owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 310 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 13 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 21V024 was reported on January 26, 2021, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 4 of them (31%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after January 26, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 310 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 13 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Subaru Outback: 296 complaints in total, 12 about the transmission
- 2021 Subaru Impreza: 14 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
I have had this happen several times on my 2021 Outback and my 2013 Outback. The dealership has never been able to recreate this issue. I will be driving (gear in D) and it randomly shifts to 1st or 2nd gear.
2021 Subaru Outback owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11633759, filed January 2, 2025
Purchased used with just over 60k miles & have had less than a year. Vehicle still under 80k miles. Told transmission needs replaced but found service records from previous owner which shows fuel pump replaced twice at about 20k mile intervals & I am just under 20k miles past previous pump replacement.
2021 Subaru Outback owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11654281, filed April 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while idling at a red traffic light, the vehicle lurched forward twice and struck the rear end of another vehicle twice. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated upon impact. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained.
2021 Subaru Outback owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11689975, filed September 26, 2025
Can recall 21V024 make my Outback a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this shift linkage and cable and rod recall means their Outback qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2021 Subaru Outback: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Outback been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Subaru Outback recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V024
Did the recall 21V024 fix work?
Since recall 21V024 was reported on January 26, 2021, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 4 of them (31%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V024000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Outback is part of recall 21V024000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V024000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Subaru. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.