2021 Subaru Outback Chain and Belt Recall (22V485)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 182 vehicles · Reported July 8, 2022
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 182 2021 Subaru Legacy; 2021 Subaru Outback vehicles. 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 slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V485 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V485000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRK-22 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 8, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Subaru Legacy; 2021 Subaru Outback |
| Units affected | 182 |
| Build dates | May 21, 2019 to August 3, 2020 |
| Component | Power Train > Driveline > Chain / Belt |
| Safety risk | An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Subaru Outback in recall 22V485?
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Outback with recall 22V485?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the chain and belt.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V485?
Recall 22V485 covers 182 vehicles: 2021 Subaru Legacy; 2021 Subaru Outback.
NHTSA lists 182 vehicles in this campaign, built May 21, 2019 to August 3, 2020. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Subaru | Legacy |
| 2021 | Subaru | Outback |
What is the fix for the Outback chain and belt recall?
Yes. Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide.
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.
When was recall 22V485 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 22V485 to NHTSA on July 8, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 24, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 21, 2019 | First affected vehicle built (per Subaru of America, Inc.'s filing). |
| August 3, 2020 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| July 8, 2022 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V485000. |
| August 24, 2022 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 51 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 440 days. 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 22V485?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V485 is open on your Outback, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Outback vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Outback owners do about recall 22V485?
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 22V485000 applies to your Outback.
- Call a Subaru dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any chain and belt symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Outback owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 327 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 14 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 22V485 was reported on July 8, 2022, owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (25%) 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 July 8, 2022, 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 327 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 14 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 Legacy: 31 complaints in total, 2 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 22V485 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 chain and belt 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.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same chain and belt again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Subaru Outback has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V955000.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 22V485
Did the recall 22V485 fix work?
Since recall 22V485 was reported on July 8, 2022, owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (25%) 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.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 24, 2022.
Is the 22V485000 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 22V485000?
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 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 22V485000 (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.