2023 Subaru Outback Driveshaft Recall (23V647)
Subaru of America, Inc. · 4,311 vehicles · Reported September 21, 2023
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling 4,311 2023 Subaru Ascent; 2023 Subaru Impreza; 2023 Subaru Legacy; 2023 Subaru Outback vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft. Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V647 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V647000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | WRN-23 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 21, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023 Subaru Ascent; 2023 Subaru Impreza; 2023 Subaru Legacy; 2023 Subaru Outback |
| Units affected | 4,311 |
| Component | Power Train > Driveline > Driveshaft |
| Safety risk | Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Subaru Outback in recall 23V647?
The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Outback with recall 23V647?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a 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 driveshaft, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V647?
Recall 23V647 covers 4,311 vehicles: 2023 Subaru Ascent; 2023 Subaru Impreza; 2023 Subaru Legacy; 2023 Subaru Outback.
NHTSA lists 4,311 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Subaru | Ascent |
| 2023 | Subaru | Impreza |
| 2023 | Subaru | Legacy |
| 2023 | Subaru | Outback |
What is the fix for the Outback driveshaft recall?
Yes. Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge.
Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
When was recall 23V647 announced?
Subaru of America, Inc. reported recall 23V647 to NHTSA on September 21, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 20, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Subaru of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V647000. |
| November 20, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 36 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 23V647?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V647 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 23V647000. 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 23V647?
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 23V647000 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.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the driveshaft 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 148 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 8 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 23V647 was reported on September 21, 2023, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) 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 September 21, 2023, 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 148 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 8 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.
- 2023 Subaru Outback: 89 complaints in total, 5 about the transmission
- 2023 Subaru Ascent: 45 complaints in total, 3 about the transmission
- 2023 Subaru Legacy: 10 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 Subaru Impreza: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
My car had an unintended acceleration that caused me to go in a ditch and hit a tree. I could not get car to stop when I realized it was increasing speed. It all happened very fast. My car was totaled. All airbags deployed. front right side of car was completely destroyed.
2023 Subaru Outback owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11639451, filed January 29, 2025
Going down a steep incline shortly after staring car after it had been sitting about 3 hours after about 2500 feet the car had no power maximum speed was about 25MPH and could not accelerate.
2023 Subaru Outback owner, WI, NHTSA complaint 11495223, filed November 28, 2022
The car will begin to jolt/shake when coming to a stop. It has been found to be the torque converter. We are at a loss. 10,000 miles and the car has major issues. Just bought the car 28 days ago with just about 6700 miles.
2023 Subaru Outback owner, OR, NHTSA complaint 11535932, filed August 1, 2023
Can recall 23V647 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 driveshaft 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 2023 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.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Subaru Outback has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
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 23V647
Did the recall 23V647 fix work?
Since recall 23V647 was reported on September 21, 2023, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) 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 November 20, 2023.
Is the 23V647000 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 23V647000?
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 23V647000 (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.