SUBARU LEGACY (2020) recall — Power Train
Subaru recalls 2020 Legacy vehicles with a programming error in the TCU that may cause drive chain slippage, increasing crash risk. Free repairs available.
Use caution until it’s fixed
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Subaru is recalling 2020 Legacy vehicles due to a programming error in the transmission control unit that could cause the drive chain to slip and break, potentially leading to a crash. Owners should have the vehicle inspected by a dealer for free. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/80030-subaru-legacy-2020-recall-power-train-chain-slip-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/80030-subaru-legacy-2020-recall-power-train-chain-slip-risk · Updated October 4, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #21V955000
Cite this page
“Subaru Legacy 2020 Recall: Power Train Chain Slip Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 4, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/80030-subaru-legacy-2020-recall-power-train-chain-slip-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #21V955000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=21V955000).
Why it’s dangerous
A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is fully clamped. This can cause the chain to slip and break, leading to loss of drive power and potentially causing a crash.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2020 Subaru Legacy vehicles are affected. Drivers with the programming error in the transmission control unit are at higher risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2020 Legacy vehicle was mailed a notification letter dated August 19, 2022. The recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855.
- Brand
Subaru- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Subaru Customer Service
Call 1-844-373-6614 to confirm your vehicle is affected and schedule repairs.
Have Dealer Inspect TCU
Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually check the chain guide.
Get Transmission Replacement
If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced at no cost.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
Questions people ask
Do I need to do anything if my vehicle was previously recalled under 19V-855?
Yes, vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available.
How can I check if my vehicle is affected?
Check if your 2020 Legacy vehicle was mailed a notification letter dated August 19, 2022.
Is this recall applicable to all 2020 Legacy vehicles?
No, this recall applies to 2020 Legacy vehicles with a programming error in the TCU that may cause drive chain slippage.
Contact Subaru
We’ve drafted a message you can send Subaru to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 21V955000 — Subaru Subaru Hello, I own a Subaru that is covered by recall 21V955000 from Subaru. The official recall notice states: 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. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
Similar recalls
Keep exploring
From people who’ve dealt with this
Experiences, tips, and questions from readers. Every comment is reviewed before it appears.
No comments yet — be the first to share your experience.
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #21V955000 (September 12, 2021)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 4, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.