Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: June 20, 2022
UPDATE Subaru Safety & Emissions Recall: WRK-21 – CVT Chain Guide Breakage
Please refer to the highlighted updates in the following sections of this announcement:
• Affected Vehicles
• Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions
• Owner Notification
Background
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating this safety and emissions Recall for certain 2019-2020
model year Ascent vehicles, 2020 model year turbo Legacy vehicles, and 2020 model year turbo Outback
vehicles in which the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) chain may slip and/or break.
Description of the Defect and Safety Risk
Due to a programming error in the transmission control unit (TCU), the drive chain may slip, resulting in
breakage of the chain guide. If the drive chain guide breaks, resulting fragments could inhibit the shift
select mechanism. If the vehicle continues operation with the drive chain slipping, over time the drive
chain could break.
If the drive chain breaks while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle may experience a loss of motive
power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Affected Vehicles
The number of U.S. vehicles included in this recall is 198,255.
Model Year
2019-2020
2020
2020

Carline
Ascent
Legacy (turbo models)
Outback (turbo models)

Production date range
February 22, 2018 - July 20, 2020
July 15, 2019 – August 13, 2020
July 15, 2019 – August 13, 2020

Not all vehicles in the production date ranges listed above may be included in this recall. Coverage for
all affected vehicles must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on
subarunet.com, which is available.
On July 5th, the VIN status for WRK-21 will display as “Open – Limited Parts Available” to allow repairs to
begin prior to owner notification.
Note: This recall replaces Subaru’s previous WUV-07 recall issued in January 2020 for certain 2019
model year Ascent vehicles. Vehicles affected by the previous recall must return to complete the
WRK-21 recall repair, even if the previous recall repair was completed. Once the WRK-21 tools and PAK
files are available, any open WUV-07 coverage will be expired. WUV-07 repairs must continue until the
WRK-21 recall repair is available.

Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions
On July 5th, the special service tools and reprogramming (PAK) files will be available, and the WRK-21
Product Campaign Bulletin will be published on STIS with detailed service and claim instructions.
Special tools to complete this recall will be shipped to each retailer at no charge:
A new tool kit, consisting of an OTC part number 16-3880X Video Scope and a special holder (guide)
used to align the scope’s camera portion, will be required to support this recall. This tool kit will be
shipped directly to each Subaru retailer as part of their normal stock order beginning on June 20, 2022.
Each retailer will be supplied with one of these tool kits at no charge.
Please store the tool kit securely and refrain from using it until the WRK-21 Product Campaign Bulletin is
released to STIS on Monday, June 27th. Once the bulletin is released, please be sure that your
technicians familiarize themselves with the entire work procedure prior to performing any repairs. In the
meantime, it is strongly recommended that the technicians read the detailed instruction manual
included in the kit completely to become familiar with operation of the tool. Proper usage of this
equipment is important to avoid scope damage.
Tool Number

Description

SOA635170

OTC 16-3880X Video Scope Kit

Images of the tool kit contents and holder are shown below. Direct additional inquiries to Subaru Service
Operations at: serviceoperations@subaru.com.

CVTF-LV fluid will be shipped to each retailer to support any necessary CVT replacements:
Beginning on June 20, 2022, SOA Parts will enter special orders into the system for each retailer to
automatically receive two 5-gallon pails of the Genuine Subaru Certified CVTF-LV fluid (part number
SOA748V0300) in preparation for this recall. This will be enough fluid to cover six transmission
replacements (three transmission replacements per 5-gallon pail), if necessary.
For any new orders for CVTF-LV fluid, retailers will still be required to call the Parts Information
Coordinators (PICs) to have the fluid released. Please have the VIN number(s) of the affected vehicles
available when calling.

For any questions or concerns regarding this, please contact the Parts Information Coordinators (PICs) at
1-866-782-2782, prompt #1, or your DPSM.
Owner Notification
Interim owner notification letters were sent by first class mail on February 7, 2022 announcing this recall
as required by federal law, as Subaru needed to acquire the special tools, parts, and reprogramming
(PAK) files required for this recall.
Affected vehicle owners will be notified that the remedy is available by first class mail, in phases
beginning in August and throughout a two month period.
Retailer Responsibility
Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle
covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore, any Authorized Subaru
Retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their
inventory prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to $21,000
per violation (i.e., for each vehicle), as provided in 49 CFR §578.6 and will also be in breach of the
Subaru Dealer Agreement.
Any vehicles listed in any recall or campaign that are in retailer stock must be:
•
•
•

Immediately identified
Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to repair
Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in the Bulletin

Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures, to correct all affected vehicles in
their inventory (new, used, demo & SSLP). Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken
into inventory or in for service, necessary steps should be taken to ensure the repair has been made
before selling or releasing the vehicle.