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Service bulletin WVM-23

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
TypeService bulletin
NHTSA id10038957
Published by NHTSA2011-06-28
Manufacturer's numberWVM-23
Manufacturer's date2011-03-23
NHTSA componentENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

NHTSA's summary

SUBARU SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IS CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO DEGRADE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *RM

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Electrical system, Engine, Software

Vehicles listed
SUBARU FORESTER2008, 2009, 2010
SUBARU LEGACY2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
SUBARU OUTBACK2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
WVU31R2018-04-02. Service bulletin. 2.5 Liter N/A engine only. REVISED. Subaru of America, Inc. has determined that vehicles affected by this Service Program require ECM reprogramming. A modification to the Engine Control Module software logic has been developed to improve the performance of the emission control system. This software change will not adversely affect fuel economy or performance. This software update is intended to improve vehicle emissions when the vehicle is operated in cold weather and the engine is turned off and restarted within short periods of time such as in several minute intervals. The A/F sensor contains a heating element, which is controlled by the ECM, and which assists the sensor in reaching an optimum temperature, resulting in better accuracy. When the vehicle is operated under the conditions described above, there could be a longer than desired delay in the ECM?s turning on the A/F sensor heating element, resulting in higher than desired emissions. This software enhancement will correct that condition.
15-162-132016-12-30. Service bulletin. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING THE BLUETOOTH HANDS-FREE MICROPHONE WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE AS AN INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PART (SEPARATE FROM THE MAP LIGHT ASSEMBLY). THE REPLACEMENT MICROPHONE IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE BACKGROUND NOISE WHEN USING THE HANDS-FREE TELEPHONE FEATURE.
15-162-13R2016-11-18. Service bulletin. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING THE BLUETOOTH HANDS-FREE MICROPHONE WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE AS AN INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PART (SEPARATE FROM THE MAP LIGHT ASSEMBLY). THE REPLACEMENT MICROPHONE IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE BACKGROUND NOISE WHEN USING THE HANDS-FREE TELEPHONE FEATURE.
WQD-402016-09-16. Service bulletin. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. HAS DETERMINED VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SERVICE PROGRAM REQUIRE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ECM REPROGRAMMING. FOR VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SERVICE PROGRAM, EFFICIENCY OF THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME. IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EFFICIENCY DEGRADES BEYOND AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL, THE VEHICLE MAY BE RELEASING AIR POLLUTANTS WHICH EXCEED CALIFORNIA STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPROGRAM THE ECM SOFTWARE LOGIC, IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS SOFTWARE CHANGE WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT FUEL ECONOMY OR PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE.
WQD-40DA2016-09-14. Service bulletin. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. HAS DETERMINED THAT VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SERVICE PROGRAM REQUIRE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ECM REPROGRAMMING. FOR VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SERVICE PROGRAM, EFFICIENCY OF THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME. IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER EFFICIENCY DEGRADES BEYOND AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL, THE VEHICLE MAY BE RELEASING AIR POLLUTANTS THAT EXCEED CALIFORNIA STANDARDS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPROGRAM THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE LOGIC WHICH IMPROVES MANAGEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS SOFTWARE CHANGE WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT FUEL ECONOMY OR PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS AND ECM REPROGRAMMING PAK FILES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL MODELS AT THE TIME THIS SERVICE PROGRAM IS INITIALLY RELEASED. PAK FILES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHEDULE FOUND ON PAGE 4 OF THE WQD-40 BULLETIN. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM AFFECTS A HIGH VOLUME OF VEHICLES WITHIN THE AFFECTED STATES, MAILING OF OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WILL BE PHASED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE. THIS SCHEDULE COINCIDES WITH REPLACEMENT PART AND PAK FILE AVAILABILITY.
SB-WVM-232010-04-07. Service bulletin. SUBARU SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) REPROGRAMMING. UNDER CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING PATTERNS, SUCH AS HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY/UPHILL DRIVING AND/OR ACCELERATING WITH HIGH ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, THE EFFICIENCY OF AN AFFECTED VEHICLE'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY BEGIN TO DEGRADE BEYOND DESIGN PARAMETERS. CSC LETTER WAS RECEIVED. *PE