Service bulletin 12-253-18R

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)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10199949
Published by NHTSA	2021-08-04
Manufacturer's number	12-253-18R
Manufacturer's date	2021-07-16
NHTSA component	SEATS

NHTSA's summary

This bulletin provides a procedure to help identify the source of a squeaking, creaking or popping -type sound heard coming from the driver’s seat.

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Seats

Vehicles listed
SUBARU LEGACY	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
SUBARU OUTBACK	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

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
12-228-21	2021-11-02. Service bulletin. This bulletin provides a service procedure to address customer concerns of a “squeaking” -type sound from the front seat(s).
12-203-16R	2021-09-03. Service bulletin. This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of a squeaking sound originating from where the front seat belt buckle assembly attaches to the seat frame.
12-308-21	2021-02-01. Service bulletin. This bulletin announces a design change made to the front seat hinge bolts.
12-203-16R	2021-02-01. Service bulletin. This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of a squeaking sound originating from where the front seat belt buckle assembly attaches to the seat frame.
12-203-16R	2021-01-05. Service bulletin. This bulletin provides a procedure to address customer concerns of a squeaking sound originating from where the front seat belt buckle assembly attaches to the seat frame.
12-253-18R	2019-05-28. Service bulletin. This bulletin provides a procedure to help identify the source of a squeaking, creaking or popping -type sound heard coming from the driver?s seat. A change has been made to the Teflon bushings used in the seat cushion frame assembly.
12-253-18	2019-02-19. Service bulletin. This bulletin provides a procedure to help identify the source of a squeaking, creaking or popping -type sound heard coming from the driver?s seat. A change has been made to the Teflon bushings used in the seat cushion frame assembly.
07-124-17R	2018-06-11. Service bulletin. This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability to optimize the Body Integrated Unit (BIU) and address the following customer concerns: ? If a customer exits the vehicle with the ignition OFF, all the doors closed and leaves the hazard warning switch ON, after about 75 seconds, the access key (models with push-button start) or the RKE fob buttons (models with key start) will not lock or unlock the doors. ? The power driver seat position control buttons are inoperative when opening the driver?s door after the push-button ignition switch is OFF. ? The power rear gate (PRG) is inoperative when using the dashboard control buttons or the access key button when the push-button ignition switch is OFF and all doors are closed.
07-114-16	2017-10-27. Service bulletin. This bulletin announces availability of a new power seat memory control module designed to address customer concerns of the seat memory feature not operating properly. When pressing the buttons to recall one of the last seat positions memorized, the seat (height, backrest position, etc.) may not always return to the correct or exact positions previously selected (or stored in the control unit memory).
07-114-16R	2017-09-14. Service bulletin. This bulletin announces availability of a new power seat memory control module designed to address customer concerns of the seat memory feature not operating properly. When pressing the buttons to recall one of the last seat positions memorized, the seat (height, backrest position, etc.) may not always return to the correct or exact positions previously selected (or stored in the control unit memory).