Service bulletins for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
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.
525 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.
By type
By component
By trouble code
By topic
| 07-141-18 | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; ENGINE. This Service Information Bulletin announces a change to the retaining clip used to secure the engine harness on the models listed above. The change to a ?Tree Type? clip from an ?Anchor Type? was made to secure the harness tighter and improve assembly line productivity. Comparison images are provided below. |
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| 15-220-18R | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing concerns of the Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto feature not connecting or launching properly when a compatible device is connected to the head unit. |
| 03-82-18 | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the clutch release bearing used on the models as listed above. During assembly of the bearing, a different type of grease is used which has a higher resistance to heat. In cases where the operator keeps a foot on the clutch pedal for extended periods, an increased amount of heat is generated which can cause the grease inside the bearing to deteriorate. In a case of prolonged clutch pedal application, seizure of the bearing can occur with potential damage to other related components. |
| 10-89-18 | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE. This bulletin provides a procedure and precautions to use when addressing a customer concern of an improper fit or gap condition of the center vent grille assembly as shown in the comparison photos below. |
| 15-211-17R | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). The following information addresses reprogramming file availability and a software update installation procedure to provide optimization to the new Harman Gen 3 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models as listed above. The procedure will involve either downloading the software update files from Subarunet (or using those sent directly from Nuspire) and transferring them onto a flash drive for head unit installation. |
| 07-141-18 | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; ENGINE. This Service Information Bulletin announces a change to the retaining clip used to secure the engine harness on the models listed above. The change to a ?Tree Type? clip from an ?Anchor Type? was made to secure the harness tighter and improve assembly line productivity. Comparison images are provided below. |
| 15-211-17R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. The following information addresses reprogramming file availability and a software update installation procedure to provide optimization to the new Harman Gen 3 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models as listed above. The procedure will involve either downloading the software update files from Subarunet (or using those sent directly from Nuspire) and transferring them onto a flash drive for head unit installation. It is VERY IMPORTANT to read and understand this information completely to understand all changes from prior releases before proceeding. |
| 16-116-18 | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES. This Service Information bulletin provides details about revised CVT select lever (shifter) components. The shape of the lock plate and output of the shift lock solenoid have been changed. |
| 04-22-18 | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. STEERING; STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. This bulletin announces availability of a new electric power steering (EPS) rack assembly. The new EPS assembly addresses a limited number of customer concerns involving a rattling-type sound from the steering which may be heard when driving on rough roads. |
| WTT-79R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; ENGINE. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is initiating a service program for certain 2017-2019 MY Impreza vehicles, and certain 2018-2019 MY Crosstrek vehicles. This service program involves installation of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM. Subaru has determined that due to an engine programming issue, the affected vehicles may stall when coming to a stop or driving at a low speed (under 15 MPH) when the air conditioning is operating at maximum capacity. Under certain hot weather conditions, when the vehicle?s air conditioning is running at full capacity, the engine programming may not account for the additional load placed on the engine when slowing down or coming to a stop. In some cases, this could cause the engine to stall requiring the driver to immediately restart the vehicle. |
| 02-175-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV). This bulletin announces a design change to the PCV valve used on the models listed above. Customers may have concerns of white smoke from the exhaust and / or in some cases, excessive engine oil consumption. |
| 15-220-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing concerns of the Apple CarPlay and / or Android Auto feature not connecting or launching properly when a compatible device is connected to the head unit. |
| 15-231-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing specific and general audio/sound related concerns. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide-Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will assist you with this diagnosis and is required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. Once the questionnaire is completed, follow the questionflow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning to understand the flow for the listed concerns. If the concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual: Infotainment (Diagnostics) > Diagnostics with Phenomena section as a starting point. |
| 15-230-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns involving Bluetooth (BT) functionality. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. If the concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual ?Infotainment (Diagnostics) - Diagnostics with Phenomena? section as a starting point. |
| 15-229-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing clock-related customer concerns. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. If the concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual ?Infotainment (Diagnostics) - Diagnostics with Phenomena? section as a starting point. |
| 15-228-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing a customer concern of the display screen being either frozen (unresponsive) or black (blank). Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. If the concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual ?Infotainment (Diagnostics) > Diagnostics with Phenomena? section as a starting point. |
| 15-227-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns of the Navigation system?s functionality. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. If the customer?s concern is not listed, check the Service Manual ?Infotainment (Diagnostics) - Diagnostics with Phenomena? section as a starting point. |
| 15-226-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns regarding USB functionality. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. If the concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual ?Infotainment (Diagnostics) - Diagnostics with Phenomena? section as a starting point. |
| 15-221-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). This bulletin provides helpful information about operating conditions observed in the field for Technicians to use when diagnosing customer concerns which may arise while operating Harman Gen 3.0 and 3.1 Navigation and Display Audio systems. We will continue to add to this bulletin as more information becomes available. |
| WTT-79 | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). Subaru of America, Inc. has initiated a service program for certain 2017?2019 MY Impreza vehicles, and certain 2018?2019 MY Crosstrek vehicles. This service program involves installation of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM. |
| 15-232-18 | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS. This Service Information bulletin announces a change made to the lens portion of the fog light assembly. The new lens has optimized light distribution characteristics while remaining interchangeable with the original type. |
| 15-233-18 | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This Service Information bulletin provides a procedure to use for addressing a customer concern of a delayed or slow response when using the soft keys on the touch screen of the audio / navigation head unit. |
| 15-211-17R | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. The following information addresses reprogramming file availability and a software update installation procedure to provide optimization to the new Harman Gen 3 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models as listed above. The procedure will involve either downloading the software update files from Subarunet (or using those sent directly from Nuspire) and transferring them onto a flash drive for head unit installation. It is VERY IMPORTANT to read and understand this information completely to understand all changes from prior releases before proceeding. |
| 15-231-18 | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing specific and general audio/sound related concerns. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide-Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will assist you with this diagnosis and is required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. Once the questionnaire is completed, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning to understand the flow for the listed concerns. |
| 15-230-18 | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns involving Bluetooth (BT) functionality. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.