WenmarOpen by Wenmar Pro

Service bulletins for the 2009 Subaru Forester

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.

228 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

By type

By component

By trouble code

Bulletins, newest first
WQE-412016-10-27. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. "SUBARU HAS DETERMINED THAT AFFECTED VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU PUDDLE LIGHTS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE THE RELATED COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP WHEN EITHER THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR CONNECTORS ARE EXPOSED TO AN ELECTROLYTIC MOISTURE SOURCE (I.E.- SALT WATER) AND IT PENETRATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT OR THE PINS OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT CONNECTOR(S). IF THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR CONNECTORS WERE TO OVERHEAT, THEY COULD MELT AND POSE A RISK OF A FIRE. THIS RECALL WILL INVOLVE VEHICLE INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION OF INLINE FUSES AS NECESSARY."
WQQ-522016-09-23. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. THIS RECALL IS BEING ISSUED AS A RESULT OF INCOMPLETE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE IMPREZA AND FORESTER REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE WQK-47 BRAKE LINE CORROSION RECALL.
WQD-402016-09-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:CYBERSECURITY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. 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.
WQE-41RP2016-09-15. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. SUBARU HAS DETERMINED THAT AFFECTED VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU PUDDLE LIGHTS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE THE RELATED COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP WHEN EITHER THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR THEIR CONNECTORS ARE EXPOSED TO AN ELECTROLYTIC MOISTURE SOURCE (I.E. SALT WATER) AND IT PENETRATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT OR THE PINS OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT CONNECTOR(S). IF THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR CONNECTORS WERE TO OVERHEAT, THEY COULD MELT AND POSE A RISK OF A FIRE. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE PUDDLE LIGHTS. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ADD IN-LINE FUSES FOR BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE PUDDLE LIGHTS TO THOSE VEHICLES THAT DO NOT ALREADY HAVE FUSES CONTAINED IN THE WIRE HARNESSES.
WQD-40DA2016-09-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. 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.
18-165-132016-09-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. "THE PURPOSE OF THIS BULLETIN IS TO PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT CHANGES TO SERVICE MANUALS AVAILABLE VIA THE SUBARU TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (STIS) WEB SITE. THE TABLES CONTAINED WITHIN THIS BULLETIN ARE TO BE USED AS GUIDES FOR BECOMING AWARE OF THE LATEST CHANGES. WE ADVISE YOU TO ALWAYS REFER TO THE STIS WEB SITE WHEN LOOKING FOR THE LATEST SERVICE INFORMATION. PRINTED PAGES WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO UPDATE PRINTED SERVICE MANUALS. PAPER MANUALS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PAGE NUMBERING THEN WHAT IS REFLECTED BELOW, BASED ON MULTIPLE NEW AND REVISED PAGES. PLEASE REFER TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE STI WEB SITE FOR ALL FUTURE, UPDATE SERVICE MANUAL INFORMATION."
WQA-372016-06-02. Service bulletin. SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
16-92-142016-05-23. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
03-72-142016-05-23. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EQUIPMENT. HILL START ASSIST (HSA) WARNING LIGHT, DTC C0076 - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF THE HILL START ASSIST WARNING LAMP.
15-131-08R2016-05-23. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
12-144-132016-05-23. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS; VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES AN INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS A MISALIGNMENT OF THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER WINDOW SASH WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FRONT DOOR GLASS TO BIND OR MOVE SLOWLY WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO CAUSE ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW AUTO-UP FEATURE (IF EQUIPPED). IN SOME CASES, WHEN CLOSING THE WINDOW, THE SYSTEM MAY MIS-INTERPRET THE BINDING CONDITION AND ACTIVATE THE PINCHING HAZARD PREVENTION FEATURE AND REVERSE THE MOTOR’S DIRECTION.
12-153-132016-05-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
WQD-402016-05-13. Service bulletin. ENGINE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
WQE-412016-05-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
18-165-132016-05-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
18-164-122016-05-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
WQA-372016-05-13. Service bulletin. SEAT BELTS. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
SB-02-155-14-R2015-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUBARU: INFORMATION REGARDING REPLACEMENT REVISION OF AIR INTAKE DUCT FOR TURBOCHARGER WHERE INSULATOR PORTION OF DUCT SEPARATES FROM DUCT AND LEAKS BOOST PRESSURE, LOSS OF POWER AND INCREASED SOUND LEVELS OCCURS. MODEL 2005-12 LEGACY, OUTBACK TURBO, 2009-13 FORESTER TURBO, 2008-14 IMPREZA WRX. *PE
SB-16-92-142015-03-03. Service bulletin. STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUBARU: REPLACING COOLANT PIPING LOCATED ADJACENT TO RADIATOR THAT'S CORRODED AND DAMAGED DUE TO ROAD SALT AND/OR SALT WATER ACCUMULATION AND NEW REPLACEMENT IS DOUBLE THICK TEFLON COATING. MODEL 2009-13 FORESTER AT, 20089-11 IMPREZA AT. *PE UPDATED 08/05/2015 *LJ
TSB-2-20-142014-05-21. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. SUBARU: THE CUSTIOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF THE INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF THE HILL START ASSIST WARNING LAMP. STORED DTC C0076 WITH DETAIL CODES 2610H AND/OR 2620H. *JS
WQD-402013-03-26. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. SUBARU: OVER TIME, FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER EFFICIENCY DEGRADES BEYOND AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL AND RELEASES AIR POLLUTANTS THAT REQUIRES THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED AND ECM TO BE REPROGRAMMED. MODELS 2008-2009 LEGACY, OUTBACK, FORESTER. *PE
SB-0014872012-12-04. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS: ALLEGED COUNTERFEIT AIR BAG. SUBARU: INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED REGARDING COUNTERFEIT AIR BAGS, BEING USED AS REPLACEMENT PARTS AND INSTALLED IN CERTAIN VEHICLES. MODELS 2008-2011 LEGACY, OUTBACK, IMPREZA, FORESTER. *PE
SPB-WVU-312011-06-29. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. SUBARU SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ECM REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE. 2006-2010 LEGACY/OUTBACK/FORESTER/IMPREZA. *RM UPDATED 9/26/11. *PE
WVM-232011-06-28. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. 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
SB-05-50-10R2011-06-08. Service bulletin. TIRES. SUBARU: THERE IS A STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO AN IMPORPER WHEEL BALANCE. *RM

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.