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Service bulletins for the 2016 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.

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

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Only bulletins with component: Electrical system are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
UPDATE - Removal2018-03-13. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). The corrected update files are now available for download from Subarunet. TSB 15-20516R has been revised with new file names where applicable and re-posted to STIS.
15-205-16R2018-03-13. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). This bulletin announces new reprogramming file availability and the software installation procedure to address additional operational concerns received from the field and listed below involving ?Gen 2? F10 Navigation and Display Audio units with 7? display. The procedure will involve downloading the applicable software update files then loading them onto two flash drives for audio unit installation.
11-169-162017-10-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER. Turbo models only. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM. These new files will address customer concerns of: ? Spark knock (ping) during high intake air temperature operation ? Surge on acceleration due to phantom knock detection ? Check Engine light illumination resulting from DTC P2270 and / or DTC P2270 and / or P0137 being stored in the ECM memory.
07-112-16R2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. New Alternator Assembly. This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosis and repair of DTC P0300 which may result from fluctuation of the alternator?s current output outside of the specified limits.
15-198-16R2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT. Revised TSB: This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and the software installation procedure to address a group of operational concerns received from the field listed below involving ?Gen 2? F10 Navigation and Display Audio units with 7? display. The procedure will involve downloading the applicable software update files from Subarunet then loading them onto a flash drive for audio unit installation. It is important to read through and understand this information completely before proceeding.
10-84-16R2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces the availability of a new Air Conditioning compressor / clutch assembly to address customer concerns of the system not operating. Electrical windings located inside the clutch assembly have been changed to eliminate the condition. The service procedure will involve replacement of the A/C compressor and clutch as a complete assembly.
07-112-16R2017-09-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR. 2.5L MODELS ONLY. This bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosis and repair of DTC P0300 which may result from fluctuation of the alternator's current output outside of the specified limits.
11-173-172017-09-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces availability of ECM reprogramming files designed to optimize the ECM for improving HVAC blower fan speed control. There have been a limited number of cases with reports describing the blower fan speed fluctuating / changing without input from the customer when the blower is set to maximum speed.
15-198-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability and the software installation procedure to address a group of operational concerns received from the field listed below involving "Gen 2" F10 Navigation and Display Audio units with 7" display. The procedure will involve downloading the applicable software update files from Subarunet then loading them onto a flash drive for audio unit installation. It is important to read through and understand this information completely before proceeding.
11-164-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM. These files will address customer concerns of a slight surging / decrease in engine power condition between approx. 2000-2500 RPM on light acceleration during high ambient temperatures (intake air temperatures exceeding 104 deg. F).
15-196-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB: Only those models equipped with Starlink Telematics. Data Communication Module (DCM) Procedures for Provisioning Failure, Inspection / Repair. VERY IMPORTANT: This procedure applies to vehicles with VINs shared with your retailer as leads through the STARLINK Notifications Dashboard found on Subarunet (see example below) which indicate a possible concern with the activation status of the SUBARU STARLINK Safety and Security Services feature.
15-196-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONLY 2016-2017MY: Those Models equipped with STARLINK Telematics. Provisioning is the process by which the DCM receives the subscription request and activates the related DCM features requested as outlined in the specific subscription contract. If provisioning is not successful then the DCM may remain in an inactive state and the requested services may not be activated for the customer. Field investigation has found that this may be a result of three possible conditions. * The DCM may be off the network due to vehicle storage or other network factors. * The DCM may be lacking power or ground due to some body side electrical concern. * The DCM may have an internal failure.
15-205-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This bulletin announces new reprogramming file availability and the software installation procedure to address additional operational concerns received from the field and listed below involving "Gen 2" F10 Navigation and Display Audio units with 7" display. The procedure will involve downloading the applicable software update files from Subarunet then loading them onto a flash drive for audio unit installation. It is important to read through and understand this information completely before proceeding. These latest software updates contain new logic to address the following concerns: * Mirrorlink 1.1 updates * Enable Mute function for Navigation guidance * Incomplete display of intersection names in combination meter * Increased accuracy of the XM Traffic information displayed * Intermittent delay (approximately 1 minute) in display of map information after initial start-up of Navigation function (2015MY Legacy and Outback only).
07-102-152017-03-08. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW FOR INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM. WHEN RECEIVING A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A PROBLEM, E.G., AN INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATES OR A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CANCEL CODE INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED AFTER CONNECTING THE SELECT MONITOR (SSM). IMPORTANT NOTE: CANCEL CODE 60-A0H IS DETECTED (AND AS A RESULT, STORED IN MEMORY) EVERY TIME THE IGNITION KEY IS SWITCHED OFF ON 2016MY FORESTER ONLY. THIS CONDITION IS THE RESULT OF A SOFTWARE CHARACTERISTIC WHICH HAS NO EFFECT ON THE OPERATION OF THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM BUT MAY IMPACT HOW THE SYSTEM IS DIAGNOSED SHOULD AN ACTUAL FAULT OCCUR.
08-39-152017-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE FOR RESETTING THE LIFETIME FUEL CONSUMPTION FUNCTION OF THE MFD. WHENEVER REPLACING THE MFD AND / OR COMBINATION METER, THE LIFETIME FUEL CONSUMPTION FUNCTION OF THE MFD MUST BE RESET FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION TO DISPLAY GOING FORWARD. IF NOT RESET, ERRONEOUS VALUES (EITHER EXTREMELY HIGH IN THE CASE OF A MFD REPLACEMENT OR EXTREMELY LOW FOR A COMBINATION METER REPLACEMENT) FOR LIFETIME FUEL CONSUMPTION WILL BE DISPLAYED. THERE IS NO WAY TO TRANSFER THE OLD / EXISTING LIFETIME FUEL CONSUMPTION RESULTS TO THE NEW MFD OR COMBINATION METER ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED. AS A RESULT, AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE MFD AND / OR COMBINATION METER, ALL CALCULATIONS WILL START FRESH FOLLOWING PERFORMANCE OF THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES.

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