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Service bulletins for the 2017 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.

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

By type

By component

By trouble code

Only bulletins with component: Transmission and driveline are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
16-131-202020-12-05. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. This Service Information Bulletin provides corrected diagnostics containing a revised flow for certain CVT solenoid related DTCs.
WTJ702020-11-16. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. The CVT fluid in affected vehicles was not filled to the proper specified level at the factory. The condition could cause a noticeable air vacuum noise or possibly even chain slip under high levels of shock load depending upon driving conditions (i.e. rapid acceleration or hill climbing). Extended driving under this low-fill condition is not recommended.
03-83-20R2020-03-02. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. This bulletin announces availability of new shift forks and the corresponding sleeve and hub assembly to address isolated customer concerns of a rattling / vibration -type sound from the shift knob. The sound is primarily reported while driving in 4th gear between 1900 and 2500 rpm.
16-103-16R2019-10-01. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified likely sources of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT’s oil pump chain cover and the input shaft oil seal. The repair involves chain cover removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover and replacement of the input shaft oil seal with the new, redesigned type.
16-103-16R2019-09-05. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. "This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified likely sources of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT’s oil pump chain cover and the input shaft oil seal. The repair involves chain cover removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover and replacement of the input shaft oil seal with the new, redesigned type"
16-103-16R2019-03-11. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified a likely source of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT?s oil pump chain cover. The repair involves removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover.
16-112-18R2019-02-19. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. This bulletin announces a design change to the CVT select lever (shifter) mechanism in response to isolated customer concerns of not being able to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle is in Park. The cause is contamination of the Park-Range switch internal components.
03-82-182018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; POWER TRAIN. 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.
03-82-182018-12-10. 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.
16-115-182018-11-05. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Powertrain Warranty coverage for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on the above listed models and model years from the original five (5) years or sixty thousand (60,000) miles (whichever comes first) to ten (10) years or one-hundred thousand (100,000) miles (whichever comes first). This change is not in response to any specific condition, rather it is to provide customers with added assurance regarding the function and overall performance of their CVT. Additionally, vehicles which are beyond one-hundred thousand (100,000) miles at the time customer notification letters are mailed are being offered additional coverage for a period of one-year from the date of the customer notification letters.
WTJ-702018-04-02. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. NON-TURBO MODELS - Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has determined that certain 2017 model year Forester normally aspirated vehicles equipped with CVT transmissions will require additional CVT fluid. The CVT fluid (CVTFII) in affected vehicles was not filled to the proper specified level at the factory. The condition could cause a noticeable air vacuum noise or possibly even chain slip under high levels of shock load depending upon driving conditions (i.e. rapid acceleration or hill climbing).
WTJ-70A2017-10-27. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. (non-Turbo) with CVT. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a Service Campaign for certain 2017 model year Forester normally aspirated vehicles with CVT transmissions. Subaru has determined vehicles affected by this Service Program require additional CVT fluid. The CVT fluid (CVTFII) in affected vehicles was not filled to the proper specified level at the factory. The condition could cause a noticeable air vacuum noise or possibly even chain slip under high levels of shock load depending upon driving conditions (i.e. rapid acceleration or hill climbing). Extended driving under this low-fill condition is not recommended.
WTJ702017-10-27. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; ENGINE. This announcement supersedes the announcement previously posted August 30, 2016. In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a service program for certain 2017 model year Forester non?Turbo vehicles with CVT. Description: The CVT fluid in affected vehicles was not filled to the proper specified level at the factory. The condition could cause a noticeable air vacuum noise or possibly even chain slip under high levels of shock load depending upon driving conditions (i.e. rapid acceleration or hill climbing). Extended driving under this low?fill condition is not recommended.
WTJ-70R2017-09-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Non-Turbo with CVT Models only. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a Service Campaign for certain 2017 model year Forester normally aspirated vehicles with CVT transmissions. Subaru has determined vehicles affected by this Service Program require additional CVT fluid. The CVT fluid (CVTFII) in affected vehicles was not filled to the proper specified level at the factory. The condition could cause a noticeable air vacuum noise or possibly even chain slip under high levels of shock load depending upon driving conditions (i.e. rapid acceleration or hill climbing). Extended driving under this low-fill condition is not recommended.
16-103-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified a likely source of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT's oil pump chain cover. The repair involves removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover.
16-103-162017-08-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN. Only Models Equipped with TR690 CVT only. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified a likely source of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT's oil pump chain cover. The repair involves removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover.

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