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
| 11-168-16 | 2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM. These new files will address customer concerns of Check Engine light illumination resulting from DTC P013F or P014B* being stored in the ECM memory. *DTC P014B is applicable to 3.6L models only. |
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| 12-209-16 | 2017-10-27. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE. This bulletin announces a design change to the front speaker grille. The new grilles have increased retention capabilities to address customer concerns of a loose fit. |
| WTJ-70A | 2017-10-27. 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. |
| 15-204-16 | 2017-10-27. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. The exchange program policy can also be found in Sections 8.4.9 and 11.2.10 of your Claims Policies and Procedures Manual found in Subarunet. |
| WTJ70 | 2017-10-27. 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-70R | 2017-09-14. 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. |
| 15-204-16R | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. The exchange program policy can also be found in Sections 8.4.9 and 11.2.10 of your Claims Policies and Procedures Manual found in Subarunet. |
| 11-174-17R | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM and address the following customer concerns: * Check Engine light coming on (with DTC P05A0 stored in memory). * Potential battery discharge (dead battery) after repeated periods of short-trip driving. * A high (or "hanging") engine RPM after depressing the clutch pedal (Forester only). |
| 04-18-17 | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. MODELS WITH EYESIGHT ONLY. This bulletin announces availability of a new Electronic Power Steering (EPS) controller to address a very limited number of cases involving DTC B281C "INCOMPATIBLE WITH EYESIGHT (EPS)" in the EyeSight system. |
| 11-175-17 | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM and address the following customer concerns: * Engine RPM surge on light acceleration caused by improper EGR operation * Potential battery discharge (dead battery) after repeated periods of short-trip driving. |
| 11-174-17R | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the ECM and address the following customer concerns: * Check Engine light coming on (with DTC P05A0 stored in memory). * Potential battery discharge (dead battery) after repeated periods of short-trip driving. * A high (or "hanging") engine RPM after depressing the clutch pedal (Forester only). |
| 11-173-17 | 2017-09-14. 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. |
| 07-118-17R | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. Models with SRVD Only. This bulletin provides revised diagnostic and repair procedures to address DTC B2327 for the Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD), Blind-Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system on the applicable models listed above. Under very specific (rare) conditions, the radar function of the SRVD system may experience a communication error and cause the SRVD warning lamp to illuminate. In addition, under certain highway driving conditions, an improper signal calculation by the system may cause a Cancel Code B2328 to set which will also cause the SRVD warning lamp to illuminate. |
| 02-168-17 | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS; ENGINE. This Service Information bulletin announces a material change to the engine accessory drive / v-belt made to address customer concerns of a slipping belt (squeal or chirping) sound. |
| 02-166-17R | 2017-09-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This bulletin outlines design changes made to the upper oil pan assembly on FA and FB engines used on the models listed above. There have been isolated cases where the sealer used between the upper oil pan and the crankcase has become displaced resulting in engine oil seepage. Revisions made to the upper oil pan casting: * The mating flange thickness of the casting in the area identified as the cause for the seepage has been increased by 5.5mm. (See images provided in the Parts Information section below.) This thickness increase creates the need for a longer bolt to provide proper tightening and retention. * An additional mounting point has been added to the ribbing inside the casting to increase retention of the steel baffle plate and eliminate vibration. |
| 01-174-16 | 2017-08-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. This Service Information bulletin provides a guideline to use for placement of required or mandated windshield stickers (inside and / or outside) on vehicles equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and High Beam Assist (HBA) features. Examples of these types of stickers include: * Government facility / Military base access stickers * State-mandated Vehicle Safety Inspection and Emission Compliance stickers * Parking Permit Stickers The cameras used by both of these features require a clear, unobstructed "view" through the windshield for their proper operation. The illustration below shows the "Prohibited area" in gray. Any stickers mandated to be placed within the Prohibited area should be placed to the right of the EyeSight stereo camera and HBA camera, outside of the Prohibited area as shown in the illustration below. Viewed from inside the vehicle, the left edge of the sticker must be placed no more than 14 inches (slightly less is preferred as a "cushion" for measuring variation) from the right edge of the windshield as shown in the illustration and indicated by the box outlined in blue. Always consult state and local regulations applicable to windshield sticker placement. |
| 16-103-16R | 2017-08-14. 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. |
| 15-196-16R | 2017-08-14. 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. |
| 15-205-16R | 2017-08-14. 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). |
| 15-204-16R | 2017-08-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. The exchange program policy can also be found in Sections 8.4.9 and 11.2.10 of your Claims Policies and Procedures Manual found in Subarunet. CONTENTS Within the terms of the Basic New Car Warranty and the one year Replacement Parts Warranty, the Exchange Program provides for replacement of a defective unit from the manufacturer. |
| 02-166-17 | 2017-08-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This bulletin outlines design changes made to the upper oil pan assembly on FA and FB engines used on the models listed above. There have been isolated cases where the sealer used between the upper oil pan and the crankcase has become displaced resulting in engine oil seepage. |
| 09-65-16 | 2017-08-14. Service bulletin. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. This bulletin announces a design change of the fuel injector used on 2.0L DIT models to prevent water intrusion. A new silicone rubber cover has been developed and incorporated into production for this purpose. |
| 09-64-16 | 2017-08-14. Service bulletin. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. This Service Information bulletin announces a change to the shape of the rubber cap used on the flange nuts securing the sub-level sending unit to the fuel tank. In addition, two of the caps are now used in production instead of only one. This change was made to enhance productivity during vehicle assembly. |
| 16-103-16 | 2017-08-14. 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.