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
| 12-204-16R | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE; SUSPENSION. This bulletin provides potential source locations and procedures to help isolate areas of the vehicle which may be generating popping, clicking or creaking sounds when the body is in a ?twisting? condition. This can occur while driving on rough, irregular or uneven road surfaces or even during lowspeed maneuvers such as pulling into or backing out of a driveway. Production information and field reports received indicate where multiple layers of the vehicle?s body structure are spot-welded together, primarily in the ?D?-pillar and rear gate opening areas, a ?stick-slip? condition can occur between the layers and cause these types of sounds to occur. Service information has been released previously describing similar conditions which involved accessing and then punching or separating the layers of metal and applying a lubricant to prevent recurrence. Those same techniques may also provide good results on these vehicles too but, in some cases, a Body Shop repair may be required. |
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| 07-108-16R | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. SEATS. This Service Information Bulletin provides a revised troubleshooting procedure and tips to follow when diagnosing a DTC B1650- ?Occupant Classification System Malfunction?. This DTC may also be accompanied by B1760, B1761, B1771 or B1795 as found in the Occupant Detection control module. The new procedure is designed to help avoid unnecessary part (seat cushion assembly) replacements. |
| 15-204-16R | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. 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. |
| 15-205-16R | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT. 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. |
| 15-205-16R | 2018-08-20. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. 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. It is important to read through and understand this information completely before proceeding. These latest software updates contain new logic. |
| 12-234-18 | 2018-08-20. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. This bulletin provides a repair procedure for replacing the foam cushion installed between the top front edge of the IP and the windshield glass. Use the supplied Service Procedure to address a customer concern involving the foam cushion becoming visible above the IP near the defroster vent outlets. |
| 07-136-18 | 2018-08-20. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. TURBO MODELS ONLY. This bulletin announces availability of new parts to address a limited number of reports involving an engine vibration felt when at idle after the engine is up to operating temperature. In some cases, the above engine misfire DTCs may also result causing the Check Engine light to illuminate in error. |
| 04-21-18 | 2018-08-20. Service bulletin. STEERING. This bulletin announces availability of a new Electronic Power Steering (EPS) gear box assembly designed to address a VERY limited number of customer concerns regarding uneven steering effort felt when turning left or right. In areas where high concentrations of road salt are used to melt ice and snow, corrosion may develop and cause a portion of the gear box housing to crack if the vehicle were to suffer a large enough impact from hitting a pothole or similar type of road hazard. |
| 16-112-18R | 2018-07-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 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. |
| 15-199-16R | 2018-07-16. Service bulletin. 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 and listed below involving the Clarion Display Audio unit with 6.2? display. The procedure will involve downloading the applicable software update files from Subarunet then loading them onto a flash drive for audio unit installation. |
| 15-177-14R | 2018-07-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. ONLY MODELS with AVN Navigation or Display Audio system. This bulletin provides information to help diagnose and address different conditions relating to customer concerns which may arise when operating the new-generation ?Gen 2? and ?Gen 2.1? F10 Navigation and Display Audio systems. We will continue to add more helpful tips to this TSB as they become available. |
| 07-128-18R | 2018-07-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Service Information bulletin provides a measurement and adjustment procedure for the stop lamp switch. An improperly adjusted (or faulty) stop lamp switch can cause any of the DTCs listed to set and result in the related system?s warning lamp to illuminate. |
| 05-63-18 | 2018-07-16. Service bulletin. STEERING. This bulletin announces a design change made to the forward bushing used in the front lower control arm to address customer concerns of a rattle-type sound and / or a possible vibration felt in the steering wheel. The material for the cushion portion of the front bushing has been changed. |
| 15-223-18 | 2018-06-18. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. This bulletin outlines design changes made to the Condenser Assembly to help increase productivity during assembly. In addition, the new part utilizes materials with increased anti-corrosion performance. |
| 10-88-18 | 2018-06-18. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. This bulletin announces a change made to the Automatic Climate Control Head Assembly. The change will address concerns where the temperature selected for cooling ?feels? warmer to the customer than the temperature displayed. The new programming will adjust the threshold for when cooling occurs to improve the air conditioning system?s cooling effect making it more closely match the customer?s selected temperature. |
| 09-68-18 | 2018-06-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the exhaust system cover. The purpose of the change is to improve parts integration (or ?commonality?) between models. |
| 07-108-16R | 2018-06-18. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; SEATS. This Service Information Bulletin provides a revised troubleshooting procedure and tips to follow when diagnosing a DTC B1650-?Occupant Classification System Malfunction?. This DTC may also be accompanied by B1760, B1761, B1771 or B1795 as found in the Occupant Detection control module. The new procedure is designed to help avoid unnecessary part (seat cushion assembly) replacements. |
| 06-59-17R | 2018-06-18. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS. This Service Information bulletin announces availability of a new front brake pad shim kit to specifically address customer concerns of a squeaking or squealing sound on the models listed. The new shims incorporate a new laminated design with increased damping characteristics to eliminate vibration identified as the root cause of the sound. The new kits include shims only (NO brake pads). |
| 04-20-18 | 2018-06-18. Service bulletin. STEERING. This Service Information bulletin announces a running change made to the Steering Angle Sensor. The (new) -style originally used on Legacy and Outback has been adapted. |
| 07-133-18 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. ENGINE. 2.0L Turbor Models only. This Service Information Bulletin announces design changes to the engine?s knock sensor which will help improve vehicle assembly line efficiency and increase durability. In some cases, the Check Engine light may illuminate and a knock sensor-related DTC set in the ECM memory: P0327, P0328, P0332 and P0333. |
| 02-173-18 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER. 2.0L Turbo Models only. This bulletin announces availability of a special turbocharger air intake duct designed to prevent EXTREMELY RARE occurrence of ice formation from condensation in the duct?s PCV system passages. |
| 12-231-18R | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; STRUCTURE; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS. This bulletin announces a design change to the air vent grille located in the lower portion of the trunk (or cargo) area. The shutters of the vent grille are designed to open briefly and relieve cabin pressure when the doors are shut with the windows fully closed. The vent grilles have rubber ?shutters? which occasionally, may catch on the frame (case) portion and not close properly allowing outside air / odor to enter the cabin. |
| 07-133-18 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. 2.0L Turbor Models only. This Service Information Bulletin announces design changes to the engine?s knock sensor which will help improve vehicle assembly line efficiency and increase durability. In some cases, the Check Engine light may illuminate and a knock sensor-related DTC set in the ECM memory: P0327, P0328, P0332 and P0333. |
| 02-173-18 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER. 2.0L Turbo Models only. This bulletin announces availability of a special turbocharger air intake duct designed to prevent EXTREMELY RARE occurrences of ice formation from condensation in the duct?s PCV system passages. |
| 15-177-14R | 2018-06-04. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). This bulletin provides information to help diagnose and address different conditions relating to customer concerns which may arise when operating the new-generation ?Gen 2? and ?Gen 2.1? F10 Navigation and Display Audio systems. |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.