Service bulletins for the 2018 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.
411 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.
By type
By component
By trouble code
| 16-112-18R | 2019-03-25. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE; 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. |
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| 15-237-19R | 2019-03-25. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. This bulletin provides a diagnostic procedure for a chattering-type sound originating from the a/c compressor assembly. In the case where a refrigerant leak is identified as coming from the a/c condenser, the level of refrigerant oil may also drop and cause the internal vanes of the compressor to make a chattering-type sound. A new-style A/C condenser has been established with enhanced corrosion resistance. |
| 15-237-19 | 2019-03-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. This bulletin provides a diagnostic procedure for a chattering-type sound originating from the a/c compressor assembly. In the case where a refrigerant leak is identified as coming from the a/c condenser, the level of refrigerant oil may also drop and cause the internal vanes of the compressor to make a chattering-type sound. A new-style A/C condenser has been established with enhanced corrosion resistance. |
| 04-23-18R | 2019-03-11. Service bulletin. STEERING; STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK; STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. This bulletin provides helpful tips to simplify the diagnosis of sound concerns originating in the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox (steering rack) assembly. If a vehicle presents with a ?rattling?, ?knocking? or possibly a ?clanging? type sound coming from the steering rack and / or a vibration felt through the steering wheel, use the flow chart below to help make diagnosis of the concern easier. |
| 17-17-13R | 2019-03-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; AIR BAGS. This Bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system. |
| 15-205-16R | 2019-02-25. Service bulletin. 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. |
| 11-187-18 | 2019-02-25. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE); FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces reprogramming file availability to optimize the ECM and address isolated customer concerns of hesitation on acceleration. The new logic provides enhanced ignition timing control during Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) operation. |
| 16-112-18R | 2019-02-19. 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. |
| 03-82-18 | 2018-12-10. 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. |
| 15-214-17R | 2018-12-10. 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. |
| 15-199-16R | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. 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. |
| 16-117-18 | 2018-12-10. 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. |
| 15-208-17R | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.. This Service Information bulletin announces availability of an enhancement to the Gracenote database included in the vehicles listed above equipped with F10 7? Navigation and 7? Display Audio head units. When the user plays a pre-recorded CD, Gracenote recognizes the disc then shows the artist and track name information along with the album cover art on the head unit display (when available). This enhancement brings the currently installed database up to date with the most recent information available. |
| 03-82-18 | 2018-12-10. 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. |
| 15-199-16R | 2018-12-10. 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. |
| 16-117-18 | 2018-12-10. 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. |
| 15-208-17R | 2018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This Service Information bulletin announces availability of an enhancement to the Gracenote database included in the vehicles listed above equipped with F10 7? Navigation and 7? Display Audio head units. When the user plays a pre-recorded CD, Gracenote recognizes the disc then shows the artist and track name information along with the album cover art on the head unit display (when available). This enhancement brings the currently installed database up to date with the most recent information available. |
| 04-23-18 | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. STEERING. This Service Information bulletin provides helpful tips to simplify the diagnosis of sound concerns originating in the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox (steering rack) assembly. If a vehicle presents with a ?rattling?, ?knocking? or possibly a ?clanging? type sound coming from the steering rack and / or a vibration felt through the steering wheel, use the flow chart below to help make diagnosis of the concern easier. |
| 16-116-18 | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES. This Service Information bulletin provides details about revised CVT select lever (shifter) components. The shape of the lock plate and output of the shift lock solenoid have been changed. |
| 15-227-18R | 2018-11-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns of the Navigation system?s functionality. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will help with diagnosis and will be required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. While completing the questionnaire, follow the question flow based on the customer concern. Answer each related question noting the results to each in detail while performing the diagnostics. Review the entire bulletin before beginning in order to understand the flow for the listed concern. If the customer?s concern is not listed, check the Service Manual ?Infotainment (Diagnostics) - Diagnostics with Phenomena? section as a starting point. |
| 15-232-18 | 2018-10-01. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS. This Service Information bulletin announces a change made to the lens portion of the fog light assembly. The new lens has optimized light distribution characteristics while remaining interchangeable with the original type. |
| 18-195-18 | 2018-10-01. 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 15-205-16R | 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. |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.