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Service bulletins for the 2020 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.

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

By type

By component

By trouble code

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Only bulletins with component: Equipment and accessories are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
15-195-16R2020-05-04. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. This service information bulletin provides important information regarding diagnosis and replacement (when applicable) of the STARLINK Telematics Data Communication Module (DCM). All models with STARLINK Telematics System.
07-162-19R2020-05-04. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin announces availability of reprogramming files to optimize the Body Integrated Unit (BIU) operation of the automatic door lock (auto-lock / unlock) feature.
07-175-202020-04-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This service information bulletin outlines a procedure to prevent the loss of and the need to reset the customer's Driver Monitoring System (DMS) settings when servicing the vehicle.
12-258-202020-04-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE. This bulletin provides a procedure for addressing a rattling sound caused by the sunroof deflector contacting the sunroof rail assembly. This sound may be heard while closing an outside door when all the windows are closed.
15-249-19R2020-04-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
17-17-13R2020-04-02. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system.
07-75-13R2020-04-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. This Bulletin provides information regarding DTC P0606 related specifically to the determination of this code on Forester Turbo and applicable WRX models.
12-279-20R2020-04-02. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This bulletin announces availability of new outer door handles to address isolated concerns of the chrome finish peeling.
18-198-202020-04-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. 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.
Subaru Tech Tips2020-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newsletter. (QMR of the Month)
01-180-202020-03-03. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. This Service Information bulletin informs of an upcoming correction to the Service Manual involving Gear Position shown in Freeze-Frame Data acquired during Engine diagnosis.
07-162-19R2020-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This bulletin announces availability of reprogramming files to optimize the Body Integrated Unit (BIU) operation of the automatic door lock (auto-lock / unlock) feature.
15-130-08R2020-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. This bulletin details an important regulation issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which impacts the way some vehicles with accessories are sold. This regulation applies to any automobile retailer installing accessories on a vehicle prior to its first sale.
15-256-19R2020-02-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides information on a new reprogramming procedure (FOTA) to optimize the Harman Gen 3.1 Audio and Navigation head units (H/U).
15-255-19R2020-02-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. The first TomTom map update for Gen 3.1 Harman navigation equipped vehicles was made available.
12-279-202020-02-05. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. This bulletin announces availability of new outer door handles to address isolated concerns of the chrome finish peeling.
17-17-13R2020-02-05. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This Bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system.
15-236-18R2020-01-07. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. Reprograming file availability for optimization of Harman Gen 3.1 Audio and Navigation Head Units.
15-251-19R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. "This Service Bulletin provides additional diagnostics to follow when addressing a Telematics-related DTC B2A16. In most cases involving this DTC, the following scenario(s) occur: • When trying to use the remote engine starter (RES) feature through Telematics (STARLINK / My Subaru app) the request is unsuccessful and the red Telematics indicator lamp illuminates. • The customer takes their vehicle to the Retailer and the Technician finds the only code stored to be B2A16 in the DCM. • The Technician diagnoses the DTC per the applicable Service Manual trouble tree and replaced the DCM."
15-233-18R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. This Service Information bulletin provides a procedure to use for addressing a customer concern of a delayed or slow response when using the soft keys on the touch screen of the audio / navigation head unit.
15-220-18R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing concerns of the Apple CarPlay and / or Android Auto feature not connecting or launching properly when a compatible device is connected to the head unit.
15-231-18R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to use when diagnosing specific and general audio/sound related concerns. Please start by completing the Harman Investigation Guide-Questionnaire as it gathers important details which will assist you with this diagnosis and is required should the condition not be resolved by this troubleshooting. Once the questionnaire is completed, 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 to understand the flow for the listed concerns.
15-230-18R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns involving Bluetooth (BT) 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. Please apply the information captured in the checklist to the Harman Investigation Guide Questionnaire. If the concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual “Infotainment (Diagnostics) - Diagnostics with Phenomena” section as a starting point.
15-228-18R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing a customer concern of the display screen being either frozen (unresponsive) or black (blank). 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 concern you have is not listed, check the Service Manual “Infotainment (Diagnostics) > Diagnostics with Phenomena” section as a starting point.
15-247-19R2019-12-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This Service Information Bulletin announces availability of a map update which includes new software to address a route searching error. A “Route Calculation Unsuccessful” message may be displayed when the selected route crosses state borders (e.g. Route 53 which crosses between Alabama and Tennessee).

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