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
By topic
| Subaru Tech Tips | 2020-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newsletter. (QMR of the Month) |
|---|---|
| 01-180-20 | 2020-03-03. 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. |
| 07-162-19R | 2020-03-03. 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. |
| 15-130-08R | 2020-03-03. 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. |
| 15-236-18R | 2020-03-03. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. The following information addresses reprogramming file availability and a software update installation procedure to provide optimization to the new Harman Gen 3.1 Audio and Navigation head units utilized in the models as listed. |
| 11-200-20R | 2020-03-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This bulletin announces the availability of reprogramming files to optimize the Engine Control Module (ECM). |
| 07-142-18R | 2020-03-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Service Information Bulletin provides helpful tips and precautions to use whenever removing or installing the battery sensor assembly from the battery post (and / or negative battery cable from the battery sensor assembly). |
| 15-256-19R | 2020-02-05. 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). |
| 15-255-19R | 2020-02-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. The first TomTom map update for Gen 3.1 Harman navigation equipped vehicles was made available. |
| 12-279-20 | 2020-02-05. 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. |
| 17-17-13R | 2020-02-05. 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. |
| 15-236-18R | 2020-01-07. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. Reprograming file availability for optimization of Harman Gen 3.1 Audio and Navigation Head Units. |
| 15-249-19R | 2020-01-07. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 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. |
| 07-162-19 | 2020-01-07. Service bulletin. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin announces availability of reprogramming files to optimize the Body Integrated Unit (BIU) operation of the automatic door lock (auto-lock / unlock) feature. Currently, when the vehicle is locked by the auto-lock feature, if any door other than the driver’s door is unlocked manually before the driver’s door is unlocked, the auto-unlock operation is cancelled. The new logic keeps the auto-unlock operation from being cancelled regardless of which door is opened first. |
| 15-251-19R | 2019-12-03. 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." |
| 15-233-18R | 2019-12-03. 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. |
| 15-220-18R | 2019-12-03. 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. |
| 15-231-18R | 2019-12-03. 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. |
| 15-230-18R | 2019-12-03. 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. |
| 15-228-18R | 2019-12-03. 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. |
| 15-247-19R | 2019-12-03. 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). |
| 15-227-18R | 2019-12-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 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. |
| 15-226-18R | 2019-12-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing customer concerns regarding USB 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. |
| 15-229-18R | 2019-12-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This bulletin provides troubleshooting steps to follow when diagnosing clock-related customer concerns. 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. |
| 15-257-19 | 2019-12-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Service Information Bulletin provides insight in response to both customer and retailer feedback resulting from the use of OBD-II port connected devices. These devices are often employed by insurance companies to monitor driver activity for premium calculations (premium discounts). Commonly referred to as discount tools, driver monitors or dongles, the use of these devices can interfere with normal STARLINK system operation. |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.