Service bulletins for the 2011 Subaru Outback
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.
338 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.
By type
By component
By trouble code
| 12-147-13 | 2016-11-29. Service bulletin. WHEELS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BULLETIN IS TO PROVIDE A REPAIR PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A “POP” TYPE SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL APRON AREA. THE SOUND MAY OCCUR OVER BUMPS WHEN A TWISTING MOTION IS INTRODUCED INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER VERIFYING THE CUSTOMER’S CONCERN AND PERFORMING THE PROCEDURE, BE SURE TO ROAD TEST THE CAR AGAIN TO CONFIRM THE SOUND HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. |
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| WQE41M | 2016-11-29. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. "IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE DISPLAY OF AN OPEN RECALL ON THE WQE99 PROGRAM (OPTIONAL PUDDLE LIGHTS) THAT WAS USED FOR VEHICLES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PUDDLE LIGHTS, THE WQE99 PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE ACTUAL RECALL FOR THE PUDDLE LIGHTS (WQE41) REMAINS UNCHANGED. TO REPLACE THE WQE99 NOTIFICATION, COMMENTS WILL BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE COVERAGE INQUIRY TO IDENTIFY THESE VEHICLES. WHEN LOOKING FOR OPEN RECALLS IN THE VEHICLE COVERAGE INQUIRY, PLEASE CHECK THE COMMENTS TO IDENTIFY VINS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THE OPTIONAL PUDDLE LIGHTS. IF THE VEHICLE HAS PUDDLE LIGHTS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA IN THE WQE41 CAMPAIGN BULLETIN, CONTINUE TO CALL THE CLAIMS HELPLINE TO REGISTER THE VIN IN THE WQE41 RECALL. THESE COMMENTS SHOULD APPEAR ON THE VEHICLE COVERAGE INQUIRY BY THE END OF THE DAY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CLAIMS HELPLINE AT 1-866-782-2782." |
| 02-155-14 | 2016-11-21. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF A REVISED REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE DUCT FOR THE TURBOCHARGED VEHICLES SPECIFIED. |
| 18-172-13 | 2016-11-19. 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. PRINTED PAGES WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO UPDATE PRINTED SERVICE MANUALS. |
| 16-90-13R | 2016-11-16. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TYPE TORQUE CONVERTER |
| 12-147-13R | 2016-11-15. Service bulletin. WHEELS; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS. POP SOUND FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL APRON AREA - THE PURPOSE OF THIS BULLETIN IS TO PROVIDE A REPAIR PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A “POP” TYPE SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL APRON AREA. |
| 16-98-16 | 2016-11-08. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF REPROGRAMMING FILES FOR OPTIMIZATION OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). THE NEW LOGIC ADDRESSES CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF INCONSISTENT SHIFTING CHARACTERISTICS AND / OR A “SLIPPING” -TYPE SENSATION WHICH MAY BE EXPERIENCED UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION AFTER A COLD START BEFORE THE CVT IS UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. |
| 06-49-15R | 2016-11-03. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING. IN RESPONSE TO ISOLATED REPORTS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS RETAINING CLIPS CAUSED BY REACTION WITH ACIDS USED IN SOME WHEEL CLEANERS, THE CLIP MATERIAL HAS BEEN CHANGED TO POLYPROPYLENE (PPO). |
| 04-14-15 | 2016-11-03. Service bulletin. STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. |
| 15-178-15 | 2016-11-03. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A “CHECK DEVICE” ERROR MESSAGE BEING DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN OF THEIR PANASONIC AUDIO UNIT. THIS CONDITION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN WARM CLIMATES AND / OR DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN CABIN TEMPERATURES CAN EASILY EXCEED 158°(F) DURING A HOT SOAK SITUATION. |
| WQE-41A | 2016-10-29. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND DEALERS THAT FOR THIS CAMPAIGN THE REPAIR PART NUMBER IS H001SSC300, WHICH IS A FUSED MINI HARNESS. THERE ARE TWO REQUIRED PER VEHICLE. THERE ARE OTHER COMPONENTS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN FOR CONVENIENCE BUT, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THESE PARTS BEING NEEDED IS SMALL. THEREFORE, DUE TO THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF THESE PARTS WE ARE ASKING DEALERS TO PLEASE ONLY ORDER PARTS AS NEEDED FOR VEHICLES THAT REQUIRE THESE COMPONENTS. DEALERS SHOULD NOT BE STOCKING THESE ITEMS. IF YOU SHOULD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARTS INFORMATION COORDINATORS |
| WQF-42RP | 2016-10-28. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT, WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, EXISTS ON CERTAIN SUBARU VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU REMOTE ENGINE STARTER (RES). TRANSMITTER FOBS MAY CONTAIN A DEFECT THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE RES RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. |
| WQF-42A | 2016-10-28. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY. NEW SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN: OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU REMOTE ENGINE STARTER TRANSMITTER FOBS. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT, WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, EXISTS ON CERTAIN SUBARU VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU REMOTE ENGINE STARTER (RES). TRANSMITTER FOBS MAY CONTAIN A DEFECT THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE RES RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. |
| WQE41A | 2016-10-28. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU PUDDLE LIGHT RECALL HAS NOW BEEN RELEASED. OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WERE MAILED TODAY. EFFECTIVE TODAY, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013, ALL CLAIMS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED USING THE RECALL BULLETIN CLAIM CODING INFORMATION. |
| WQE-41 | 2016-10-27. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. "SUBARU HAS DETERMINED THAT AFFECTED VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU PUDDLE LIGHTS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE THE RELATED COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP WHEN EITHER THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR CONNECTORS ARE EXPOSED TO AN ELECTROLYTIC MOISTURE SOURCE (I.E.- SALT WATER) AND IT PENETRATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT OR THE PINS OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT CONNECTOR(S). IF THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR CONNECTORS WERE TO OVERHEAT, THEY COULD MELT AND POSE A RISK OF A FIRE. THIS RECALL WILL INVOLVE VEHICLE INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION OF INLINE FUSES AS NECESSARY." |
| 12-117-10R | 2016-10-27. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT THAT WATER IS LEAKING FROM THE MAP LIGHT AREA, IT COULD BE CAUSED BY WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE AREA OF THE SUNROOF CABLE MECHANISM. TO REMEDY THE CONDITION, SILICONE SEALER WILL NEED TO BE APPLIED TO BOTH OF THE FRONT END CAPS AS INDICATED BELOW. REFER TO THE REPAIR PROCEDURE LISTED BELOW. |
| RES | 2016-10-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY. IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE MAY BE A POTENTIAL PARTS QUALITY ISSUE WITH CERTAIN REMOTE ENGINE STARTER KITS. WE ARE ASKING THAT DEALERS PLEASE CHECK THEIR INVENTORY AND IDENTIFY ANY BAD LOTS (LISTED BELOW) AND RETURN THEM TO THEIR FACING WAREHOUSE. ALL OF THE RDC’S HAVE SORTED AND REMOVED ANY INVENTORY THAT MAY BE AFFECTED. |
| 12-178-15 | 2016-09-23. Service bulletin. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A CHANGE TO THE APPEARANCE OF THE HOOD LATCH AND STRIKER MOUNTING BOLTS. THE ORIGINAL BOLTS HAD A BLACK-COLORED FINISH WHILE THE NEW BOLTS ARE SILVER IN COLOR. THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE SHAPE OR STRENGTH OF THE BOLTS. |
| 16-93-15 | 2016-09-22. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF REPROGRAMMING FILES FOR OPTIMIZING THE TCM LOGIC USED IN THE LISTED CVT-EQUIPPED VEHICLES. THIS NEW LOGIC PROVIDES ENHANCED CONTROL OF THE CVT PRIMARY PULLEY OIL PRESSURE CIRCUIT FOR AN INCREASED LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE DURING STOP-AND-GO DRIVING. THIS REPROGRAMMING MUST BE INSTALLED ANYTIME A CVT ASSEMBLY IS REPLACED WITH A NEW OR REMANUFACTURED CVT ASSEMBLY. |
| 16-90-13 | 2016-09-17. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. "DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TYPE TORQUE CONVERTER - THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF A COUNTERMEASURE TORQUE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF VERY LOW ENGINE RPM WHEN COMING TO A STOP. " |
| 07-72-13 | 2016-09-15. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF THE SUNROOF NOT OPENING OR CLOSING PROPERLY. IT WILL ALSO ADDRESS A “POPPING” OR “SLAMMING” SOUND FROM THE GLASS PANEL WHEN IT LOWERS PRIOR TO RETRACTING. THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES TSBS 12-122-10R, 12-124-10R AND 12-135-12. |
| WQE-41RP | 2016-09-15. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. SUBARU HAS DETERMINED THAT AFFECTED VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL GENUINE SUBARU PUDDLE LIGHTS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE THE RELATED COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT AND POTENTIALLY MELT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP WHEN EITHER THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR THEIR CONNECTORS ARE EXPOSED TO AN ELECTROLYTIC MOISTURE SOURCE (I.E. SALT WATER) AND IT PENETRATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT OR THE PINS OF THE PUDDLE LIGHT CONNECTOR(S). IF THE PUDDLE LIGHTS OR CONNECTORS WERE TO OVERHEAT, THEY COULD MELT AND POSE A RISK OF A FIRE. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE PUDDLE LIGHTS. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ADD IN-LINE FUSES FOR BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE PUDDLE LIGHTS TO THOSE VEHICLES THAT DO NOT ALREADY HAVE FUSES CONTAINED IN THE WIRE HARNESSES. |
| 03-67-12R | 2016-06-02. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 16-90-13R | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 12-166-14 | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.