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Service bulletins for the 2012 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.

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

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By component

By trouble code

Only bulletins with component: Automatic transmission are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
1690132023-05-08. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. Design Change to Lock-Up Type Torque Converter
168011R2023-05-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Inspection Procedure for AT Oil Temperature Warning Lamp Flashing
1691142023-04-24. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Correction to Diagnostics for 5AT-Related DTCs
169013R2023-04-24. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER; UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Design Change to Lock-Up Type Torque Converter
16-103-16R2019-03-11. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified a likely source of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT?s oil pump chain cover. The repair involves removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover.
16-90-13R2018-06-11. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE); ENGINE; EQUIPMENT; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER; POWER TRAIN. CVT Transmissions only. 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. The condition is similar to coming to a stop in a manual transmission equipped vehicle without depressing the clutch pedal. Thrust washer wear inside the torque converter can cause restriction of the oil passage used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure. The result is either a delayed (momentary low engine rpm) or no lock-up pressure release. The thrust washer has been changed from a solid bushing-type to a needle bearing type.
16-90-13R2018-06-11. Service bulletin. ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER; POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE). CVT Transmissions only. 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. The condition is similar to coming to a stop in a manual transmission equipped vehicle without depressing the clutch pedal. Thrust washer wear inside the torque converter can cause restriction of the oil passage used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure. The result is either a delayed (momentary low engine rpm) or no lock-up pressure release. The thrust washer has been changed from a solid bushing-type to a needle bearing type.
16-102-162017-08-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TSB: All Models Equipped with CVT Transmissions. This Service Information bulletin provides a new flow chart and additional diagnostic tools to assist Technicians with troubleshooting DTC P0841- SECONDARY OIL PRESSURE SENSOR PERFORMANCE.
16-103-16R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified a likely source of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT's oil pump chain cover. The repair involves removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover.
16-95-15R2017-08-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE); POWER TRAIN. Only models with CVT Transmission. This bulletin provides a diagnostic procedure for confirmation of a suspected CVT chain slip condition. Examples of customer concerns may be: abnormal transmission operating sounds, a shudder or vibration sensation, lack of power, hesitation, engine rpm rise without increase in vehicle speed or in isolated cases, a Check Engine Lamp illumination (with engine misfire DTCs stored in the ECM memory).
16-103-162017-08-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN. Only Models Equipped with TR690 CVT only. This bulletin has been developed in response to a small number of customer concerns regarding fluid seepage found coming from the CVT assembly. Investigation has identified a likely source of the seepage to be the sealant used on the CVT's oil pump chain cover. The repair involves removal, a thorough cleaning and inspection of the sealing surfaces followed by re-sealing the cover.
16-80-11R2017-03-06. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT OIL TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMP FLASHING
03-67-12R2017-03-02. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REMANUFACTURED CVT PROGRAM - SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST-EVER REMANUFACTURED CVT PROGRAM.
16-85-122017-03-01. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES AN INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS METHOD FOR THE CVT’S SECONDARY PRESSURE SENSOR WHICH IF FAILED, COULD CREATE A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A SQUEALING-TYPE SOUND DURING LIGHT THROTTLE APPLICATION.
03-67-12R2017-02-28. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. HAS EXTENDED THE AVAILABILITY OF REMANUFACTURED CVT TRANSMISSIONS TO INCLUDE CROSSTREK, FORESTER AND IMPREZA APPLICATIONS. PLEASE CHECK APPLICATIONS AND AVAILABILITY THROUGH NORMAL PARTS CHANNELS PRIOR TO MAKING VEHICLE REPAIRS. RETAILERS ARE REQUIRED TO USE A REMANUFACTURED UNIT FOR ALL REPAIRS REIMBURSED BY SUBARU THAT REQUIRE A MAJOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A “NEW” AND “IN-STOCK” VEHICLE.
16-95-152017-02-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; ENGINE. "THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR CONFIRMATION OF A SUSPECTED CVT CHAIN SLIP CONDITION. EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMER CONCERNS MAY BE: ABNORMAL TRANSMISSION OPERATING SOUNDS, A SHUDDER OR VIBRATION SENSATION, LACK OF POWER, HESITATION, ENGINE RPM RISE WITHOUT INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED OR IN ISOLATED CASES, A CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATION (WITH ENGINE MISFIRE DTCS STORED IN THE ECM MEMORY)."
16-90-13R2016-11-16. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TYPE TORQUE CONVERTER
16-98-162016-11-08. 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.
16-90-132016-09-17. 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. "
16-90-13R2016-05-23. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
16-91-142016-05-23. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION DESCRIBES 2 CORRECTIONS TO THE SERVICE MANUAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES FOR THE DTCS LISTED ABOVE. THE INFORMATION IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5AT TRANSMISSIONS AND RELATES TO DIAGNOSTICS FOR THE LOCK-UP SOLENOID AND SHIFT SOLENOID CIRCUITS. ALL THE AFFECTED SERVICE MANUALS WILL BE REVISED ACCORDINGLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
16-80-11R2016-05-23. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A VEHICLE THAT HAS THE OIL TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMP FLASHING WITH P0751, P0756, P0761, P0766, P0771, P1840, P1841, P1842, P1843 OR P1844 STORED IN MEMORY AND POSSIBLY AN INTERMITTENT STALLING CONDITION, IT MAY BE THE RESULT OF CONTAMINATION IN THE VALVE BODY. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE VALVE BODY, FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION AND PERFORM THE DYNAMIC CHECK MODE PROCEDURE.
16-90-132016-05-23. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
16-85-12R2016-05-13. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
16-85-122016-05-13. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). 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.