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.
By type
By component
By trouble code
| 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. |
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| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| WQF42 | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. ENGINE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 07-84-14 | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 12-164-14 | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. SEATS. FILM RESIDUE REMOVAL FROM UNDERSIDE OF FRONT SEAT CUSHION COVERS |
| 2-22-13 | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. ENGINE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 12-117-10R | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 12-144-13 | 2016-05-23. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS; VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES AN INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS A MISALIGNMENT OF THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER WINDOW SASH WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FRONT DOOR GLASS TO BIND OR MOVE SLOWLY WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO CAUSE ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW AUTO-UP FEATURE (IF EQUIPPED). IN SOME CASES, WHEN CLOSING THE WINDOW, THE SYSTEM MAY MIS-INTERPRET THE BINDING CONDITION AND ACTIVATE THE PINCHING HAZARD PREVENTION FEATURE AND REVERSE THE MOTOR’S DIRECTION. |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.