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Service bulletins for the 2013 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.

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

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Only bulletins with component: Engine are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
02-163-16R2019-07-22. Service bulletin. ENGINE. This Service Information bulletin provides new inspection and repair procedures for AVCS (Active Valve Control System) -related DTCs on the FA and FB engine equipped models listed above. The applicable Service Manuals will be revised with this new information in the near future.
TKA19-TKB19-TKC12019-05-28. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed above, equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger side frontal airbag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN).
02-163-16R2019-05-28. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. This Service Information bulletin provides new inspection and repair procedures for AVCS (Active Valve Control System) -related DTCs on the FA and FB engine equipped models listed above. The applicable Service Manuals will be revised with this new information in the near future.
02-170-17R2019-05-20. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID; ENGINE. This bulletin announces part information for new Active Valve Control System (AVCS) oil control solenoid valves (OCV) which contain a redesigned internal oil seal. The new seal will eliminate potential oil seepage into the wire harness connector portion of the valve. If oil seeps into the connector, over time, the Check Engine lamp may illuminate and set various AVCS-related DTCs.
02-134-12R2019-03-11. Service bulletin. ENGINE; EQUIPMENT. The purpose of this bulletin is to announce a change to the specification of the valve springs used in the FB engine. The new springs have different color paint marks to help identify their application.
07-133-182019-02-19. Service bulletin. ENGINE. This Service Information Bulletin announces design changes to the engine?s knock sensor which will help improve vehicle assembly line efficiency and increase durability. In some cases, the Check Engine light may illuminate and a knock sensor-related DTC set in the ECM memory: P0327, P0328, P0332 and P0333. The knock sensor for DIT engines is now utilized for NA engines to improve durability and resistance to heat.
02-177-182018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. In conjunction with the launch of our new Remanufactured FB Engine Short Block Program, SOA would like to reinforce Core Return Policy (See Parts Policy & Procedures Manual ? Section 12.3 Core Returns ? Reman) and provide suggestions for removal and handling of the short block.
02-157-14R2018-10-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ENGINE. As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for excessive engine oilconsumption on applicable vehicles to 8 years / 100,000 miles from the original warranty start date.This Warranty Extension will not cover any excessive engine oil consumption found to be a result ofany condition(s) other than those specifically described in this bulletin.This condition must be verified during an inspection and when determined necessary, an oil consumption test performed by an authorized Subaru retailer. SOA will inform vehicle owners this condition may exist via a customer letter.
02-160-152018-06-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Service Information bulletin provides revised procedures for inspection and measurement of the cylinder block assembly to determine whether or not replacement is necessary. Read through and understand this information completely before proceeding with any repairs to the cylinder block. All Models with FA and FB Engines, 2011MY and Later.
02-157-14R-4-28-2018-06-11. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; ENGINE; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. Revised TSB. As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for excessive engine oil consumption on applicable vehicles to 8 years / 100,000 miles from the original warranty start date.
02-157-14R-4-13-2018-06-11. Service bulletin. ENGINE; POWER TRAIN. Revised TSB. As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for excessive engine oil consumption on applicable vehicles to 8 years / 100,000 miles from the original warranty start date.
02-132-12R2018-06-11. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE. This Bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosis and determination of necessary part replacement in the event any of the ?AVCS Slow Response? or ?AVCS System Failure? DTCs listed above are found to be stored in the ECM memory. A possible cause of these conditions is contamination within the camshaft sprocket and / or oil control solenoid valve (OCV) mechanism.
02-157-14R2018-04-16. Service bulletin. ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 2013-14MY Legacy and Outback Models with 2.5L FB Engines, 2011-14MY Forester Models with 2.5L FB Engines, 2015 MY Forester (Manual Transmissions Only), with 2.5L FB Engines, 2012-13 MY Impreza and XV Crosstrek Models with 2.0 FB Engines, 2014-15 MY Impreza and XV Crosstrek Models (Manual Transmissions Only) with 2.0 FB Engine As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for excessive engine oil consumption on applicable vehicles to 8 years / 100,000 miles from the original warranty start date. This Warranty Extension will not cover any excessive engine oil consumption found to be a result of any condition(s) other than those specifically described in this bulletin
02-170-172018-04-02. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This bulletin announces part information for new Active Valve Control System (AVCS) oil control solenoid valves (OCV) which contain a redesigned internal oil seal. The new seal will eliminate potential oil seepage into the wire harness connector portion of the valve. If oil seeps into the connector, over time, the Check Engine lamp may illuminate and set various AVCS-related DTCs.
02-157-14R2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ENGINE; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; EQUIPMENT. Refer to bulletin for engine/transmission type. As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for excessive engine oil consumption on applicable vehicles to 8 years / 100,000 miles from the original warranty start date. This Warranty Extension will not cover any excessive engine oil consumption found to be a result of any condition(s) other than those specifically described in this bulletin. This condition must be verified during an inspection and when determined necessary, an oil consumption test performed by an authorized Subaru retailer. SOA will inform vehicle owners this condition may exist via a customer letter. For vehicles within the coverage guidelines listed in this bulletin, customers can schedule an inspection appointment with an authorized Subaru retailer. IMPORTANT: ALWAYS perform a Vehicle Coverage Inquiry on Subarunet to determine eligibility for this Warranty Extension before proceeding. The VIN should also be checked for any open campaigns or recalls at this time.
02-157-14R2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ENGINE. 2013-14MY Legacy and Outback Models with 2.5L FB Engines - 2011-14MY Forester Models with 2.5L FB Engines - 2015 MY Forester (Manual Transmissions Only) with 2.5L FB Engines - 2012-13 MY Impreza and XV Crosstrek Models with 2.0 FB Engines - 2014-15 MY Impreza and XV Crosstrek Models (Manual Transmissions Only) with 2.0 FB Engines. As part of our dedication to customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is initiating a program to extend the original New Car Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for excessive engine oil consumption on applicable vehicles to 8 years / 100,000 miles from the original warranty start date. This Warranty Extension will not cover any excessive engine oil consumption found to be a result of any condition(s) other than those specifically described in this bulletin. This condition must be verified during an inspection and when determined necessary, an oil consumption test performed by an authorized Subaru retailer. SOA will inform vehicle owners this condition may exist via a customer letter. For vehicles within the coverage guidelines listed in this bulletin, customers can schedule an inspection appointment with an authorized Subaru retailer.
02-157-14R2017-10-27. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Revised Service Bulletin: Surface Treatment Change To Oil Control Piston Rings This bulletin announces information regarding a major change to the repair procedures previously outlined in Service Bulletins 02-143-13R, 02-144-13R and 02-145-13R.
02-168-172017-09-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS; ENGINE. This Service Information bulletin announces a material change to the engine accessory drive / v-belt made to address customer concerns of a slipping belt (squeal or chirping) sound.
02-164-162017-08-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Service Information bulletin announces a design change to the internal contact portion of the oil pressure switch to increase durability
02-157-14R2017-03-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES INFORMATION REGARDING A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE REPAIR PROCEDURES PREVIOUSLY OUTLINED IN SERVICE BULLETINS 02-143-13R, 02-144-13R AND 02-145-13R. THESE BULLETINS PROVIDED A REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PISTON RINGS TO ADDRESS VERIFIED CONCERNS OF UNUSUAL ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. VEHICLES CONFIRMED AS HAVING THIS CONDITION WHICH ARE WITHIN THE SUPPLIED VIN RANGES WILL NO LONGER BE REPAIRED WITH PISTON RING REPLACEMENT. THE REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS VERIFIED UNUSUAL OIL CONSUMPTION CONCERNS ON THESE SPECIFIC VEHICLES WILL CONSIST OF REPLACING THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY.
02-157-14R2017-03-07. Service bulletin. ENGINE; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. SURFACE TREATMENT CHANGE TO OIL CONTROL PISTON RINGS
11-145-14R2017-03-07. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE. REPROGRAMMING FILE AVAILABILITY FOR OIL LEVEL DETECTION
02-143-13R2017-03-07. Service bulletin. ENGINE. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING A CHANGE MADE TO THE SURFACE TREATMENT APPLIED TO THE OIL CONTROL PISTON RINGS FOR 2.5L FB ENGINES. THE CHANGE WAS MADE AS A RESULT OF SOME LIMITED FINDINGS OF UNANTICIPATED WEAR OF THESE RINGS. OIL CONSUMPTION WILL BE HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND CONSISTENT, IF THIS WEAR OCCURS, THE CONDITION REMAINS UNTIL REPAIR. UNUSUAL SWINGS OR VARIATIONS IN OIL CONSUMPTION ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THIS CONDITION AND MAY BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE USAGE RATHER THAN THE CONDITION DESCRIBED HERE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS SUPPLIED IN THIS BULLETIN TO ASSIST IN THE ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINATION IF VEHICLE USAGE IS A REASON FOR THIS VARIED OIL CONSUMPTION.
16-86-122017-03-06. Service bulletin. ENGINE. REPROGRAMMING FOR ILLUMINATION OF AT OIL TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMP
02-157-14R2017-03-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ENGINE. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES INFORMATION REGARDING A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE REPAIR PROCEDURES PREVIOUSLY OUTLINED IN SERVICE BULLETINS 02-143-13R, 02-144-13R AND 02-145-13R. THESE BULLETINS PROVIDED A REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PISTON RINGS TO ADDRESS VERIFIED CONCERNS OF UNUSUAL ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. VEHICLES CONFIRMED AS HAVING THIS CONDITION WHICH ARE WITHIN THE SUPPLIED VIN RANGES WILL NO LONGER BE REPAIRED WITH PISTON RING REPLACEMENT. THE REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS VERIFIED UNUSUAL OIL CONSUMPTION CONCERNS ON THESE SPECIFIC VEHICLES WILL CONSIST OF REPLACING THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY.

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