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.
By type
By component
By trouble code
| 15-193-16 | 2017-01-28. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A NEW PROCEDURE FOR UPDATING THE OPERATING SOFTWARE USED IN F10 GEN1 AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THIS NEW PROCEDURE ELIMINATES THE NEED TO EXCHANGE THE HEAD UNIT / SD CARD TO OBTAIN SOFTWARE-RELATED UPDATES AND OPERATING ENHANCEMENTS. ALL 2012 TO 2015 MODELS EQUIPPED WITH FUJITSUTEN (F10) GENERATION 1 (GEN1) AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEMS |
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| 11-130-13R | 2017-01-03. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; ENGINE. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION-RELATED AND/OR ENGINE MISFIRE DTCS FOR THE FA AND FB ENGINE-EQUIPPED MODELS LISTED ABOVE. THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) CLEARANCE MAY BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION CAUSING THESE CONDITION(S) AND ONE OR MORE OF THE DTCS LISTED ABOVE TO SET. IN ADDITION TO A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF ROUGH IDLE, EXTENDED CRANKING OR NO START. |
| 02-143-13R | 2016-12-29. Service bulletin. ENGINE. SURFACE TREATMENT CHANGE TO OIL CONTROL PISTON RINGS - THE CHANGE WAS MADE AS A RESULT OF SOME LIMITED FINDINGS OF UNANTICIPATED WEAR OF THESE RINGS. |
| 07-84-14 | 2016-12-29. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. REVISED B1650 DIAGNOSTICS AND ODS REZEROING PROCEDURE |
| 15-193-16 | 2016-12-21. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A NEW PROCEDURE FOR UPDATING THE OPERATING SOFTWARE USED IN F10 GEN1 AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THIS NEW PROCEDURE ELIMINATES THE NEED TO EXCHANGE THE HEAD UNIT / SD CARD TO OBTAIN SOFTWARE-RELATED UPDATES AND OPERATING ENHANCEMENTS. ALL 2012 TO 2015 MODELS EQUIPPED WITH FUJITSUTEN (F10) GENERATION 1 (GEN1) AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEMS |
| 15-157-12R | 2016-12-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. 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 SERVICE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL FOUND IN SUBARUNET. 2013MY SUBARU VEHICLES |
| 15-164-13 | 2016-12-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION TO HELP DIAGNOSE 6 DIFFERENT CONDITIONS RELATING TO CUSTOMER CONCERNS WHICH MAY ARISE WHEN USING THE F10 AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEM. |
| 12-166-14 | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. REVISED L/FRONT DASH SPEAKER GRILLE |
| NAVI Q3-2012 | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). ALL SUBARU OWNERS WITH 2012MY & 2013MY FACTORY NAVIGATION MAY NOW DOWNLOAD THE LATEST MAPSET DATA FROM NOKIA/NAVTEQ AVAILABLE – Q3 2012. |
| AHA | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). SUBARU OWNERS OF 2013MY LEGACY OR 2013MY OUTBACK VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY NAVIGATION MANUFACTURED BEFORE THE RUNNING PRODUCTION CHANGE WHICH ADDED AHA RADIO APPLICATION DISPLAY CAPABILITY (VEHICLES PRODUCED BEFORE JANUARY 18, 2013) ARE ELIGIBLE TO UPDATE THEIR NAVIGATION SYSTEM HARDWARE AT A SUBARU DEALER FROM NOW UNTIL THE DECEMBER 31, 2013. |
| PDSP | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO SPECIFIC 2013 OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED FEDERAL SPECIFICATION MODELS (DDF) THAT INCLUDE THE SPECIAL APPEARANCE PACKAGE (OPTION 23/35) AND ARE EITHER CRYSTAL BLACK (CB2) OR SATIN WHITE PEARL (SP2) IN COLOR WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A PZEV BADGE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ON THE REAR GATE. THESE SPECIFIC VEHICLES ARE FEDERAL SPECIFICATION FOR EMISSIONS AND NOT PZEV. THIS IS STRICTLY A BADGE-RELATED EXCEPTION AND DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OTHER VEHICLE LABELING AND INVOICING IS CORRECT. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE LIMITED THIS SITUATION, SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE AND WILL MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE ALLOCATED DEALER. |
| 12-149-13 | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. THIS BULLETIN OUTLINES A PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL OF THE PZEV BADGING WHICH WAS INADVERTENTLY INSTALLED ON THE REAR GATE OF 1,766 FED EMISSION SPECIFICATION VEHICLES. THE OTHER EMISSION LABELING ON THESE VEHICLES IS CORRECT. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN RETAILED WILL BE RECEIVING A NOTIFICATION LETTER REQUESTING THEY RETURN TO THEIR SUBARU DEALER FOR REMOVAL OF THE PZEV BADGING. |
| 15-160-13 | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. SEATS. THE 2013 MY OUTBACK HAS A REAR SEAT BACK PROTECTOR AVAILABLE AS AN ACCESSORY. THIS SEAT BACK PROTECTOR IS USED ALONG WITH A CARGO TRAY TO PROTECT THE BACK OF THE REAR SEATS WHEN CARGO IS LOADED INTO THE CARGO AREA WHEN THE REAR SEATS ARE FOLDED DOWN. WHEN THE REAR SEATS ARE FOLDED UP, THERE IS A NATURAL TENDENCY FOR THE SEAT BACK PROTECTORS TO SLIGHTLY PULL AWAY FOR THE REAR SEAT BACK. THIS IS A NATURAL CONDITION AND DOES NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE REAR SEAT BACK PROTECTOR. IF THE SEAT BACK PROTECTOR BUCKLES OUTWARD FROM THE REAR SEAT BACK EXCESSIVELY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE SEAT BACK PROTECTOR IS INSTALLED PROPERLY. A SEAT BACK PROTECTOR THAT IS INSTALLED TOO LOW ON THE REAR SEAT BACK WILL INTERFERE WITH A BRACKET IN BETWEEN THE CARGO AREA FLOOR AND THE REAR SEATS. THIS INTERFERENCE CAUSES THE SEAT BACK PROTECTOR TO BUCKLE WHEN THE SEATS ARE FOLDED UPRIGHT. |
| 17-17-13 | 2016-11-30. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS. "NOTE: THE AIRBAG SYSTEMS USED ON PREVIOUS AND CURRENT WRX, STI AND TRIBECA MODELS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH EDR FUNCTIONALITY. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) FUNCTIONALITY WHICH HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE FUNCTION OF THE EDR IS BEST EXPLAINED USING THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS FOUND IN THE VEHICLE OWNER’S MANUAL: “THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR). THE MAIN PURPOSE OF AN EDR IS TO RECORD, IN CERTAIN CRASH OR NEAR CRASH-LIKE SITUATIONS SUCH AS AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR HITTING A ROAD OBSTACLE, DATA THAT WILL ASSIST IN THE UNDERSTANDING HOW A VEHICLE’S SYSTEMS PERFORMED. THE EDR IS DESIGNED TO RECORD DATA RELATED TO VEHICLE DYNAMICS AND SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, TYPICALLY 30 SECONDS OR LESS." |
| 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. |
| 11-130-13 | 2016-11-22. Service bulletin. ENGINE. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION-RELATED AND/OR ENGINE MISFIRE DTCS FOR THE FA AND FB ENGINE-EQUIPPED MODELS LISTED ABOVE. THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS) CLEARANCE MAY BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION CAUSING THESE CONDITION(S) AND ONE OR MORE OF THE DTCS LISTED ABOVE TO SET. IN ADDITION TO A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF ROUGH IDLE, EXTENDED CRANKING OR NO START. |
| 15-156-12R | 2016-11-22. Service bulletin. BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR. 2013 MODEL YEAR OUTBACK AND LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A BACKUP CAMERA NO LONGER HAVE A COMPASS FEATURE AVAILABLE IN THE FACTORY INSTALLED AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR. IN THE EVENT A CUSTOMER REQUIRES A COMPASS FEATURE IN AN AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR, THE FACTORY INSTALLED MIRROR ON SOME TRIM LEVELS MAY BE REPLACED WITH AN AUTO-DIMMING COMPASS MIRROR WITH HOMELINK. THIS MIRROR IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR STANDARD ACCESSORY MIRROR OFFERED FOR 2013 OUTBACK AND LEGACY VEHICLES. PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING CHART FOR APPLICABILITY AND PART NUMBERS. INSTALLATION OF THE HOMELINK MIRROR SHOULD BE TREATED AS ANY OTHER ACCESSORY INSTALLATION REQUEST BY THE CUSTOMER AND IS NOT A MATTER FOR WARRANTY. WARNING: THERE IS NO ACCESSORY MIRROR THAT CAN BE INSTALLED IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EYESIGHT. THE OE MIRROR ON AN EYESIGHT VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE MODIFIED OR EXTENDED. |
| 11-131-13 | 2016-11-22. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF ECM REPROGRAMMING FILES TO ADDRESS AN EXTENDED ENGINE CRANKING CONDITION CAUSED BY CAMSHAFT POSITIONING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. |
| 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. |
| 15-156-12R | 2016-11-16. Service bulletin. BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES. DELETION OF COMPASS MIRROR - 2013 MODEL YEAR OUTBACK AND LEGACY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A BACKUP CAMERA NO LONGER HAVE A COMPASS FEATURE AVAILABLE IN THE FACTORY INSTALLED AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR. |
| 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. |
| 02-132-12R | 2016-11-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR FOR AVCS-RELATED DTCS P000A, P000B, P000C, P000D, P0011, P0014, P0021 AND P0024 |
| 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). |
| PEOCCAS | 2016-11-03. Service bulletin. ENGINE. "PROPOSED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT RECENTLY YOU MAY HAVE SEEN VARIOUS ONLINE AND OTHER MEDIA ARTICLES REGARDING SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REACHING A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR ALLEGED OIL CONSUMPTION CONCERNS ON CERTAIN SUBARU VEHICLES. SOME MEDIA OUTLETS ALSO SUPPLIED VARYING INFORMATION ON THE CONTENTS OF THIS SETTLEMENT. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED TO YOU, OUR RETAILERS, IN ADVANCE OF ANY CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION." |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.