Service bulletins for the 2016 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.
478 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.
By type
By component
By trouble code
| 09-66-16 | 2017-08-14. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE. This bulletin announces a change in the production procedure for the rear muffler assembly. Spot-weld locations securing the outer shell portion have been changed to improve overall rigidity. A gap may develop at the spot welded seam as a result of repeated thermal shock (heating / cooling) which occurs during normal use. The gap does not create an exhaust leak. In some cases, a rattling sound from the muffler may develop. |
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| 02-164-16 | 2017-08-14. 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 |
| 16-103-16 | 2017-08-14. 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. |
| 15-177-14R | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION TO HELP DIAGNOSE AND ADDRESS DIFFERENT CONDITIONS RELATING TO CUSTOMER CONCERNS WHICH MAY ARISE WHEN OPERATING THE NEW-GENERATION “GEN 2” F10 AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE HELPFUL TIPS TO THIS TSB AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. |
| 09-61-15R | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR (SAUCER) ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF IT BEING DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND / OR CLOSE. THE STRIKER PORTION’S SHAPE HAS BEEN CHANGED AS SHOWN IN THE CROSSSECTION ILLUSTRATION BELOW ALONG WITH THE TYPE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAUCER ASSEMBLY. IMPORTANT: THIS BULLETIN REPLACES TSB 09-58-14R DATED 9/26/14 AND 09-60-15R DATED 10/26/15. |
| 07-103-15 | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A NEW REQUIREMENT REGARDING ONE-TIME USE PARTS WHICH MUST REPLACED WHENEVER DISCONNECTING OR REPLACING THE PRG ROD. THE SPRING STEEL RETAINING CLIPS (STOP RINGS) WHICH LOCK THE PRG ROD TO THE BALL STUDS (PIVOT POINTS) ON EITHER END ARE NOW ONE-TIME USE ITEMS AND MUST BE REPLACED WHENEVER THEY ARE REMOVED. IF THE STOP RINGS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE ROD MAY COME OFF THE BALL STUD DURING PRG OPERATION. |
| 12-196-15 | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE. THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN PROVIDES DESIGN CHANGE INFORMATION REGARDING THE REAR GATE PANEL ASSEMBLY, THE REAR SPOILER ASSEMBLY AND THEIR INTERCHANGEABILITY. |
| 18-184-15 | 2017-03-08. 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. PAPER MANUALS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PAGE NUMBERING THEN WHAT IS REFLECTED BELOW, BASED ON MULTIPLE NEW AND REVISED PAGES. PLEASE REFER TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE STIS WEB SITE FOR ALL FUTURE, UPDATE SERVICE MANUAL INFORMATION. |
| 12-195-15 | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR. SHOULD YOU RECEIVE A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF VIBRATION OR LOOSENESS IN EITHER OF THE DOOR MIRRORS, A DESIGN CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE 3 MIRROR HEAD MOUNTING HOLES IN THE MOUNTING BASE. IN ADDITION, A NEW RETAINING BOLT AND TIGHTENING TORQUE SPECIFICATION ARE NOW USED TO SECURE THE MIRROR HEAD TO THE MOUNTING BASE. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE FOR REPAIRING THE EXISTING MIRROR ASSEMBLY BY REPLACING THE THREE MOUNTING SCREWS WITH UPDATED FASTENERS. NOTE: REFER TO TSB 12-152-13 DATED 6/17/2013 FOR RELATED INFORMATION ON BRZ MODELS. |
| WQV57U | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. UPDATE - SUBARU RECALL CAMPAIGN: WQV57 PROPELLER SHAFT ATTACHING BOLT TORQUE • OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WILL BE MAILED TODAY • AFFECTED VIN LISTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE REGIONAL OFFICES • EMAILS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS WITH A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS ON FILE WITH MYSUBARU.COM SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2016 MODEL YEAR SUBARU LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY TIGHTEN OR REPLACE THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PROPELLER SHAFT TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. |
| WQV-57 | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2016 MODEL YEAR SUBARU LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY TIGHTEN OR REPLACE THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PROPELLER SHAFT TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. |
| 09-61-15R | 2017-03-08. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER. "THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR (SAUCER) ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF IT BEING DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND / OR CLOSE. THE STRIKER PORTION’S SHAPE HAS BEEN CHANGED AS SHOWN IN THE CROSS-SECTION ILLUSTRATION BELOW ALONG WITH THE TYPE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAUCER ASSEMBLY." |
| 09-61-15 | 2017-03-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR (SAUCER) ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF IT BEING DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND / OR CLOSE. THE STRIKER PORTION’S SHAPE HAS BEEN CHANGED AS SHOWN IN THE CROSS-SECTION ILLUSTRATION BELOW ALONG WITH THE TYPE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAUCER ASSEMBLY. IMPORTANT: THIS BULLETIN REPLACES TSB 09-60-15R DATED 10/26/15. |
| WQV-57 | 2017-03-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2016 MODEL YEAR SUBARU LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY TIGHTEN OR REPLACE THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE PROPELLER SHAFT TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. |
| 12-192-15R | 2017-03-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SOA) QUALITY ASSURANCE HAS IDENTIFIED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON SOME 2015 AND 2016MY LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION HAS DETERMINED THE ROOT CAUSE FOR MANY OF THESE FAILURES TO BE THE CERAMIC MATERIALS USED FOR THE BLACK-COLORED PRINTED PERIMETER COMBINED WITH THE SILVER-COLORED MATERIAL USED FOR THE WIPER DEICER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS INCREASE, SOA IS EXTENDING THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON APPLICABLE FACTORY-INSTALLED WINDSHIELDS TO 5 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION WILL COVER WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT A MAXIMUM OF ONE TIME WHERE APPLICABLE ON A VEHICLE WITH A VIN PRIOR TO THOSE LISTED IN THE PRODUCTION CHANGE INFORMATION ON PAGE 2 AND MEETING THE GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN. |
| WEA | 2017-03-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. IN AN EFFORT TO CLARIFY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE WINDSHIELD WARRANTY EXTENSION TSB #12‐192‐15 DATED 10/12/2015, PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING:  REPAIRS COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE $500.00 PRE‐AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT. DO NOT SUBMIT AN AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT THROUGH SUBARUNET FOR REPAIRS COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION.  CLAIMS SUBMITTED UNDER THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION MUST USE THE CLAIM CODING LISTED IN THE TSB AND ONLY THE FAIL CODE WBH86 OR WBH02. DO NOT USE WAA02 FOR WINDSHIELD CLAIMS COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION.  ANY WINDSHIELD CONDITION/DAMAGE ORIGINATING OUTSIDE OF THE AFFECTED WIPER DEICER AREA IS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION. AS OF 11/19/2015, THE TSB HAS BEEN REVISED TO REFLECT THESE CLARIFICATIONS. |
| 16-97-15 | 2017-03-06. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE FOR DIAGNOSING A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF A DELAYED AND / OR HARSH ENGAGEMENT OF THE CVT (MODEL TR580) WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE FROM NEUTRAL. ALL 2013-16MY, 4-CYLINDER, N/A MODELS WITH CVT |
| 18-183-15 | 2017-03-06. 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. PAPER MANUALS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PAGE NUMBERING THEN WHAT IS REFLECTED BELOW, BASED ON MULTIPLE NEW AND REVISED PAGES. PLEASE REFER TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE STIS WEB SITE FOR ALL FUTURE, UPDATE SERVICE MANUAL INFORMATION. |
| WE | 2017-03-03. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. WILL BE ISSUING A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO ADDRESS CRACKS OR BREAKAGE IN THE DEICER AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD ON 2015 AND EARLY PRODUCTION 2016 LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE ALL WEATHER PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED A WINDSHIELD WIPER DEICER. THIS EXTENSION ALSO COVERS CERTAIN EARLY REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS WHICH WERE SIMILARLY AFFECTED. DURING THE WINDSHIELD GLASS MANUFACTURING PROCESS, CERTAIN COMPOUNDS USED TO ADHERE THE DEICER TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD POTENTIALLY CREATED A CONDITION WHERE THE GLASS COULD BECOME MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING FOLLOWING A MINOR WOUND TO THE GLASS DUE TO SOME OUTSIDE FORCE SUCH AS A STONE IMPACT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE TO THE GLASS GENERALLY APPEARS VERY MINOR OR MAY EVEN BE INVISIBLE BUT THE GLASS MAY CRACK AS A RESULT. IF THE CRACK ORIGINATES OR PASSES THROUGH THE DEICER (LOWER) AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD THEN THIS CONDITION MAY BE THE CAUSE. |
| 12-192-15 | 2017-03-03. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SOA) QUALITY ASSURANCE HAS IDENTIFIED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON SOME 2015 AND 2016MY LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION HAS DETERMINED THE ROOT CAUSE FOR MANY OF THESE FAILURES TO BE THE CERAMIC MATERIALS USED FOR THE BLACK-COLORED PRINTED PERIMETER COMBINED WITH THE SILVER-COLORED MATERIAL USED FOR THE WIPER DEICER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS INCREASE, SOA IS EXTENDING THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON APPLICABLE FACTORY-INSTALLED WINDSHIELDS TO 5 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION WILL COVER WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT A MAXIMUM OF ONE TIME WHERE APPLICABLE ON A VEHICLE WITH A VIN PRIOR TO THOSE LISTED IN THE PRODUCTION CHANGE INFORMATION ON PAGE 2 AND MEETING THE GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN. NOTE: ALWAYS PERFORM A VEHICLE COVERAGE INQUIRY ON SUBARUNET TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION BEFORE PROCEEDING. SEE SAMPLE INQUIRY RESULT BELOW. THE VIN SHOULD ALSO BE CHECKED FOR ANY OPEN CAMPAIGNS OR RECALLS AT THIS TIME. |
| 12-176-14R | 2017-03-03. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A SERVICE PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF A WIND RUSHING-TYPE SOUND WHICH SEEMS TO COME FROM THE FRONT DOOR GLASS SASH AREA. CUSTOMERS MAY REPORT A CONCERN WITH ONE OR BOTH FRONT DOORS. IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE SIDE WITH THE CONFIRMED CONDITION. THE DOOR GLASS SASH SEPARATES THE MAIN DOOR GLASS FROM THE SMALL PARTITION GLASS ON EACH DOOR. THE PROCEDURE INVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT DOOR GLASS RUN CHANNEL (WEATHERSTRIP), PARTITION GLASS/ WEATHERSTRIP, SASH AND BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER DOOR GLASS WEATHERSTRIPS (SWEEPS). IN ADDITION, TWO PRE-CUT PIECES OF SELF-ADHESIVE EPT FOAM, 1 PIECE OF NON-WOVEN TAPE (WILL BE CUT INTO 3 PIECES) AND A 320MM SECTION OF BUTYL (ADHESIVE RUBBER) SEALING MATERIAL WILL BE ADDED IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. |
| 15-177-14R | 2017-03-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION TO HELP DIAGNOSE AND ADDRESS DIFFERENT CONDITIONS RELATING TO CUSTOMER CONCERNS WHICH MAY ARISE WHEN OPERATING THE NEW-GENERATION “GEN 2” F10 AUDIO / NAVIGATION SYSTEM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE HELPFUL TIPS TO THIS TSB AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. |
| 03-67-12R | 2017-02-28. 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. |
| WQU-56R | 2017-02-27. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SUBARU) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2015 AND 2016 MODEL YEAR LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES. DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT THAT CONNECTS TO THE VEHICLE’S TRANSMISSION, THE SEAL CAP AND SEAL LOCATED INSIDE THE PROPELLER SHAFT YOKE MAY HAVE BEEN DEFORMED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAL MAY LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID. IF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS ONTO AN EXHAUST PIPE, THERE IS A POSSIBLE RISK OF FIRE. |
| 02-162-15R | 2017-02-27. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. "THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN ANNOUNCES A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH ASSEMBLY. NICKEL PLATING HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE INTERNAL SWITCH CONTACTS TO ENHANCE THEIR DURABILITY AND REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF POOR CONTACT WHICH COULD AFFECT OPERATION OR CAUSE IMPROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP. A SMALL PILOT PORTION WAS ADDED TO THE THREADED AREA ON P.N. 25240KA051 AS SHOWN IN THE ILLUSTRATION BELOW. REVISED PRODUCTION CHANGE INFORMATION." |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.