Subaru bulletin 01-168-09R
What it saysThe Subaru Lock Information Site (SLIS) is located at http://lockinfo.subaru.com, and provides information on how to obtain immobilizer codes and key cut codes for Subaru vehicles from the 2000MY to present. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Subaru filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated May 19, 2025, received Oct 27, 2017, about the electrical system — 8 documents under this number. It names 75 model years (2016–2025). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationRevised TSB. The Subaru Lock Information Site (SLIS) is located at http://lockinfo.subaru.com, and provides information on how to obtain immobilizer codes and key cut codes for Subaru vehicles from the 2000MY to present. This bulletin identifies the equipment required to initialize (reset) the immobilizer code and cut the key blanks, for both immobilizer and non-immobilizer type keys. Subaru of America began using immobilizer systems in some 2005MY vehicles (please refer to Immobilizer Chart for more detailed information).
Documents filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | May 19, 2025 | 11018909 | PDF, 1,910 KB |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Aug 5, 2024 | 11006934 | PDF, 1,965 KB |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Aug 1, 2023 | 10241801 | PDF, 1,968 KB |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Jan 4, 2021 | 10186348 | PDF, 2,503 KB |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Jan 10, 2020 | 10171084 | not found |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Nov 16, 2016 | 10120997 | not found |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Sep 30, 2016 | 10131647 | not found |
| 01-168-09R | Service bulletin | Apr 12, 2016 | 10140499 | not found |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Doing the repair yourself, or pricing it before the shop does? Search the part by fitment on eBay Motors — the listing and the price are the seller’s.
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Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themand 34 more on this site: 2020 Subaru Impreza, 2019 Subaru Impreza, 2018 Subaru Impreza, 2017 Subaru Impreza, 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport, 2025 Subaru Legacy, 2024 Subaru Legacy, 2023 Subaru Legacy, 2022 Subaru Legacy, 2021 Subaru Legacy, 2020 Subaru Legacy, 2019 Subaru Legacy, 2018 Subaru Legacy, 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 2016 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 2025 Subaru Outback, 2024 Subaru Outback, 2023 Subaru Outback, 2022 Subaru Outback, 2021 Subaru Outback, 2020 Subaru Outback, 2019 Subaru Outback, 2018 Subaru Outback, 2024 Subaru Solterra, 2023 Subaru Solterra, 2024 Subaru WRX, 2023 Subaru WRX, 2022 Subaru WRX, 2021 Subaru WRX, 2020 Subaru WRX, 2019 Subaru WRX, 2018 Subaru WRX, 2017 Subaru WRX, 2016 Subaru WRX.
Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2021 Subaru BRZ.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 74 model years this bulletin names have filed 12,753 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 4,206 of them name Electrical System, Engine — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
On the 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback, the 179 owners who gave an odometer reading for Electrical System reported it at a median of 32,000 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.
Warning light on infotainment screen for Eyesight and Transmission Oil issues. Warning from MySubaru System via website. Warning on Infotainment screen while using CarPlay "There was a problem loading this content." Contacted Subaru of America Britt Senior Customer Service Advocate telling them dealer is not making appointment to fix car…
2024 Subaru Legacy · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Oct 11, 2024 · ODI 11619239
Driving my car as any person would, at the 3519 mile mark on the odometer the engine low oil light came on, it took (1.5Q) of oil to top it off. This is a brand new car no one buys a new car to add oil to it, then to get told by the dealership that it’s normal for up to (2Q) of oil to be added because it’s the only AWD boxer, but yet the…
2024 Subaru WRX · Engine · filed with NHTSA Mar 24, 2025 · ODI 11650068
At around the 2000 mile mark I noticed a drastic reduction in fuel econemy. I also started noticing metal particles in the engine oil. I also noticed a significant drop in engine power as well. This is a sign of debris getting in the engine and causing metal particles to become broken off. My mileage went from 460-480 mpt to 360-380 mpt.
2019 Subaru Crosstrek · Engine · filed with NHTSA Oct 27, 2019 · ODI 11271271
In depth: 2020 Subaru Ascent electrical problems → · 2019 Subaru Ascent electrical problems → · 2019 Subaru Crosstrek electrical problems → · 2020 Subaru Forester electrical problems →
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the electrical system
Source: same model, same component group160 other manufacturer communications filed against these Subaru models under the same component group (electrical system), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Subaru list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07-244-26 | Service bulletin | Sep 29, 2026 | This Bulletin provides a repair procedure for increased dark current and unintended battery discharge that occurs in a small number of uniqu… |
| 18-244-26 | Service bulletin | Sep 18, 2026 | "This Bulletin announces additional troubleshooting steps for the following DTCs: DTC C1956: RH Actuator Circuit DTC C1957: LH Actuator Circ… |
| 15-333-25R | Service bulletin | Sep 14, 2026 | This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure… |
| 15-331-25R | Service bulletin | Sep 14, 2026 | This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concern… |
| 15-322-25R | Service bulletin | Sep 14, 2026 | In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car Limited Warranty coverage for the CP1 & Gen… |
| 15-304-22R | Service bulletin | Sep 14, 2026 | This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concern… |
| 12-269-25R | Service bulletin | Sep 10, 2026 | This bulletin announces the service procedures to be followed when encountering instances of water intrusion from the sunroof area. This is… |
| 12-258-25R | Service bulletin | Sep 4, 2026 | This bulletin provides additional examples, diagnostics tips and installation tips as helpful aids to be used when working with sunroof seal… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Subaru, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Subaru 01-168-09R a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the 01-168-09R repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every Subaru warranty extension on file lists the ones Subaru has filed.
Which vehicles does 01-168-09R cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 75 model years: 2025 Subaru Ascent, 2024 Subaru Ascent, 2023 Subaru Ascent, 2022 Subaru Ascent, 2021 Subaru Ascent, 2020 Subaru Ascent and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.