Subaru bulletin 15-246-19R
What it saysThis Service Information Bulletin outlines a new required procedure to follow when performing immobilizer-related repairs on the all-new 2020 Legacy and Outback. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Subaru filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jun 30, 2026, received Oct 1, 2019, about the electrical system — 20 documents under this number. It names 23 model years (2020–2024). 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 communicationThis Service Information Bulletin outlines a new required procedure to follow when performing immobilizer-related repairs on the all-new 2020 Legacy and Outback. To further enhance vehicle security, this new procedure requires connection to a secure SBR server for authentication and to access immobilizer information. An 8-digit “Authentication Key” supplied by SBR will be a required input when working with SSM4. Unlike the previous system where Teaching Codes have been unchanged, the new Authentication Key will change every 6 months. This bulletin will be updated with the latest Authentication Key as it becomes available. The new vehicles utilize an Immobilizer Type “G” or “H” system depending on model: • G: Vehicles with a turn key ignition switch • H: Keyless Access with Push-Button Start.
Documents filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jun 30, 2026 | 11034268 | PDF, 687 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jan 8, 2026 | 11027977 | PDF, 1,290 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Dec 23, 2025 | 11027103 | PDF, 1,296 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jul 1, 2025 | 11021246 | PDF, 1,290 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jun 26, 2025 | 11019951 | PDF, 1,294 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Dec 30, 2024 | 11012268 | PDF, 955 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jul 1, 2024 | 11002728 | PDF, 381 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jan 2, 2024 | 10249591 | PDF, 380 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jun 30, 2023 | 10238472 | PDF, 379 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Dec 30, 2022 | 10228796 | not found |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Oct 12, 2022 | 10225762 | PDF, 778 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jun 30, 2022 | 10215437 | PDF, 778 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Mar 22, 2022 | 10209935 | PDF, 482 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jan 4, 2022 | 10207171 | PDF, 482 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Dec 29, 2021 | 10205931 | not found |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Jun 30, 2021 | 10198775 | PDF, 482 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | May 4, 2021 | 10194824 | PDF, 483 KB |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Dec 15, 2020 | 10185078 | not found |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Dec 23, 2019 | 10169850 | not found |
| 15-246-19R | Service bulletin | Sep 17, 2019 | 10165506 | PDF, 480 KB |
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 themA 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 23 model years this bulletin names have filed 2,592 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 633 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 2020 Subaru Outback, the 115 owners who gave an odometer reading for Electrical System reported it at a median of 5,000 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
I would just like to complain about the excess Rtv on the engine oil pan that has been demonstrated on numerous videos of people opening up the oil drain pan and finding chunks of Rtv blocking some of the engine oil pickup tube. I have not opened up my oil drain pan due to cost. This has not lead to failure as of yet but it is worrisome.
2023 Subaru WRX · Engine · filed with NHTSA Jul 18, 2024 · ODI 11603282
In depth: 2022 Subaru Outback electrical problems → · 2021 Subaru Outback electrical problems → · 2020 Subaru Outback electrical problems → · 2020 Subaru Outback engine 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 group140 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 15-246-19R 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 15-246-19R 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 15-246-19R cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 23 model years: 2024 Subaru Ascent, 2023 Subaru Ascent, 2024 Subaru BRZ, 2023 Subaru BRZ, 2022 Subaru BRZ, 2024 Subaru Crosstrek and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.