ATTENTION:

CLAIMS PERSONNEL q

IMPORTANT - All
Service Personnel
Should Read and
Initial in the boxes
provided, right.

SERVICE MANAGER

© 2017 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

GENERAL MANAGER q
PARTS MANAGER

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PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY: 2017MY Impreza
SUBJECT: Reprogramming File Availability to Optimize
Rear View Camera Operation on Harman Gen 3
Audio and Navigation Head Units

NUMBER:
DATE:
REVISED:
NHTSA ID:

WTN-74R
02/24/17
11/07/18
17V-132

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2017 model year Impreza vehicles with Harman
navigation/audio head units to update software affecting the operation of the rear view camera image.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY RISK
The rear view camera image may not display properly. More specifically, due to a software problem
within the infotainment unit, the following may occur:
•
•

During initial boot-up, a memory error might result in a blank screen; or
If multiple processes occur at the same time, the screen might freeze.

If the rear view camera image is not displayed or the image freezes, it does not provide an additional
view of the area behind the vehicle to the driver when the vehicle is in reverse. As a result, there is an
increased risk of injury or a crash.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REMEDY
The remedy procedure will be to reprogram the infotainment unit with a software update. The
procedure will involve either downloading the software update files from Subarunet (or using those
sent directly from Nuspire) and transferring them onto a flash drive for head unit installation. It is
VERY IMPORTANT to read and understand this information completely before proceeding.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Notification letters will be sent by first class mail to owners of all potentially affected vehicles.
Owner notification will occur during March, 2017. A copy of the letter will be added to the end of
this bulletin prior to owner notification.
Continued...
CAUTION: VEHICLE SERVICING PERFORMED BY UNTRAINED PERSONS COULD
RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THOSE PERSONS OR TO OTHERS.
Subaru Service Bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians ONLY. They
are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur in some vehicles,
or to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of the vehicle. Properly
trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to
do the job correctly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that this
Service Bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition.

Bulletin Number: WTN-74R; Revised 11/07/18

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS
ISO 14001 COMPLIANT
ISO 14001 is the international standard for
excellence in Environmental Management
Systems. Please recycle or dispose of
automotive products in a manner that is friendly
to our environment and in accordance with all
local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Page 1 of 12

AFFECTED VEHICLES
Your Region/Distributor will provide you with a detailed list of affected new unsold inventory units.
If you have any of the affected models in inventory, please ensure your sales and service staff are
immediately notified that the unit(s) are un-saleable until the recall campaign is completed and the
claim is submitted.
Model Years
2017

Models
Impreza 4D & 5D

Production Start Date
09/13/2016

Production End Date
02/20/2017

RETAILER AFFECTED VIN LISTS
Each Subaru retailer will receive an affected VIN list from their Zone Office when owner
notification begins. Vehicles will be assigned to retailers in the affected VIN list based on the
selling retailer. Retailers are required to limit the use of these lists for the purpose of completion
of this safety recall.
SUBARU RETAILER PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITY
Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in
their inventory. Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into inventory or in for
service, necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling
or releasing the vehicle.
Any vehicles listed in a recall/campaign that are in the retailer’s stock must be:
•
•
•

Immediately identified.
Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to inspection and/or repair.
Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin.

Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a retailer to deliver a new motor vehicle
covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. In addition, any Authorized
Subaru Retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles
in their inventory prior to the vehicle being placed in service will be in breach of the Subaru Dealer
Agreement.
INTRODUCTION:
The following information addresses reprogramming file availability and a software update
installation procedure to optimize the rear view camera feature of the new Harman Gen 3 audio
and Navigation head units utilized in the new 2017MY Impreza. The procedure will involve either
downloading the software update files from Subarunet (or using those sent directly from Nuspire) and
transferring them onto a flash drive for head unit installation. It is VERY IMPORTANT to read and
understand this information completely before proceeding.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WTN-74R; Revised 11/07/18

Page 2 of 12

These reprogramming files apply to the following audio / navigation head unit part numbers:
Multimedia System Type
Part Numbers
6.5 Inch Display Audio System (Base)
86201FL60A and 61A
8.0 Inch Display Audio System (Mid)
86201FL62A and 63A
8.0 Inch Audio / Navigation System (High)
86271FL60A

Descriptive Features
No CD slot / Eject Button
Phone Button in Top Row Center
Map Button in Top Row Center

Materials Required:
3- 16GB (MINIMUM) USB 2.0 or 3.0 flash drives which are readily available at most office
supply retailers will be needed to perform these updates. There are various types of USB flash drives
available from many suppliers. If the head unit does NOT recognize the USB drive
during the reprogramming process, it may be that the IC controller type used in the drive is not compatible. In such a case, a different USB drive may be required. While not all of their products may
be compatible, USB flash drives from Kingston, SanDisk, Transcend and Verbatim are suggested
products.
Recommended Flash Drives:
• Kingston®: Data Traveler G3, G4, SE9 or the Hyper-X Series

•

SanDisk®: Cruzer Series, Ultra Flair

•

Transcend®: JetFlash 300, 600 or 790

•

Verbatim®: Store ‘n’ Go

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WTN-74R; Revised 11/07/18

Page 3 of 12

NOTES:
•

All SOA Pre-Production Vehicles require a “full version” update be installed BEFORE this
update can be applied (extremely rare occurrence). Contact your FSE for assistance with any
Pre-Production Vehicles.

•

The USB flash drive can be USB 2.0 (High Speed USB) or 3.0 (Super Speed USB)

•

The USB flash drive MUST be reformatted to NTFS before loading any files to it. NTFS is not
the standard format on most USB flash drives.

•

The update files are not overly large but, during the reprogramming procedure, the head unit
backs up some files to the USB drive. For this reason, sufficient USB drive memory size is
required, especially for the High / Navigation units.

•

The flash drives should be dedicated to storing these reprogramming files only. Do NOT use
any flash drive which contains or requires the use of file management, encryption, file backup or
other software to function properly.

Symptoms to be Addressed by These Reprogramming Files:
The main purpose of this campaign is to address display screen freeze-up during rear view camera
display (when the shifter is in “R”). In addition, the screen may also freeze when either the Subaru
STARLINK or Disclaimer Caution / I Agree is displayed.

IMPORTANT: Although the main purpose for this campaign is to address operational concerns
involving the rear view camera feature, software is also included in this update for the following
other conditions:

1) After switching the vehicle (ACC or
IGN) on, the display screen goes black
with no audio output and the hard key
buttons are illuminated (on solid, or
flashing / blinking).

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WTN-74R; Revised 11/07/18

Page 4 of 12

2) Time of day displayed in the MFD
(Multi-Function Display) is incorrect and the arrival time displayed in Navigation units is also
incorrect.

3) The time in the MFD automatically reverts back to a “default” setting, even after setting the
time using “Manual” mode.
4) Audio volume goes to maximum automatically after one click of the volume up button on the
steering wheel. In some cases, this condition may also occur without input from the operator.
Maximum volume is also displayed on the screen.

SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
STEP 1- Verify the currently installed Software Version ID using the following steps:
•

From the HOME screen, touch “Settings”.

•

From the Settings > General screen, scroll down to and then touch “System Information”.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WTN-74R; Revised 11/07/18

Page 5 of 12

•

Confirm the Software Version ID.
○○ If the Current Version is Rel2.17.43.20 or newer (e.g. Rel_U0.18.30.20), proceed to Step
8. IMPORTANT: Step 8 contains critical additional checks and procedures required to
complete this recall.
○○ If the Current Version is prior to Rel2.17.43.20, continue to Step 2.

Rel2.17.43.20

NG
NG- Head Unit Must Be Updated, Proceed To Step 2.

OK
OK- Latest Version Installed, Proceed To Step 7.

STEP 2- Prepare the USB:
CAUTION: Do not use any USB flash drive which utilizes file organizing software or an
operating system.
•

Make sure the USB flash drive
contains no other files.

•

Right click on the corresponding
“Removable Disk”.

•

Select “Format”.

•

From the File System drop-down menu,
select “NTFS”

•

Check the “Quick Format” box (if
not already done).

•

Click on “Start” to format the USB flash
drive.

STEP 3The files are available for download on Subarunet (see “A” below).
The applicable reprogramming files have also been sent directly to retailers by Nuspire in the same
way a Select Monitor Update would be pushed out. (see “B” below).
NOTE: This campaign WTN-74R is applicable to 2017MY Impreza only.
Follow “A” when using files downloaded from Subarunet.
Follow “B” when using the files sent directly to the SDS notebook from Nuspire.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WTN-74R; Revised 11/07/18

Page 6 of 12

“A” When using update files downloaded from Subarunet: