ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER

q

PARTS MANAGER

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CLAIMS PERSONNEL

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

SERVICE MANAGER

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© 2008 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY: All New Vehicles Sold On or After
June 2, 2008 (if applicable)
SUBJECT:

NUMBER:

Load Carrying Capacity Reduced Label

15-130-08R

DATE:

07/23/08

REVISED:

02/21/20

INTRODUCTION
This bulletin details an important regulation issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) which impacts the way some vehicles with accessories are sold. This
regulation applies to any automobile retailer installing accessories on a vehicle prior to its first sale.

INFORMATION
Beginning June 2, 2008, NHTSA started requiring a new label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity resulting from the installation of accessories when the total weight of the accessories
installed is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs.,
whichever is less. When calculating the total accessory weight, the combined weight of all port-installed accessories and all retailer-installed accessories must be included. The label only needs to be
applied when accessories are installed before or at the time the vehicle is first sold.
A label is not required when the total weight of the accessories is below the limit or when accessories
are installed at a later time.
NOTE: Any person who fails to comply with this NHTSA-mandated safety requirement may be
liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $6,000 for each violation.
Each vehicle failing to meet the requirement is considered as a separate violation.
When is the label required?
A label is required whenever the combined weight of port-installed
accessories and retailer-installed accessories exceeds 1.5 percent of
GVWR or 100 pounds, which ever is lower. When retailers
install accessories that change the vehicle gross weight
beyond this specified range, they must apply the Load
Carrying Capacity Reduced Label in the driver’s door
jamb. The label must be applied within 25 mm (approximately 1 in.) of the existing tire and loading information
label (or as close as possible without covering any other
important labels).

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.

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.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 15-130-08R; Revised: 02/21/20

Page 1

Fill in the total reduction in load carrying capacity (either in kg or lbs.) with a permanent marker.
The customer should be notified of the vehicle’s reduced load carrying capacity and shown the new
label indicating the amount of the reduction.
Examples of 2019 and 2020MY Subaru vehicles and 1.5 percent of their GVWR (provided for
purposes of illustration only):
2019MY Vehicles

GVWR
(LBS)

Maximum Weight of
Accessories (LBS)

2020MY Vehicles

GVWR
(LBS)

Maximum Weight of
Accessories (LBS)

Ascent

6000

90

Ascent

6000

90

BRZ (MT)

3682

55.2

BRZ (MT)

3682

55.2

BRZ (AT)

3748

56.2

BRZ (AT)

3748

56.2

Crosstrek

4343

65.1

Crosstrek

4343

65.1

Crosstrek Hybrid

4901

73.5

Crosstrek Hybrid

4901

73.5

Forester

4891

73.4

Forester

4891

73.4

Impreza 4-Dr and 5-Dr

4299

64.5

Impreza 4-Dr and 5-Dr

4299

64.5

Legacy 2.5L

4519

67.8

Legacy 2.5L

4630

69.5

Legacy 3.6L

4629

69.4

Legacy 2.4L Turbo

4806

72.1

Outback 2.5L

4695

70.4

Outback 2.5L

4850

72.8

Outback 3.6L

4850

72.8

Outback 2.4L Turbo

5026

75.4

WRX / WRX-STI

4409

66.1

WRX / WRX-STI

4409

66.1

Vehicle Weight
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) information can be found in the Service Manual under: General
Description > Specifications > Weight.
Accessory Weight
Accessory weight information can be found in the RPM System (Subaru Retail Parts Management)
on www.subarunet.com. Under Part Inquiry, there is a tab for Attributes listing the accessory weight
in lbs.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 15-130-08R; Revised: 02/21/20

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It is the retailer’s responsibility to confirm the actual GVWR from the vehicle certification label
located on the driver’s door jamb and calculate the accessory weight threshold. The retailer must
also confirm the actual total weight of the accessories being installed (including the total weight of
any port installed accessories already present on the vehicle) less any parts being removed during
the installation. (Example: when installing the accessory trailer hitch on a 2020MY Outback, the
rear bumper beam is removed and discarded. Use RPM to determine the bumper beam weight.) This
calculation will determine if the total weight added to the vehicle as a result of accessory installation
exceeds the label requirement threshold.
Where can I purchase the labels?
Labels stating “Load Carrying Capacity Reduced” are commercially available. Below are two sources
for these labels:
Dec-O-Art
www.dec-o-art.com
Phone: (800) 225-6879 or
(574) 294-6451
Order part number FD-317

National Truck Equipment Association
www.ntea.com
Phone: (800) 441- 6832 or
(248) 489-7090
Order part number 2246

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
•

SOA strongly discourages the printing and/or local storage of service information as
previously released information and electronic publications may be updated at any time.

•

Always check for any open recalls or campaigns anytime a vehicle is in for servicing.

•

Always refer to STIS for the latest service information before performing any repairs.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 15-130-08R; Revised: 02/21/20

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