ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER

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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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© 2020 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:
SUBJECT:

2019-20MY Forester
Staining on Finish of Rear Gate Panel

NUMBER: 12-291-20
DATE: 05/19/20

INTRODUCTION:
This bulletin announces a design change made to the rubber protector located between the top edge
of the rear gate garnish and the glass. The change was made in response to a number of concerns
regarding vertical brownish-colored stains appearing on the rear gate panel below the garnish and / or
the license plate as shown below. Although hard to see in the photos, the callouts represent locations
where the staining has been identified.

The staining is caused by an anti-hardening chemical used in the rear wiper blade insert. Over time,
the chemical may be extracted from the insert by vehicle washing and rainwater. Carried by the
runoff water, the chemical can drain through the gaps between the sections of the old-style rubber
protector which may cause a stain to develop on the rear gate finish below the garnish. Depending on
the vehicle trim level, new style protectors either eliminate or reduce the number of gaps from 4 to 2,
redirecting the runoff water. Detailed illustrations are provided below in the Parts section.
PRODUCTION CHANGE INFORMATION:
The new-style protectors were incorporated into production starting with VIN LH546087.

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: 12-291-20; Date: 05/19/20

Page 1 of 4

PART INFORMATION:
REMINDER: Always order the most up-to-date replacement parts based on the specific VIN being
repaired.
NOTES:
• For purposes of this bulletin, Base and Premium trim level vehicles are Standard models.
•

Sport, Limited and Touring trim level vehicles are High-Grade models.

In the illustrations below, the protector is shown as the red line along the top edge of the rear gate
garnish.

NEW
Part Number

Part Name

Qty.
Req’d.

91713SJ060

PROTECTOR
UPR STD

1

91713SJ090

PROTECTOR
UPR RH

91713SJ070

PROTECTOR
UPR HG

Interchangeability
*(1)

Old
Part Number

Part Name

Qty.
Req’d.

91713SJ000

2

1

New Part to Old
Vehicle: Yes.

PROTECTORREAR GARNISH

91713SJ010

PROTECTORREAR GARNISH A

2

91713SJ000

PROTECTORREAR GARNISH

2

1

Old Part to New
Vehicle: No.

91713SJ020

PROTECTORREAR GARNISH A

2

Model /
Grade
Standard
Model
HighGrade
Model

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Both upper protectors described above (which replace #5 shown in the illustrations below) along
with the multiple-piece lower protectors which are assembled along the bottom edge of the garnish
(#8 below) and the left and right-hand garnish brackets (#1 and #4 below) are all one-time use items
requiring replacement any time the rear gate garnish is removed. (The SUBARU emblem (#10)
is also one-time use.) Garnish retaining clip reference is also provided below although, they are
reusable as long as they are not damaged.
Use the exploded view illustrations supplied below for reference when ordering.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 12-291-20; Date: 05/19/20

Page 2 of 4

STANDARD
Models

HIGH GRADE
Models

SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
REMINDER: Customer satisfaction and retention starts with performing quality repairs.
The service procedures for replacing the protector remain unchanged. Always refer to the applicable
Service Manual and review the full requirements of the repair being performed. The Service
Manual procedures contain information critical to performing an effective repair the first time, every
time. This includes but is not limited to: important SAFETY precautions, necessary special tools,
required processes and related one-time-use parts needed for a complete and lasting repair.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 12-291-20; Date: 05/19/20

Page 3 of 4

WARRANTY / CLAIM INFORMATION:
For vehicles within the Basic New Car Limited Warranty period, this repair may be submitted using the
following claim information:
Labor Description

Labor Operation #

Labor Time

Fail Code

TRUNK/REAR GATE PANEL GARNISH, R&R

B916-281

0.5

XDT-43

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.

Bulletin Number: 12-291-20; Date: 05/19/20

Page 4 of 4