Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: October 9, 2020

We recently informed retailers and customers of an extension to the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty for 2014-2018 Forester Rear Gate Stays. Since that information was communicated,
there has been an additional enhancement made to the parameters of this extension. In the interest
of customer satisfaction, the coverage of Rear Gate Stays has been extended to 8 years / unlimited
miles, rather than the 8 year or 100,000 mileage extension parameters initially communicated.
Please note the following important details regarding this program, and review them with all
appropriate personnel:
Rear Gate Stays Warranty Extension
The Rear Gate Stays Warranty Extension extends the vehicle’s original New Vehicle Limited
Warranty as it applies to the Rear Gate Stays. If a defect is verified, the Rear Gate Stays should
be replaced following the procedures outlined in Technical Service Bulletin 12-289-20R.
The coverage period extends the vehicle’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty as it applies to the Rear
Gate Stays to eight (8) years /unlimited miles. Repairs performed during this extended coverage
period must be completed prior to the expiration of the eight years, regardless of vehicle mileage.
For vehicles within the coverage guidelines listed in bulletin 12-289-20R, customers can
schedule their appointment with an authorized Subaru retailer for inspection should they be
experiencing any concerns with operation of their rear gate. There is no mandatory inspection
required to receive the benefit of this warranty extension. Only those vehicles where the
customer is currently experiencing a concern with their rear gate operation, would create a
need for the rear gate stays to be inspected as part of the normal repair process.
NOTE: The Rear Gate Stays Warranty Extension is subject to the same terms and conditions set
forth in the New Vehicle Limited Warranty unless expressly modified by terms outlined in the
Customer Notification Letter. Retailer personnel are highly encouraged to review and be familiar
with these terms and conditions prior to applying this extended coverage.

Owner Notification
Subaru is sending a letter and/or email to all owners of affected vehicles. A copy of the Customer
Notification Letter is linked here for reference. Customer notifications will be sent by the end of
October.
Technical Instructions / Claim Procedures
Detailed instructions regarding the repair and warranty claim procedures will be provided in
Technical Service Bulletin 12-289-20R. The changes in the extension parameters were applied
to all affected vehicles earlier this morning.
New and Pre-owned Vehicles in Retailer Inventory:
Subaru requests, for all pre-owned vehicles covered by this program, that all retailers inform
customers at the time of sale the vehicle is covered by a Warranty Extension program Sharing a
copy of the Customer Notification Letter (as linked previously in this announcement) is strongly
recommended to ensure this information is fully communicated.
Customer Reimbursement
Subaru is reimbursing customers who previously paid for repair or replacement related to the
Rear Gate Stays due to conditions that would normally have been covered if the vehicle was still
under the terms of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. If a customer has paid to have a repair or
replacement performed sometime in the past, they may be eligible for reimbursement under the
terms of this Warranty Extension.
Customers can apply for reimbursement online by going to http://soaclaimform.custhelp.com
If they did not receive the letter, they may contact the Rear Gate Stay Extension Hotline at 877551-7149 for specific information.
Coverage Questions
Should you have questions regarding warranty coverage, contact Subaru Claims Helpline at
1-866-SUBARU2 (1-866-782-2782).