ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER

q

PARTS MANAGER

q

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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© 2018 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:

All 2019-22MY Vehicles with Gen 2 Telematics

SUBJECT: Error Code 202 and / or 204 Generated During

Gen 2 Telematics Subscription Process

NUMBER: 15-219-18R
DATE: 06/21/18
REVISED: 11/02/21

INTRODUCTION:
When attempting to complete the STARLINK Telematics subscription process, an Error Code 202
and / or 204 may occur preventing the process from completing successfully. These codes both relate
to the multi-stage CommCheck process which introduces the Data Communications Module (DCM)
to the AT&T cellular network the Telematics system operates on. The Telematics Service Provider
(TSP) cannot communicate with the vehicle (DCM) until the CommCheck completes successfully.
Use the table below to determine Telematics system / generation applicability.
Carline

MY 2016

MY 2017

MY 2018

MY 2019

MY 2020

MY 2021

MY 2022

Ascent

NA

NA

NA

Gen2

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen2

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

NA

NA

NA

Gen2

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

Forester

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen2

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

Impreza

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen2

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

Legacy

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

Outback

Crosstrek
Crosstrek Hybrid

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen2

Gen 2

Gen 2

WRX

NA

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen1

Gen 1

Gen 2

BRZ

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

n/a

Gen 2

SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
VERY IMPORTANT: Any Technician or other retailer personnel who, despite service
documentation and training to the contrary, performs a DCM swap on a subscribed vehicle
should NEVER release that vehicle back to the customer until after confirming the proper
operation of the Telematics system. If the issue is first discovered only after the vehicle has been
released to the customer, then the retailer MUST contact the customer immediately to inform
the customer the ACN/AACN feature may not be functioning properly, and that the vehicle
must be returned for inspection as soon as possible.
NOTE: A flow chart to use as an additional diagnostic reference tool has been provided in
“APPENDIX A” beginning on pg. 5.
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: 15-219-18R; Revised 11/02/21

Page 1 of 6

All DCMs have the CommCheck process completed during Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) at either
the factory end-of-line or the ports. CommCheck is then confirmed at the Retailer during their PDI.
The following factors should be considered as potential causes of the current condition (error codes).
One of the possible causes listed below (e.g. DCM was swapped) will require review of the vehicle
history since receipt at the allocated Retailer.
• CommCheck was not completed successfully.
•

DCM has lost power and / or ground connection.

•

DCM is unable to establish network connection to complete CommCheck.

•

DCM was swapped between this vehicle and some other(s). DCM is now disabled.

•

Local conditions preventing network communications (no clear cellular signal available).

•

Network conditions preventing communication (DCM sim not recognized or otherwise
prevented from making network connection).

•

Failure of data flow between DCM Vendor, AT&T, SOA, TSP, or some combination thereof.

INSPECTION PROCEDURE:
Error Code 202: User sees (actual error message contents): “Successful CommCheck notification
for this vehicle has not been received. Please have your Service Department confirm CommCheck
has been completed. Reference bulletin 15-219-18R (Error Code: 202)”.
•

The Technician / Service Department should interpret this as: Potential CommCheck failure
(Never initiated or Failed Early in Process).

Error Code 204: User sees: “Basic Provisioning Set Up process failed for this VIN. Please inform
your Service Department and reference bulletin 15-219-18R (Error Code: 204)”.
•

The Technician / Service Department should interpret this as: Potential CommCheck failure
(Late Process Failure).

Step 1. Turn the ignition ON- (Key ON/ Engine OFF) and turn the headlamps OFF. Note which
of the STARLINK Telematics lamp(s) are ON (illuminated) or OFF (not illuminated). There are
two lamps, one GREEN and one RED in between the SOS and “i” buttons.
Note the lamp status here.
LAMP COLOR

ON

OFF

RED
GREEN