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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© 2022 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:

SUBJECT:

2015-20MY Legacy & Outback
2015-20MY Forester
2015-20MY WRX & WRX STI
2019-20MY Ascent

NUMBER: 07-207-22R
DATE: 08/18/22
REVISED: 02/03/23

Subaru Battery Drain Product Liability Litigation

INTRODUCTION:
In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. is extending the New Car Basic
Warranty coverage for the 12 Volt batteries used in the above listed models and model years
beyond the original three (3) years or thirty six thousand miles (36,000), whichever comes first. The
extension time and mileage limitations will depend on the battery currently installed in the vehicle
and can be referenced below. Please ensure Service Managers and Advisors are familiar with this
information and Service Bulletin 07-178-21. Customers have already been notified of this Warranty
Extension by mail.
WARRANTY EXTENSION:
As part of the battery drain class action settlement, Subaru will extend the existing New Car Basic
Warranty for both original equipment and replacement batteries for class vehicles. The coverage will
vary based upon whether the original equipment battery or a replacement battery is being tested. The
extension is subject to class vehicles as follows:
1. FIRST BATTERY / ORIGNALLY EQUIPPED BATTERY REPLACEMENT COVERAGE
INCLUDES:
•

100% of the battery replacement cost up to 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first,
from the in-service date of the Settlement Class Vehicle.

•

50% of the battery replacement cost for vehicles that have exceeded 5 years or 60,000 miles
for a duration of 3 months from the 9/24/22 settlement notice date, regardless of mileage.
This 3 month coverage period will expire on 12/24/22.

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: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 1 of 17

2. SUBSEQUENT BATTERY / PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BATTERY REPLACEMENT
COVERAGE INCLUDES:
•

100% of the battery replacement costs up to five (5) years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes
first, from the in-service date of the Settlement Class Vehicle, regardless of the number of
battery replacements the Settlement Class Vehicle has already received.

•

80% of the battery replacement costs up to seven (7) years or 84,000 miles, whichever comes
first, from the in-service date of the Settlement Class Vehicle.

•

60% of the battery replacement costs up to eight (8) years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes
first, from the in-service date of the Settlement Class Vehicle.

This Warranty Extension will cover battery testing, charging, and/or replacement for a qualifying
battery concern. Determination of necessary repair and coverage will be based on results of the
retailer’s administration of the Midtronics protocol and proper diagnostic testing. Per the terms of
the Settlement, for any of the coverage percentages above that are less than 100%, the remaining
portion would be the customer’s responsibility. The portion of the test, charge, and / or battery
replacement the customer’s responsibility CANNOT be submitted as Policy Adjustment (PA).
NOTE: Genuine Subaru Replacement Battery pro-rated coverage based upon the battery installation
date is separate from this Warranty Extension coverage and in some cases, may provide additional
benefit to the customer. Always review both coverages to ensure the customer receives the maximum
benefit from whichever is applied.
SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
AUTHORIZATION CODES:
Customers who have received notice of this Warranty Extension and are experiencing a qualifying
battery concern are required to contact our Settlement Administrator to obtain an authorization
number prior to visiting the retailer. ONLY the customer can request an Authorization Code. The
Authorization Code provided by the Settlement Administrator is required by a retailer to perform
battery diagnostics but does NOT guarantee coverage or battery replacement. Determination of
coverage will be made based on the results of the diagnostic test. The alphanumeric code will be all
uppercase. See the example below.

SBXXX-XXXXX
The Service Advisor must confirm Warranty Extension coverage is potentially available on a
vehicle. A retailer should not take any action to test and/or diagnose a battery concern without
obtaining a pre-authorization number from the customer. If the customer does not have a
pre-authorization number, they should be directed to contact the Settlement Administrator before
proceeding any further.
BATTERY TESTING AND CHARGING:
Please review the battery identification, charging, and testing information provided in Service
Bulletin 07-178-21 prior to performing any battery testing and/or charging. ALWAYS confirm the
Midtronics equipment has the latest software available. Confirm either a Subaru OEM or replacement
battery is installed and that there are no after-market electronic components or accessories which
could result in exclusion of coverage (see examples in the Warranty section of this bulletin).
Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 2 of 17

For situations where Warranty Extension battery testing is required, Technicians should use the In
Vehicle Test application on the DSS-5000 and the In Vehicle Test & Charge application on the DCA8000. Please refer to the Procedure and Outcome tables below.
The DCA-8000 is the preferred equipment to be used for battery testing. In unique cases when
a DCA-8000 is not readily available, the DSS-5000 can be used for initial testing. The testing
procedure can then be transferred to the DCA-8000 if needed.
The Battery Warranty Extension will require specific testing. New testing software will be added to
the Midtronics DCA-8000 and DSS-5000 specifically for these cases under a new application name,
Warranty Extension. This new application must to be used in order to properly submit a claim under
this program. The Authorization Code provided by the Settlement Administrator to the customer will
be required to start this program using the Midtronics testing equipment.
IMPORTANT: A new Warranty Extension Application is included in the Midtronics software.
Procedures and Outcomes:
DSS-5000
Test Result

Test Code

Test Procedure

Good Battery

21 Digit Test Code

No further testing required

Good Recharge Use
DCA

21 Digit Test Code

Test using DCA

Charge And Retest Use
DCA

21 Digit Test Code

Test using DCA

Replace Battery

21 Digit Test Code

No further testing required

Test Result

Test Code

Test Procedure

Good Battery

21 Digit Test Code

No further testing required

Good Recharge

21 Digit Test Code

Allow DCA to continue through
the charge procedure

Bad Cell - Replace

21 Digit Test Code

No further testing required

Replace Battery

21 Digit Test Code

No further testing required

DCA-8000

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 3 of 17

DSS-5000 TESTING:
The DSS-5000 can be used for initial testing or testing when charging is not required. The
Authorization Code will be needed prior to testing. This code will be requested after the testing
equipment is properly connected and the Warranty Extension icon is pressed. If the test requires
charging, the DSS-5000 cannot meet the testing requirements as it does not have charging
capabilities.

Continue with the normal test procedures. The possible test results given from the DSS-5000 are
“Good Battery”, “Replace Battery”, or the battery requires a further charge.

RESULTS CONCLUDE PASS OR FAIL:
If the DSS-5000 determines the battery requires replacement or does not require replacement, no
further testing equipment will be required. A 21-digit Warranty Extension Test Code will be generated
and clickable icon will be displayed on the screen ONLY if testing was completed. When pressed, the
Warranty Extension Code will be displayed. This code must be retained and attached to the repair
order as it will be required for claim submission.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 4 of 17

RESULTS CONCLUDE FURTHER CHARGING IS NEEDED:
If the DSS-5000 determine charging will be needed for further diagnostic measures, the DCA-8000
will be needed to continue. When test results determine further charging is needed, a transfer
QR code will be displayed on the screen. This code can be used to transfer vehicle information and
charging requirements to the DCA-8000.

The following information is encrypted into the
QR Code:
•

Battery Information

•

Vehicle Information

•

Authorization Code

•

Test Timestamp

•

Warranty Extension Code (if applicable)

•

Test Index

DCA-8000 CHARGING AND TESTING:
1. Carefully connect the testing equipment to the vehicle and press the Warranty Extension icon to
continue.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 5 of 17

2. The Authorization Code or the QR scan code (if testing is started with the DSS-5000) is required
at this point. Enter the required information.

NOTE: In a case when the QR Code is entered
from the DSS-5000, a Warning screen will display
to confirm the Authorization Code for the vehicle
being tested. Click “Yes” if the code is correct.

3. Verify the VIN using the scan tool.

NOTE: In a case where the scanner option is
unavailable the VIN can be entered by using the
manual entry function.

4. Select the battery type being tested. If the “None of the above” button is selected, the Edit Battery
Info menu will be displayed requiring manual entry into the required fields.

4S4BSAAC3F3220866
2015

Gasoline

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 6 of 17

Once the battery information is confirmed and accurately entered, select “Continue” to proceed with
the battery testing.
CAUTION: In the event of a test or charge being aborted for any reason, a ten-minute time window
is displayed. After ten minutes have elapsed, the test must be restarted from the beginning.

5. The DCA-8000 will display the testing results when complete. A 21-digit Warranty Extension
Code will be generated. A Warranty Extension Details clickable icon will be displayed on the
screen. When pressed, both the Authorization Code and the Warranty Extension Code are
displayed in detail. These codes are to be retained and attached to the repair order and will be
required for claim submission.

BATTERY REPLACEMENT:
The service procedures for battery replacement 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, proper inspection criteria,
necessary special tools, required processes and related one-time-use parts needed for a complete and
lasting repair regardless of pass or fail.
Refer to STIS: Engine > STARING/CHARGING SYSTEMS > Battery

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 7 of 17

BATTERY REPLACEMENT NOTES:
•

Refer to the applicable Service Manual and review: General Description > Repair Contents
> Action required before & after Battery Disconnect. Additionally, record any stored seat
position(s) before proceeding. Relearn any seat position memory after work is complete. If
the power rear gate (PRG) height has been customized, that position must also be noted and
relearned.

•

NEVER replace an EFB battery with a flooded battery. Use ONLY the battery specified for the
vehicle.

•

When testing a new replacement battery, use the After New Battery Install function of either
the DSS-5000 or the DCA-8000 to perform the test.

•

When reconnecting the positive battery terminal, torque to 6Nm (2.6ftlbs. or 53.1inch-lbs).
When reconnecting the ground cable terminal to the battery sensor, torque to 7.5Nm (5.5ft.-lbs.
or 66inch-lbs.) while supporting the sensor with the other hand as outlined in the applicable
Service Manual under: STARTING/CHARGING SYSTSEMS > Battery Sensor.

2015-16MY Forester ONLY:
No changes have been introduced to the battery charge logic for 2015-16MY Forester. A Diagnostic
Trouble Code (DTC) scan MUST be performed on all 2015-16MY Foresters with a qualified battery
concern. Diagnosis, labor, and parts related to any of the DTCs listed below are to be rectified at no
charge to the customer.
P1530 - BATTERY CURRENT SENSOR CIRCUIT LOW
P1531 - BATTERY CURRENT SENSOR CIRCUIT HIGH
P1532 - BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM
B2500 - BATT P/SUPPLY FAILURE
C1413 - POWER SUPPLY VOLT ERROR
ONLY procedures related to the DTCs listed above are eligible for reimbursement one time
only.
BATTERY CHARGING LOGIC:
In 2017, there were two Technical Service Bulletins released containing information regarding a
battery logic -related reflash (TSBs 11-174-17R & 11-176-17). In addition to the Battery Drain
Warranty (BDW) Standard & Enhanced Battery Drain Warranty Extension, the vehicles applicable to
these Service Bulletins will also have the Battery Drain Reflash (BDR) Warranty Extension applied.
If a vehicle comes into a retailer with a pre-authorization for a qualifying battery concern and the
vehicle also has the BDR extension, the retailer should verify whether the reflash has already been
performed. This can be done by confirming the current ECM logic, either by checking claim history
or by using FlashWrite. Appendix A lists CIDs released after the battery charge logic enhancement.
If the vehicle’s current logic is listed in Appendix A, reprogramming is NOT required. If the current
logic is not listed in Appendix A, the retailer should perform the reflash. This BDR Warranty
Extension will cover the reflash 100% for 8 years/100,000 miles, whichever comes first from the
Warranty Start Date of the vehicle.
•

Reprogram the ECM following the normal FlashWrite procedure (if required).
Continued...

Bulletin Number: 07-207-22R; Revised: 02/03/23

Page 8 of 17

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) highly recommends connecting either the Subaru Midtronics DCA8000 Dynamic Diagnostic Charging System or the Subaru Midtronics GR8-1100 Diagnostic Battery
Charger to the vehicle and utilizing the Power Supply Mode feature anytime a vehicle control module
is being reprogrammed. Once the Midtronics charger is connected to the vehicle, if the battery is fully
charged, it takes less than three (3) minutes to boot-up the charger, select the Power Supply Mode,
and have the battery voltage stabilized and ready for reprogramming.
REPROGRAMMING NOTES:
•

IF REPROGRAMMING IS REQUIRED, always note the original Calibration Identification
number (CID) the vehicle came in with on the repair order before reprogramming and, make
sure to list the NEW CID for any newly-installed programming (as confirmed from the actual
control module AFTER installation). The NEW CID MUST also be noted on the repair
order as this information is required for entry in the Claims Specific Data area during claim
submission.

•

For instructions on using the power supply mode, reference the applicable User Manual for the
Midtronics DCA-8000 Dynamic Diagnostic Charging System and the Midtronics GR8-1100
Diagnostic Battery Charger on STIS.

•

Confirm all electrical loads such as lights, audio, HVAC, seat heaters, and rear defroster are all
switched OFF before setting up the charger for Power Supply Mode.

•

Select the correct battery type (Flooded, EFB, Gel, AGM or AGM Spiral).

•

Input the CCA which matches the vehicle’s battery. NOTE: OE and replacement batteries have
different CCA ratings. Always confirm the battery’s CCA rating before proceeding.

•