There are various types of USB flash drive available from many suppliers. If the head unit does not
recognize the USB flash drive during the reprogramming process, re-format the flash drive in FAT32
using above process instead of NTFS as previously specified. If the USB flash drive is still not
recognized, use a USB flash drive from different supplier.
•

Insert a USB flash drive (16 GB MINIMUM) to be used for (in this example) updating the
BASE head unit into the PC.

•

Once the USB flash drive is located and ready for use, proceed to next step.

•

From the SDS GUI (Desktop) click / open My Documents.

•

Navigate to the USB flash drive (Removable Disk) and double click on it to access the drive.

•

Right Click on the drive and select Format.

•

Change the File System to NTFS.

•

Check the box for Quick Format and then press Start. This will erase any existing files.

•

When the warning dialog box opens, click “OK”.

•

Once formatting is complete, click “OK” then click “Close” to exit the format dialog box.

Follow “A” when using files downloaded from Subarunet.
Follow “B” when using the files sent directly to the SDS notebook from Nuspire.
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Bulletin Number: WTZ-85R; Revised: 06/08/21

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“A” When using update files downloaded from Subarunet:
•

Go to Downloads.

•

Once the files have been downloaded from Subarunet, click on the Downloads folder and
then sort by Date Modified to bring the most recent files to the top of the list.

•

Open / display the contents of File folder “_Harman Audio-Navi Update Files”.

•

Click on “Extract All Files”.

•

From the dialog box, browse to My Documents then click on “Extract”.

•

Open / display the contents of the 6 related Update File folders.

•

Double-click on the required file (for this example, select the file entitled “HIGH-1718 Impreza-18 Crosstrek-18-Legacy-Outback-18-BRZ-HARMAN AUDIO UPDATENOVEMBER 2018”).

•

Copy ONLY the “Update” folder then paste (or click / drag) it to the “clean” USB flash drive
as listed (Removable Disk) in the directory.

“B” When using update files sent directly from Nuspire:
•

Go to My Documents on the GUI screen to display the list of available update files shown
below.

•

Sort by Date Modified to bring the most recent files to the top of the list. The folder
is named: _Harman Audio-Navi Update Files. It contains the six folders shown in the
EXAMPLE photos below.

•

Double-click on the required file (for this example, select the file entitled “HIGH-1718 Impreza-18 Crosstrek-18-Legacy-Outback-18-BRZ-HARMAN AUDIO UPDATENOVEMBER 2018”) and the Update file will display as shown.

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•

Click on the Update file and either copy / paste or click / drag it to the USB flash drive.

•

Once the folder named “Update” is loaded onto the USB flash drive, right click on the drive
and select “Eject”.

•

Remove the USB flash drive after the prompt appears that says “Safe to Remove Hardware”.

•

Mark the USB “WTZ-85” to indicate the head unit it will update (HIGH in this example).

Step 4- IMPORTANT: Install the update folder for the head unit being reprogrammed ONLY. Do
not install all three update folders onto the same flash drive at the same time.
NOTE: Do not copy the entire File folder.

Copy ONLY the File folder named “Update” to the USB flash drive.

•

After the download is complete, NEVER change the folder names.

•

To avoid confusion, label the flash drive with the file contents (e.g. WTZ-85 / HIGH).

•

Confirm there is a folder named “update” on the flash drive.

•

After confirmation, move to the car and either start the engine or follow the procedure as
outlined in document GR8-1100 on STIS for use of the GR8’s Power Supply Mode.

CAUTION: Confirm one final time the head unit you are about to update matches with the USB
flash drive you have selected. Attempting to install the incorrect update file will disable the head unit.
Step 5- Update Installation:
IMPORTANT: Always record the customer’s radio station presets, volume and Driver Profile
settings before proceeding further. The customer’s radio station presets and volume settings will
likely need to be reset once the update and re-boot procedures are completed.

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Always press > to move the screen and reveal all the selected
presets so they can be recorded and reset after update is complete.

Also check and record the Driver Profile and Volume settings.

•

With the engine idling (or GR8 connected), plug the flash drive into the USB Port.

•

After the unit “authenticates” the USB flash drive, press “Next” and after the second screen is
displayed, press “Next” again.

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Bulletin Number: WTZ-85R; Revised: 06/08/21

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•

The current and available software version information will be displayed. The Available
Version I.D should be Rel_UO.18.43.20.

Rel_U0.18.43.20

•

After confirming the Available Version, press “Install Now” to start the reprogramming
process.

NOTES:
•

The screen will go blank (black) for a brief period after installation begins.

•

If a “Do you want to retry” is displayed, press Retry to restart the update.

•

The update should take less than 20 minutes to complete.

IMPORTANT CAUTION: To avoid possible head unit damage, always confirm the update file on
the USB flash drive being used matches the head unit being updated (e.g. a BASE update file is being
installed into a BASE head unit). The files are NOT interchangeable between the 3 different audio
unit types.
•

Do not touch any of the buttons on the head unit while the updating process is taking place.

•

If during the updating an error screen is displayed asking “Do you want to Retry”, press
“Retry” to restart the update.

•

Once the updating process is complete, the head unit will reboot automatically.

•

After the reboot completes, press the HOME

button to return to the Home screen.

Step 6- Turn the ignition OFF, open and close the driver’s door then remove the flash drive from the
USB port. If an error screen is displayed asking “Do you want to Retry”, press “Cancel”.
IMPORTANT: Wait AT LEAST 3 MINUTES before proceeding to Step 7.

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Step 7- Verify the newly-installed Software Version ID using the following steps:
•

Turn the ignition back ON. The STARLINK screen should be displayed. If the STARLINK
screen is not displayed, perform Step 5 again and be sure to WAIT AT LEAST 3 MINUTES
before proceeding.

•

In some cases, the radio presets may not appear initially.

•

From the HOME screen, touch “Settings”.

•

From the Settings > General screen, scroll down to and then touch “System Information”.

•

Confirm Software Version is now “Rel_UO.18.43.20”.

Rel_U0.18.43.20

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•

Press
(Home) to return to the Home screen and shut the engine OFF. Open and close
the driver’s door.

Step 8- CRITICAL: Operation Check and Full Re-Boot Procedure:
1) Turn the ignition back ON (ACC) and confirm normal system operation.
2) Confirm the Home screen is displayed.
IMPORTANT: If during this procedure, the screen goes blank (black) and the STARLINK
screen does not appear, the head unit must be replaced. THIS SHOULD BE A VERY RARE
OCCURRENCE. Contact SOA Techline should this condition occur.
3) Turn the ignition OFF, open and close the driver’s door then WAIT AT LEAST 3 MINUTES
to confirm the unit “times out” or “goes to sleep”.
4) Perform 1), 2) and 3) above again (a total of 2) cycles. If normal operation is confirmed,
to return to the Home screen and shut the ignition OFF to complete the procedure.
press
Step 9- If lost during the update process, reset the customer’s radio station presets, volume and
Driver Profile settings and if necessary, reset the clock to complete the procedure.
CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT AND ENTRY PROCEDURES:
Credit to perform this recall will be based on properly completed repair order information. Retailers
may submit claims through Subarunet.com.
Labor Description

Labor
Operation #

Labor
Time

HARMAN AUDIO / NAVI UNIT REPROGRAMMING
(INCLUDES VERSION ID CHECK AND OPERATIONAL CHECKS)

A128-828

0.4

VERSION ID CHECK ONLY

A128-820

0.2

Recall/
Campaign
Code

Claim
Type

WTZ-85

RC

IMPORTANT: CRITICAL Claim Process Update: When completing the WTZ-85 campaign,
the post-update software version number MUST be entered in the Miscellaneous Detail field when
submitting the claim.

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: WTZ-85R; Revised: 06/08/21

Page 12 of 13

OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER

Subaru of America, Inc
Subaru Plaza
PO Box 9103
Camden, NJ 08101-9877
844-373-6614
www.subaru.com

Notice to Lessors: Under Federal law the lessor of a vehicle who receives this letter must provide a copy of it to the vehicle lessee(s)

within 10 business days from receipt. The lessor must also keep a record of the lessee(s) to whom this letter is sent, the date sent, and the
applicable vehicle identification number (VIN). (For the purposes of this section, a lessor means a person or entity that in the last twelve
months prior to the date of this notification has been the owner, as referenced on the vehicle’s title, of any five or more leased vehicles. A
leased vehicle is a vehicle leased to another person for a term of at least four months.)

A subsidiary of SUBARU CORPORATION