Subaru Crosstrek 2008–2016 — technical service bulletin
Bulletin 12-232-18 · NHTSA communication 10140486 · issued Feb 6, 2018
Technical service bulletin
communication type
Equipment
component
2008–2016
model years
13
vehicle entries
Official summary
This bulletin announces a design change to the front seat back upholstery retaining hooks (HOOK FLAT MAT). The change is in response to customer concerns of discomfort coming from the center of the seat back and outside bolsters. When a hook fails, the center (flat) portion of the seat back drops inward from lack of support. If not repaired, with continued use, the seat back frame may break down the foam padding covering it. Eventually, the frame will likely wear through and damage the trim cover.
Vehicles covered
What a TSB means. Technical service bulletins are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls, and repairs are not automatically free (warranty extensions are an exception worth checking). The full document is available via NHTSA’s vehicle lookup.