TSB 02-196-26 — Subaru Service bulletin
02-196-26 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 4 Subaru models, 2019–2026 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. This bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup.
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years 02-196-26 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Ascent | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Subaru Outback | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| Subaru WRX | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
Every document filed under 02-196-26
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 02-196-26 | June 23, 2026 | Service bulletin |
What 02-196-26 covers
Engine — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB 02-196-26?
02-196-26 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Subaru, covering 4 Subaru models across the 2019–2026 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: This bulletin outlines the diagnostic and repair procedure for white smoke emitted from the exhaust after startup.
Which vehicles does 02-196-26 cover?
NHTSA's file names Subaru Ascent (2019–2026); Subaru Legacy (2020–2025); Subaru Outback (2020–2026); Subaru WRX (2022–2025). A bulletin number can be re-issued against more vehicles later, so check the model-year list on this page against your own.
Is TSB 02-196-26 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. 02-196-26 is repair guidance the manufacturer sent its dealers, not a safety defect finding. You pay for the work unless the vehicle is still under warranty. Recall repairs, by contrast, are always free.
How do I get the full text of 02-196-26?
Take the document ID to a dealer's service desk, or search NHTSA's manufacturer-communications records. This page carries every document ID filed under 02-196-26, its date, and NHTSA's own summary from the public file.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. This page lists only what NHTSA's manufacturer-communications file records under 02-196-26. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.