TSB 05-97-26 — Subaru Service bulletin
05-97-26 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 6 Subaru models, 2002–2026 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years 05-97-26 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Crosstrek | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Subaru Forester | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2025 |
| Subaru Outback | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Subaru WRX | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Every document filed under 05-97-26
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 05-97-26 | April 20, 2026 | Service bulletin |
What 05-97-26 covers
Wheels & tires, Steering — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB 05-97-26?
05-97-26 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Subaru, covering 6 Subaru models across the 2002–2026 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
Which vehicles does 05-97-26 cover?
NHTSA's file names Subaru Crosstrek (2012–2023); Subaru Forester (2002–2021); Subaru Impreza (2002–2023, 2026); Subaru Legacy (2002–2019, 2025); Subaru Outback (2002–2019); Subaru WRX (2002–2006, 2008–2022). 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 05-97-26 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. 05-97-26 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 05-97-26?
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 05-97-26, 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 05-97-26. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.