ATTENTION:

GENERAL MANAGER
PARTS MANAGER
CLAIMS PERSONNEL
SERVICE MANAGER

IMPORTANT - All
Service Personnel
Should Read and
Initial in the boxes
provided, right.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY: 2010MY and Later Legacy & Outback

SUBJECT: Brake/Electronic Parking Brake
Warning Light

NUMBER: 06-40-11R
DATE:
05/31/11

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide you a diagnostic reference guide which will aid
when diagnosing the Brake warning light and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) warning light
system. This is only a guide and the applicable Subaru Service Manual should be referenced
for detailed diagnostic and troubleshooting information.
The Reference Guide can be found on the following page.

Continued on next page...

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.

Bulletin Number: 06-40-11R; Date: 05/31/11

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS ISO

14001 COMPLIANT
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.

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Brake warning light and Electronic parking brake (EPB) warning light system diagnostic reference guide.
Light status
Go off

Symptom
Normal

Normal

--

Major DTC

Occurrence factor

--

--

C0251 If the vehicle is the

With the engine running and the gear shift
subject to reprogramming
selector is moved from P to R or D, the light
(refer to TSB 06-39illuminates. After the ignition is turned OFF and 09R) and it has not been
the engine restarted, the light goes off.
reprogrammed, DTC will
set in error.
The light keeps illuminating after starting the
engine, and goes off after releasing the EPB,
and does not illuminate again.

--

EPB is in operation:
Illuminate.
EPB is in deactivated state:
Goes off.

C0271 C0221 C0241

C0242 C0235 C0264
C0251 C0252 C0272
C0273 C0276

Possible failure of one of

the following:
Force sensor / Parking
switch / EPB ECU /
Power supply voltage
/ Ignition circuit / VDC
communication / Actuator
/ Motor / Temperature
sensor / Stroke sensor /
wiring harness / wiring
connectors.

C0222 C0231 C0232

C0234 C0233 C0243
C0263 C0262 C0265
C0274 C0275

Possible failure of one of

the following:
Hill holder switch / ECU /
TCU / VDC / Gear switch
/ Parameter selection /
ECU communication / TCU
communication / BCU
communication / Clutch
switch / G sensor (Front
and rear) / wiring harness
/ wiring connectors.

EPB does not operate by pressing EPB switch.

EPB
Warning
Light

BRAKE

With the doors closed, driver seat belt

connected and ignition on, EPB cannot be
released by pulling EPB switch.

Illuminate

Abnormal

EPB cannot be released automatically by

depressing gas pedal under the conditions for
automatic release.
Hill holder function does not operate by
stopping on an uphill slope with the hill holder
switch pressed.
Hill holder function is not turned on by
pressing hill holder switch.
Hill holder function is not turned off by
pressing hill holder switch.

Go off

Normal

EPB is in deactivated state.

--

--

Normal

EPB is in operation (except the following

abnormal cases).

--

--

Lack of brake fluid.

--

--

C0038 C0041 C0052

C0061

Possible failure of one

of the following: Valve
/ VDC ECU / Motor /
wiring harness / wiring
connectors.

C0281

Power supply voltage

decreased (due to
cranking, etc.) while EPB
motor was operating.

C0282

Parking brake was

released by parking brake
release tool.

--

The operation and release

was repeated at least
ten times in a short time
(about 30 sec.).

Illuminate
Abnormal
Brake
Warning
Light

EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution

malfunction (ABS warning lamp illuminates at
the same time.)
Mid-stop condition (It is not a malfunction if
the actuator operates normally during switch
ON / OFF operation of EPB.)
Engine was started when EPB was in operation.
-> It becomes normal once you release EPB.

Blink

Motor lock current

exceeded the standard
value temporarily. (Only
before reprogramming).

At first
Abnormal,
then Normal

Emergency release state (It is not a malfunction

if the actuator operates normally during switch
ON / OFF operation of EPB after Emergency
release.)
In case the operation and release of the parking
brake is repeated excessively, the system
becomes inaccessible temporarily. -> The
system will recover after approximately 30 sec.

Bulletin Number: 06-40-11R; Date: 05/31/11

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