--- title: "How to Reset Oil Life on a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester" description: "Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester in 6 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/oil-reset" updated: "2026-08-21" --- # How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator on a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester in 6 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed. ## Reset procedure, 2012-2013 Subaru Forester (Check your manual) 1. Turn the ignition to ON without starting the engine 2. Press the trip-reset button (round knob below the gauge cluster, left of the steering column) to cycle the display to the total odometer (ODO), not Trip A or Trip B 3. Turn the ignition OFF 4. Press and hold the trip-reset button, and while holding it, turn the ignition back to ON 5. Continue holding (~10 seconds) until the odometer display shows a series of dashes and then resets 6. Release the button, the maintenance/oil reminder light should now be off Note: Classic Subaru trip-meter-hold reset. This is a mileage-based maintenance reminder, not an oil-quality sensor, so it must be reset manually after every service. ## Which Subaru Forester model years does this cover? These oil life reset specifications apply to every Subaru Forester built from 2012 through 2013, the SH (3rd generation), compact crossover suv. Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2012 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012) - [2013 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2013) ## What changed during the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2012 | 2.5X Touring trim added above 2.5X Limited with HID headlights, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and silver roof rails; 2.5XT models gain a larger rear spoiler | | 2012-2013 | Facelift years of the SH generation; non-turbo trims run the newer FB25 while the 2.5XT retains the EJ25 turbo through the end of production in 2013 | | 2013 | Minor changes only: Sky Blue dropped from the exterior color palette, replaced by Marine Blue and Deep Cherry Pearl | ## 2012-2013 Subaru Forester oil life reset: common questions ### How do you reset the oil life on a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester? 6 steps, using only the controls in the car, the full sequence is above. ### Do you need a scan tool to reset the oil light on a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester? No. The procedure above uses the vehicle's own controls. A scan tool is only necessary if the reset does not take, which usually points at a different fault. ### Why won't the oil light reset on a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester? Almost always a timing problem in the sequence, a step held too briefly, or the ignition in the wrong position. Repeat it exactly, with the engine off and the key in accessory rather than run, unless the steps say otherwise. Classic Subaru trip-meter-hold reset. This is a mileage-based maintenance reminder, not an oil-quality sensor, so it must be reset manually after every service. ## Sources - [Wikipedia, Subaru Forester generations (SH)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2013 Forester 2.5L FB25BC oil spec/capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2013/subaru/forester/2-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-fb25bc-2/) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2010 Forester 2.5L EJ255 turbo oil spec/capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2010/subaru/forester/2-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-ej255-e-turbo/) - [Subaru Forester Owners Forum, oil type & filter for 2013 2.5XT (5W-30, 4.4 qt per owner's manual)](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/oil-type-filter-for-2013-2-5xt.133018/) - [sportsubarusouth.com, Subaru Forester oil type by model year (2011-2013 SH)](https://www.sportsubarusouth.com/subaru-research/subaru-forester-oil-type/) - [KBB, 2010 Subaru Forester specs (2.5XT: 224 hp / 226 lb-ft)](https://www.kbb.com/subaru/forester/2010/) - [Edmunds, 2013 Subaru Forester review (2.5XT specs, 4-speed automatic)](https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/forester/2013/review/) - [tirecalculatorhub.com, Subaru Forester OEM tire size guide by year](https://tirecalculatorhub.com/guides/subaru-tire-calculator) - [Conley Subaru, Forester lug nut torque by model year](https://www.conleysubaru.com/subaru-research/subaru-forester-lug-nut-torque/) - [Class Law Group, Subaru oil consumption class action settlement summary](https://www.classlawgroup.com/subaru-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit) - [subaruforester.org, 2011-14 Forester oil consumption class action lawsuit thread](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2011-14-forester-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit-merged-thread.360817/) - [subaruofdayton.com, Subaru EJ25 head gasket history explainer](https://www.subaruofdayton.com/blog/head-gaskets-horizons-and-hope-the-truth-about-older-subaru-models) ## Other Subaru Forester generations - [2025-2026 Subaru Forester oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/oil-reset) - [2019-2024 Subaru Forester oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/oil-reset) - [2014-2018 Subaru Forester oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2014-2018/oil-reset) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/oil-reset). ## More for the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/common-problems) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.