--- title: "How to Reset Oil Life on a 2025-2026 Subaru Forester" description: "Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2025-2026 Subaru Forester in 5 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/oil-reset" updated: "2026-08-21" --- # How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator on a 2025-2026 Subaru Forester Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2025-2026 Subaru Forester in 5 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed. ## Reset procedure, 2025-2026 Subaru Forester (Check your manual) 1. With the ignition ON (or engine running), use the steering-wheel arrow/scroll buttons to navigate the driver information display in the gauge cluster 2. Scroll to the vehicle settings menu (wrench/gear icon) 3. Select "Maintenance" or "Reset Oil Maintenance Reminder" 4. Confirm the reset with the SET/OK button on the steering wheel 5. The maintenance/oil-change reminder clears from the display Note: Carried forward from the SK generation's menu-driven reset; Sport/Touring's larger 11.6-in touchscreen may also expose a maintenance menu, but the steering-wheel cluster method is confirmed to still work. ## Which Subaru Forester model years does this cover? These oil life reset specifications apply to every Subaru Forester built from 2025 through 2026, the SL (6th generation), compact crossover suv (subaru global platform, redesigned). Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2025 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025) - [2026 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2026) ## What changed during the 2025-2026 Subaru Forester | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2025 | All-new SL-generation redesign, unveiled October 2024 for the 2025 model year; adds a factory Forester Hybrid (S:HEV) for the first time in the US; base horsepower rises slightly to 180 | | 2026 | Carryover year; no major mechanical changes identified | ## 2025-2026 Subaru Forester oil life reset: common questions ### How do you reset the oil life on a 2025-2026 Subaru Forester? 5 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 2025-2026 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 2025-2026 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. Carried forward from the SK generation's menu-driven reset; Sport/Touring's larger 11.6-in touchscreen may also expose a maintenance menu, but the steering-wheel cluster method is confirmed to still work. ## Sources - [Wikipedia, Subaru Forester generations (SL)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester) - [Subaru Media, Subaru debuts all-new 2025 Forester SUV (press release)](https://media.subaru.com/pressrelease/2123/1/subaru-debuts-all-new-2025-forester-suv-new) - [Car and Driver, Tested: 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid (specs, mpg, curb weight, tire size)](https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a64352235/2025-subaru-forester-hybrid-drive/) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2025 Forester 2.5L FB25D oil spec/capacity (0W-16, 4.6 qt)](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2025/subaru/forester/2-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-fb25d-1/) - [sportsubarusouth.com, Subaru Forester oil type by model year (2025, incl. S:HEV hybrid)](https://www.sportsubarusouth.com/subaru-research/subaru-forester-oil-type/) - [KBB, 2025 Subaru Forester specs (180 hp across trims)](https://www.kbb.com/subaru/forester/2025/specs/) - [Subaru.com, 2025 Forester Hybrid Edition (194 combined hp, e-CVT)](https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/forester/hybrid/2025.html) - [classaction.org, Subaru lawsuit: 2019-2025 vehicles, parasitic battery drain (Taylor v. Subaru)](https://www.classaction.org/news/subaru-lawsuit-says-2019-2025-vehicles-plagued-by-electrical-system-defect-causing-parasitic-battery-drain) - [Conley Subaru, Forester lug nut torque by model year](https://www.conleysubaru.com/subaru-research/subaru-forester-lug-nut-torque/) ## Other Subaru Forester generations - [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) - [2012-2013 Subaru Forester oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/oil-reset) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/oil-reset). ## More for the 2025-2026 Subaru Forester - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/common-problems) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.