--- title: "Subaru Forester Headlight Bulbs: LED/LED" description: "How the Subaru Forester headlight bulbs specification changed from 2012 to 2026, compared generation by generation. Low beams use LED and high beams use LED on the Subaru Forester. Full bulb chart for every position, plus whether LED replacements fit the factory housings." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/bulbs" updated: "2026-08-21" --- # Subaru Forester Headlight and Bulb Sizes The specification is not the same across every year we cover, the table below shows exactly where it changes. ## Has the Subaru Forester headlight bulbs specification changed by year? | Model years | Low beam | High beam | Fog | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [2025-2026](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/bulbs) | LED | LED | N/A | | [2019-2024](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/bulbs) | LED (Steering Responsive LED headlights standard on most trims) | LED | N/A | | [2014-2018](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2014-2018/bulbs) | H11 | 9005 (HB3) | N/A | | [2012-2013](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/bulbs) | H11 | 9005 (HB3) | N/A | ## Full specifications by generation The headlight bulbs on a Subaru Forester is set by its generation, not its model year, so each generation has one page carrying the complete figures, part numbers and fitment notes for every year it covers. - [2025-2026 Subaru Forester Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/bulbs) - [2019-2024 Subaru Forester Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/bulbs) - [2014-2018 Subaru Forester Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2014-2018/bulbs) - [2012-2013 Subaru Forester Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/bulbs) ## Subaru Forester headlight bulbs: common questions ### What headlight bulb does a Subaru Forester use? LED for the low beam and LED for the high beam. Trims with factory LED or HID projectors use a sealed assembly instead and are not bulb-serviceable. ### Can you put LED bulbs in a Subaru Forester? Physically, yes, LED replacements exist in every common base. Whether they work well depends on the housing: a reflector housing designed around a halogen filament scatters LED output into oncoming traffic instead of down the road. Projector housings tolerate the swap far better. Some vehicles also flag the lower current draw as a bulb-out fault. ## 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/) ## Find your exact Forester - [2026](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2026) - [2025](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025) - [2024](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2024) - [2023](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2023) - [2022](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2022) - [2021](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2021) - [2020](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2020) - [2019](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019) - [2018](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2018) - [2017](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2017) - [2016](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2016) - [2015](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2015) - [2014](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2014) - [2013](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2013) - [2012](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012) More Subaru Forester guides: - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/filters) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/common-problems) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.