2025 Forester Headlights Questions

[Bartholomew]

I see the post about the '24 Forester's headlights being low. I have the same question about the '25.

I also have another question regarding a dark spot on each headlight. There are a couple of videos that show these dark spots.

Does anyone know why the dark spots are there? Is it a defect, or is it just a quirk with the rotating headlight function?

 

[MikeinPDX]

I picked up my 2025 Forester three days ago. The two black spots are small, but quite noticeable due to the otherwise perfectly smooth spread of light. I only notice them when the lights are projected onto something like a garage door. I'm sure it doesn't indicate any problem, just a funny design choice by the headlight team. I have no complaints about the aiming of the headlight beams, they seem quite good to me. I'm not quite sure what to think about the moving headlight feature. I can't see that it does any good, but it doesn't really hurt anything. I will probably just ignore it.

On the other hand, I'm disappointed in the amount of light the LED bulbs produce. It's adequate on dry nights, but here in the Pacific Northwest we have to deal with a lot of rain, which "soaks up" much of your headlight power. This is especially annoying for me because my other vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Sienna, has amazing aftermarket LED bulbs in the old style headlight housings.

Does anyone know if you can upgrade the LED bulbs in Subaru headlights?

 

[Dick Foster]

Nope. Personally I think LEDs are a poor choice for headlights.

BTW the steering headlight gimmick was on the infamous Tucker that failed to get a foothold in the market. It had an extra third headlight, center mounted that followed the steering. That was back in the post WWII American boom era. First to have seat belts, padded dash and a lot of standard safety features in todays cars. Way ahead of its time.

 

[MikeinPDX]

It looks like path to better headlight performance is to install auxiliary lights of some kind. I think I should start a new thread for that.

 

[TNForest]

My understanding is the black spots are to help avoid blinding oncoming drivers.

 

[Dick Foster]

I'd doubt the theory that black spots are intentional for any useful purpose.