Owners consistently report premature headlight bulb failure—some replacing bulbs 4 to 8 times over 3 to 9.5 years. One owner detailed replacing bulbs at least 16 times over nine years. Failures occur on either side or both simultaneously, often just weeks apart, and bulbs fail whether owners buy OEM parts or aftermarket, and whether they install them or the dealer does. Bulbs are not warranty-covered.
One owner at 30,000 miles found fractured mounting tabs in both headlight assemblies, allowing bulbs to shift during turns and lose contact. Replacing the assembly was the prescribed fix, but the owner didn't pursue it.
A major frustration: accessing low-beam bulbs requires removing the tire and wheel-well liner—at least an hour of work each time. Dealerships charge around $150 per replacement. This design makes frequent bulb swaps especially costly and inconvenient.
Some owners also report inadequate illumination—lights don't shine far or high enough. One owner noticed the beam has a distinctive horizontal cutoff line and suspects European ECE standard equipment rather than U.S. SAE standard. Dealership attempts to add high-intensity bulbs or fog lights didn't fix the issue.
Subaru has reportedly extended warranty to 10 years on this defect and acknowledges receiving other complaints, but no recall exists for this model.
Failure modes owners describe
Premature Headlight Bulb Failure
Low-beam and/or high-beam headlight bulbs fail repeatedly, often multiple times within short intervals. Owners report replacing bulbs 4–8 times over 3–9.5 years of ownership, sometimes on both sides simultaneously or in quick succession.
When: Starts early in ownership; complaint #2 at 30,000 miles; #4 at under 54,000 miles; recurring across all ownership periods
Symptoms owners cite: Low-beam bulbs burn out prematurely; High-beam/driving bulbs fail repeatedly; Both sides go out in short timeframes (weeks to months apart); Bulbs fail regardless of brand used or dealership installation
Repairs/costs cited: Bulbs replaced by owners or dealers; dealer labor charged at ~$150 per replacement. Bulbs are not covered under warranty. No permanent fix identified despite dealership visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #7 states Subaru extended warranty to 10 years on this issue, indicating manufacturer awareness. Complaint #8 reports Subaru has had other complaints about headlamps. No recall issued for this model despite owner awareness of recalls on other Subaru models.
Fractured Headlight Assembly Tabs
Mounting tabs inside the headlight assembly crack or fracture, allowing bulbs to move and lose contact while driving, particularly during turns. This prevents proper illumination.
When: Reported at 30,000 miles in complaint #2
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights do not illuminate properly; Bulbs move when vehicle turns in either direction; Bulbs become unsecured in the assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight assembly replacement required. Vehicle in complaint #2 was not repaired; owner did not pursue due to cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no assistance offered per complaint #2.
Difficult Headlight Access and Removal
The headlight bulb replacement procedure requires removal of the tire and wheel-well liner or cowling, making the job cumbersome and time-consuming. This design flaw compounds the frustration of frequent bulb failures.
When: Ongoing issue affecting all owners attempting bulb replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Tire must be removed to access headlight bulbs; Wheel-well liner or cowling must be removed; Replacement takes at least one hour per incident; Front end must be partially disassembled
Repairs/costs cited: No parts replacement; issue is design-related. Owner labor or dealership labor at ~$150 per incident.
Inadequate Headlight Illumination Range
Headlights do not illuminate sufficiently far and high enough in front of the vehicle, creating a visibility hazard. Complaint #8 suggests the vehicle may be equipped with European ECE standard lights rather than U.S. SAE standard lights, featuring a distinctive horizontal cutoff line.
When: Complaint #9 did not specify timing; #8 ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Running lights do not illuminate high enough; Lights do not illuminate far enough ahead; Horizontal cutoff line visible across horizon (characteristic of ECE standard); Limited vertical and horizontal beam adjustment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attempted to install high-intensity bulbs but was overruled; fog lights were installed as workaround without improvement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #8 notes Subaru acknowledged other complaints about their headlamps.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.