2009 Subaru Forester Headlight Bulb Size
The 2009 Subaru Forester uses a D2R low-beam and a 9005 high-beam headlight bulb.
Key takeaways
- Low beam: D2R. High beam: 9005.
- The D2R low beam is HID (xenon), not halogen - it runs through a ballast at high voltage, so it is a replaceable bulb but not a casual swap.
- Fog, signal, and reverse bulbs use different sizes - check each before buying.
- Fog light
- 9006
- Front turn signal
- 7440NA
- Brake / tail
- 7443CK
- Rear turn signal
- 7440NA
- License plate
- 168
Where to buy bulbs for the 2009 Subaru Forester
Headlight bulbs dim over time, so replace them in pairs even if only one has failed. HID bulbs run through a ballast at high voltage, so this is a replaceable bulb but not a casual swap - disconnect the battery first. To order the exact sizes online:
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Can you replace it yourself?
What to buy
This vehicle uses separate bulbs for low and high beam: D2R for the low beam, and 9005 for the high beam. They are different parts, so check which one has actually failed before buying. Replace them in pairs regardless. Bulbs from the same batch age at the same rate, so when one goes the other is usually close behind, and a fresh bulb beside a tired one is visibly brighter and unevenly aimed. Doing both at once costs a few dollars more and saves doing the job twice.
| Bulb | Covers | Type | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2R | low beam | HID | a pair |
| 9005 | high beam | Halogen | a pair |
D2R is a widely used headlight bulb, fitted to 0.6% of the vehicles we hold specs for. Any parts store will have it, and you are not restricted to the dealer.
Every bulb on this vehicle
Headlights get the attention, but the small bulbs are what fail an inspection. A burnt-out brake or turn bulb is also the cheapest ticket you will ever get, and most of these are a few dollars and a twist to change.
| Position | Bulb | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Low beam (headlight) | D2R | HID |
| High beam | 9005 | Halogen |
| Fog light | 9006 | Halogen |
| Front turn signal | 7440NA | Miniature |
| Brake / tail | 7443CK | Miniature |
| Rear turn signal | 7440NA | Miniature |
| License plate | 168 | Miniature |
Why this keeps getting harder
Headlight bulbs used to be a commodity: a handful of codes covered most cars and any of them cost a few dollars. That is ending. Across the vehicles we hold specs for, factory LED low beams went from 0% of 2000s cars to 59% of 2025-and-newer ones. LEDs last far longer, which is the upside and a real one. The tradeoff is that when they do fail, it is often not a bulb you can buy at all, and the fix moves from a $20 part to a headlight assembly.
- The full LED adoption study - how fast the fleet switched, measured across our own data.
- Halogen vs LED vs HID - what actually differs, beyond the marketing.
- How to change a headlight bulb - the ten-minute version.
- The most common headlight bulb types
Frequently asked
What headlight bulb does a 2009 Subaru Forester take?
It uses a D2R low-beam bulb and a 9005 high-beam bulb.
Is the 2009 Subaru Forester headlight bulb a DIY job?
The 2009 Subaru Forester uses D2R HID (xenon) low beams. This is a real bulb you can replace, but it is not a casual swap: HID runs through a ballast at several thousand volts to strike the arc, so disconnect the battery first and never handle a live system. Replace them in pairs - xenon bulbs shift colour as they age, and a new one next to an old one is obvious. Do not touch the glass with bare fingers.
What fog light bulb does the Subaru Forester use?
The fog lights take a 9006 bulb.
Is D2R a common headlight bulb?
D2R is a widely used headlight bulb, fitted to 0.6% of the vehicles we hold specs for. Any parts store will have it, and you are not restricted to the dealer.
See where this ranks in our study of the most common headlight bulb types in the US.