Subaru Crosstrek Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Bulb type, unit part numbers, and the faults that actually cause that flickering or dim light you've noticed.

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH TYC 20-16796-05-9 / RH TYC 20-15911-05-2 and TYC 20-16795-05-9

Accuracy note: Covers the Subaru Crosstrek (XV 2012-2017) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Headlights are sold by side (passenger / nearside = LH, driver's / offside = RH on a UK car) and by lamp type — halogen, xenon (D1S / D3S) and LED or full-LED units are not interchangeable, and DRL, cornering and levelling options change the part number again. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Check the lamp type and traffic side (UK right-hand-traffic units, not LHD) against your VIN, and expect xenon / LED and adaptive units to need levelling adjustment or coding after fitting.

Passenger side (LH / nearside) headlight — aftermarket	Van Wezel 5140961 (halogen H11/HB3, electric levelling motor fitted, no DRL stated); TYC 20-16796-05-9 (halogen H11/HB3, electric motor); Alkar 2769998 (halogen, W5W/H11/HB3/WY21W, electric); Abakus 220-1122L-LEMN1 (halogen H11/HB3, electric levelling vehicles, no motor); Abakus 220-1126LMLEHM2 (xenon D2S, electric motor)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	Van Wezel 5140962 (halogen H11/HB3, electric levelling motor fitted, no DRL stated); TYC 20-15911-05-2 and TYC 20-16795-05-9 (halogen H11/HB3, electric motor); Alkar 2770998 (halogen, W5W/H11/HB3/WY21W, electric); Van Wezel 5162986 (xenon D2R, facelift, automatic levelling, no motor or ballast); Abakus 220-1126RMLEHM2 (xenon D2S, electric motor)
Bulb types	dipped/main H11 or HB3 (single H11/HB3 halogen units), indicator WY21W, sidelight W5W; xenon units use D2S or D2R with HB3
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Most XV fitments are halogen H11/HB3 with electric levelling; xenon D2S/D2R units exist for the xenon trims, and Van Wezel 5162986 is specifically listed for the facelift. No LED units are listed for either XV generation.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Subaru Crosstrek Headlights

If your Crosstrek has factory-fitted halogen headlamp housings, converting them to fit LED bulbs is treated as a definite MOT failure under the current inspection manual — this isn't a grey area or a minor advisory, since a housing designed for halogen doesn't distribute an LED bulb's light output correctly, which can genuinely dazzle oncoming drivers. If you want a genuine LED upgrade, the correct route is a complete headlight unit designed for LED from the factory, not a bulb swap into an existing halogen housing.

Subaru Crosstrek Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How To Replace Your Low Beam Headlights 2013-2017 Subaru Crosstrek

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US-spec video, 2013-2017 low beam

Subaru Crosstrek Headlights reference plate

Before you buy: matrix LED, adaptive, and cornering headlight systems often require electronic coding to the car after a unit swap, even for a genuine like-for-like replacement — a headlight that isn't recognised by the car's electronics can trigger warning lights or fail to auto-level correctly. Check whether your specific trim has one of these systems before assuming a straightforward bulb-in, bulb-out job.

Subaru Crosstrek Headlights: What It Does

On the Subaru Crosstrek, main and dipped beam bulbs — or LED/matrix modules on higher-spec cars — live inside the headlight unit, angled carefully to illuminate the road without blinding oncoming traffic. The daytime running light and front indicator often share that same housing too, adding complexity to both fitment and repair.

Subaru Crosstrek Headlights: Generations, Derivatives & Headlight Type

Standard trims	Halogen as standard, with LED daytime running lights integrated on many trims
Higher trims/factory option	Genuine factory Xenon HID was offered on some generations — confirmed as a completely different housing design from halogen, not a bulb swap; halogen-specification replacement units explicitly don't fit cars originally built with factory Xenon HID

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Subaru Crosstrek Headlights: Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Headlights Guide for the four bulb technologies and how they differ, UK law on aim and modifications, common faults to check for, how difficult this job is to DIY, and confirming fitment against your VIN.

More Subaru Headlights

The same part, covered across other Subaru models.