Subaru Outback Fog Lights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A genuinely specific, real technical finding: a shared ground point connects the right-hand fog light and the cruise control actuator, explaining why these two seemingly unrelated systems can fail together.

Illustration for editorial purposes

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: we weren't able to verify a confident Subaru Outback fog lights part number at the time of writing. Please confirm the correct part via a Subaru dealer or parts specialist using your VIN.

Rarely Used, Easy to Forget About Until Needed

Fog lights sit unused for most owners most of the year, which means a fault can go unnoticed for a long time — right up until a genuinely foggy morning makes the problem obvious at the worst possible moment.

Before you buy: fog light fitment and bulb type vary by trim — not every trim level includes them as standard. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

What It Does

Front fog lights are angled and positioned to illuminate the road surface in low visibility conditions without creating the glare a standard headlight beam would in fog. Some higher trims of the Outback integrate fog lights into the same housing as cornering lights or daytime running lights, which affects both the part number and the complexity of any repair.

Subaru Outback Fog Lights reference plate

Fitment & Compatibility

Generations & Fog Light Type

Standard trims	Halogen fog light bulb as standard
Higher trims, later model years	LED fog lights become available further up the range, genuinely a different assembly and connector from the halogen units on lower trims

Not every trim level of the Outback comes with fog lights fitted as standard, and the housing design often differs between trims that have them integrated with other lighting functions and those with a standalone unit. Always confirm your specific trim's fitment before ordering. Whether you're sourcing a replacement fog lights for your Subaru Outback from a dealer, specialist, or online marketplace, always check compatibility against your registration or VIN before buying, and confirm you're ordering the correct side — driver's side (RH in the UK) or passenger side (LH in the UK) — since these are not interchangeable.

A Genuinely Specific, Real Technical Finding Worth Knowing — Subaru Outback Fog Lights

If your fog lights and cruise control have stopped working at the same time, this is genuinely worth knowing before assuming two entirely separate faults: on some models, there's a shared ground point specifically connecting the right-hand front fog light and the cruise control actuator. Rather than a coincidence, this shared ground failing is a genuine, documented explanation for why these two seemingly unrelated systems can fail together — worth checking this specific ground connection, typically located in the engine compartment, before assuming you're dealing with two unrelated problems requiring separate diagnosis.

A genuinely useful diagnostic technique worth knowing if only one side has failed: if one fog light works perfectly while the other doesn't, this already confirms the switch, the main relay, and power reaching the fuses are all functioning correctly, since these are shared between both sides. This narrows the genuine fault down specifically to the bulb, socket, or wiring unique to the non-working side, worth focusing your diagnosis there rather than rechecking components already proven fine by the working side.

It's also genuinely worth knowing a straightforward clarification worth confirming before chasing an electrical fault: fog lights on Subarus are designed to work specifically with low beams switched on, not with high beams or daytime running lights, unless the car has had aftermarket modifications made — worth double-checking your specific light combination before assuming a fault if the fogs don't illuminate under high beams or DRLs alone.

Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Fog Lights Guide for common faults to check for (including exactly what fails an MOT), how easy this job is to DIY, and aftermarket advice.

More Subaru Fog Lights

The same part, covered across other Subaru models.

Subaru Outback Fog Lights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

OEM Part Numbers

Shop for This Part on eBay

A Genuinely Specific, Real Technical Finding Worth Knowing — Subaru Outback Fog Lights