Subaru Outback 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 20-0358-05-2 / RH TYC 20-0357-05-2

Accuracy note: Covers the Subaru Outback (BS 2015-2020) 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	Abakus 220-1126LMLEHM2 (xenon D2S, HB3, electric motor); Abakus 220-1120L-LEHM1 (xenon D2S, HB3); Abakus 220-1120L-LD-EM (halogen H7/HB3); Van Wezel 5152965 (halogen HB3/H1, electric motor); Abakus 220-1112L-LDEM7 (halogen H7/HB3); TYC 20-0358-05-2 (halogen H4, electric-levelling cars, no motor)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	Abakus 220-1126RMLEHM2 (xenon D2S, HB3, electric motor); Abakus 220-1120R-LEHM1 (xenon D2S, HB3); Abakus 220-1120R-LD-EM (halogen H7/HB3); Van Wezel 5152966 (halogen HB3/H1, electric motor); Abakus 220-1112R-LDEM7 (halogen H7/HB3); TYC 20-0357-05-2 (halogen H4, electric-levelling cars, no motor)
Bulb types	dipped H7 or H1 with HB3 main, H4 on base units, xenon D2S, indicator WY21W, sidelight W5W
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Xenon D2S and halogen H7/HB3 units are both listed, so check the trim before ordering; no LED units are listed and DRL is not stated.

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

If your Outback 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 Outback Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to change headlight bulb in Subaru Outback 2015-2018

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BS headlight bulb

Subaru Outback 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 Outback Headlights: What It Does

The Subaru Outback's headlight unit job is positioning the main and dipped beam bulbs (or LED/matrix modules on higher trims) to light the road without dazzling oncoming drivers. That housing frequently also contains the daytime running light and front indicator, which is exactly why part numbers and repairs here can get complicated.

Subaru Outback 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 Outback 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.