2023 Subaru Forester Lights Problems

Your 2023 Forester's factory headlights have a dark band across the middle of the beam that's designed to reduce glare for oncoming drivers, but this design significantly reduces visibility on dark, winding roads and makes nighttime driving unsafe. The dealer says these projector-style headlights can't be swapped for traditional ones, though Subaru suggests aftermarket headlights might be an option when available. You may need to explore aftermarket headlight solutions or additional lighting options like upgraded fog lights to improve visibility.

I see black/gray spots on the headlights and sometimes I cannot detect if it is something in the road. Especially if it is raining. I called today for my maintenance and I am going to address this. Another issue that scared me to death. I was backing out of my garage, I was clear to continue backing but it kept beeping. Again I checked and nothing there, I began to continue and all of a sudden the car braked on its on hard. It was so alarming. I’m glad I was not in traffic. I am addressing this as well at my dealership. Another issue, I am feeling a hesitation when I accelerate, like it is not getting gas, then it starts going without hesitation. I am addressing this as well at my dealership. Another issue all of a sudden the eye sight crossed through came on. No reason for it to come on. I will address with the dealership.

The low beam headlights project a light field which has distracting dark spots within the field. When turning the car the dark spots move as the headlight field moves and appear to be an animal or unknown object in the field of vision. We asked the Subaru dealer for a different type of headlight. The dealer said Subaru has no other options for headlights. We were not told about this feature when we purchased the car. And we did not test drive the car at night. The dark spots are dangerously distracting as a driver is trained to alert when an object is in front of the car. If a driver swerves to avoid the object the object will remain in the field of vision as it is caused by the headlight. The dealer said it is a design feature so approaching vehicles are not facing a bright low beam. The dealer refused to take the car back and return our money. We would not have purchased this car if had we driven it at night and saw this distracting feature. Vehicle owners may become more or less accustomed to the light feature, but persons driving the car for the first time will think an object is in the road ahead of them as we did. When they turn to avoid the suspected unknown object drivers will turn into oncoming traffic or on to the shoulder of the road and whatever is on the shoulder (trees). The hazard is greater when the Steering Responsive Headlight feature is turned on. The dark spots move and converge back together as the car turns, confusing and distracting the driver. Subaru will do nothing to correct this feature on their own. Respectfully request NHTSA investigate this feature before drivers, or other persons on the road or on the shoulder are hurt or killed. Subaru needs to develop a fix and conduct a recall. We also found the jagged & stark delineation between lighted and dark fields to be confusing. The headlights don't gradually dim on the edges of light beam. Confirmation is at subaruoutback.org (2023 Outback headlight casting a shadow???)

No incident yet. Have LED projection lights which are supposed to prevent glare to oncoming drivers. Live in rural area where there is little lighting. Even on dim, lights apparently are too bright & other drivers flash their brights as if I have them on bright. Don't understand how this helps safety. The projection prevents me from seeing the top 2/3 of screen at night the dark cut off line allows me to see very little in front of me. I will try to upload photos. Have almost hit deer. Have to put on bright for visibility, but can't do this in traffic, obviously, because I don't want to blind them. Have been to Subaru in Kennesaw twice. All they say is they are reset to factory setting which is safest. I have let my insurance agent know this, in case there is an accident where this causes a collision or even road rage incidents where my dim lights are blinding other drivers. Please give me any advice to improve vision. Love safety features on car but will need to trade if no solution.