2023 Subaru Forester — Fuse Box Diagram & Amperage (All Locations)
Locations, fuse/relay maps, and what each circuit protects
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- Engine bay (under-hood) fuse/relay box: Driver side, between the battery and fender. Contains most powertrain, lighting, ABS/VDC, cooling fan, A/C clutch, and headlight fuses/relays.
- Instrument panel (dash) fuse box: Driver’s side lower dash/kick-panel behind the small trim cover. Protects cabin loads such as radio/infotainment, 12V outlets, blower motor, wipers/washer, seat heaters, and body electronics.
- Battery-mounted fusible link block: Bolted to the positive battery terminal under a small plastic cover. Feeds the vehicle’s main power and high-amp circuits.
- Trunk/cargo: No separate fuse box on most 2023 Forester trims; the rear 12V cargo outlet is fused in the instrument panel box.
Note: Subaru made minor running changes by trim/package. Use the printed legend on your fuse box lid to confirm positions. The maps below reflect the most common 2019–2023 Forester (SK) configuration.
Engine bay fuse/relay box (under-hood)
Typical layout for 2023 Forester powertrain/lighting. Verify against your lid legend.
| Fuse # | Amp | Color | Circuit / Component Protected |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | 10A | Red | ECM/PCM (Engine Control), TCM feed |
| No. 2 | 15A | Blue | Fuel pump (in-tank module) |
| No. 3 | 20A | Yellow | Ignition coil/injectors |
| No. 4 | 10A | Red | A/C compressor clutch (via relay) |
| No. 5 | 10A | Red | Headlight LOW LH (halogen) or LED control LH |
| No. 6 | 10A | Red | Headlight LOW RH (halogen) or LED control RH |
| No. 7 | 15A | Blue | Headlight HIGH LH |
| No. 8 | 15A | Blue | Headlight HIGH RH |
| No. 9 | 10A | Red | Tail/Park LH |
| No.10 | 10A | Red | Tail/Park RH, license illumination |
| No.11 | 15A | Blue | Horn |
| No.12 | 10A | Red | Stop/Brake lamps (feed to switch/CM) |
| No.13 | 30A | Green | ABS/VDC control unit (pump/solenoid) |
| No.14 | 20A | Yellow | Radiator cooling fan (Main) |
| No.15 | 20A | Yellow | Radiator cooling fan (Sub) |
| No.16 | 7.5A | Brown | Backup/keep-alive for powertrain control |
| No.17 | 10A | Red | Airbag/SRS supply (engine bay segment) |
| No.18 | 10A | Red | Starter control (to starter relay coil) |
| No.19 | 15A | Blue | Front fog lamps (if equipped) |
| No.20 | 7.5A | Brown | Alternator/charging sense |
Relays in this box (typical):
- Cooling fan relays (Main/Sub)
- A/C compressor clutch relay
- Horn relay
- Headlamp relays (varies with LED/halogen)
- Starter relay (on most trims)
Instrument panel fuse box (driver dash/kick-panel)
Cabin loads and body electronics. Verify against your lid legend.
| Fuse # | Amp | Color | Circuit / Component Protected |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | 7.5A | Brown | Illumination/dimmer |
| No. 2 | 10A | Red | SRS/Airbag (IP supply) |
| No. 3 | 15A | Blue | Washer pump |
| No. 4 | 15A | Blue | Cigar lighter / Front 12V outlet (ACC) |
| No. 5 | 10A | Red | Radio/Infotainment (head unit) |
| No. 6 | 7.5A | Brown | Body control/Keyless (unit feed) |
| No. 7 | 10A | Red | Backup/Memory (radio, BCM keep-alive) |
| No. 8 | 20A | Yellow | Console 12V power outlet |
| No. 9 | 20A | Yellow | Cargo 12V power outlet |
| No.10 | 30A | Green | Blower motor (HVAC) |
| No.11 | 10A | Red | A/C control panel / HVAC control |
| No.12 | 10A | Red | Meter/Gauge cluster |
| No.13 | 15A | Blue | Front wiper |
| No.14 | 10A | Red | Rear wiper |
| No.15 | 20A | Yellow | Seat heater (if equipped) |
| No.16 | 10A | Red | Heated mirrors / Rear defog trigger |
| No.17 | 15A | Blue | Moonroof/Sunroof (if equipped) |
| No.18 | 10A | Red | Steering wheel heater (if equipped) |
| No.19 | 7.5A | Brown | IG2 control (run/start circuits) |
| No.20 | 7.5A | Brown | Starter switch/immobilizer feed |
Relays near/within this area (varies by trim):
- Blower motor relay
- Rear defogger relay
- Accessory power (ACC) relay
Battery-mounted fusible link block (on positive terminal)
High-amperage links feeding the vehicle power distribution. These are slow-blow links, not standard mini-fuses. Confirm exact ratings stamped on the block.
| Fuse # | Amp | Color | Circuit / Component Protected |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAIN FL | 120A | Link | Main battery to vehicle power distribution |
| ALT FL | 140A | Link | Alternator output to battery/bus (varies by trim) |
| SUB FL1 | 80A | Link | Engine room fuse box feed |
| SUB FL2 | 50A | Link | Cabin/Junction box feed |
Relay note: No serviceable relays here; this block only contains bolted fusible links.
Trailer brake/controller: The Forester is not a heavy-duty truck and does not include a dedicated factory trailer brake fuse/relay. Aftermarket trailer brake controllers typically tap an accessory/stop-lamp feed in the dash box and use an add-a-circuit per the controller instructions.
Important: Subaru did make running changes through the SK generation. Treat the tables above as the common layout and verify the slot numbers and exact ratings on the legend molded/printed inside your fuse box lid and in the owner’s manual.
How to test a fuse
- Visual check: Pull the suspect fuse with a puller and look for a melted/broken element. Replace only with the same amp rating and type.
- Test light method: With the circuit powered (key ON if applicable), probe the two test tabs on top of the fuse. A good fuse lights on both tabs; power on one side only indicates a blown fuse.
- Multimeter continuity: Remove the fuse and measure across the blades. ~0 ohms = good; open/infinite = blown.
- If it blows again: You likely have a shorted component or wiring. Don’t upsize the fuse—find and fix the root cause first.
Common blown fuses on this vehicle (what to check first)
- 12V power outlets (No. 4, No. 8, No. 9 in the IP box): Phone chargers and inflators commonly short. Inspect the outlet for coins/debris and the plug you used.
- Radio/infotainment (No. 5 / No. 7 in the IP box): After battery service or accessory installs, check the ACC and BACKUP/MEM fuses. If memory is lost but radio powers up, the BACKUP/MEM is the likely culprit.
- Blower motor (No. 10 in the IP box): If the blower is dead at all speeds, check the 30A fuse and the blower relay. If it works only on high, suspect the blower resistor/module rather than the fuse.
- Headlights (Nos. 5–8 in the engine bay): For halogen, each beam/side is individually fused. For LED, control modules may share feeds—scan for codes if fuses are OK.
- Fuel pump (engine bay No. 2): Long cranks/no start—listen for pump prime. If the fuse is blown, inspect the pump harness at the tank and any aftermarket splices.
- ABS/VDC (engine bay No. 13): If ABS and traction lights are on with no scan communication, check this high-amp fuse before condemning the module.
If your numbering doesn’t match the examples above, you likely have a different trim/production run—use the legend on your lid to cross-reference circuit names and ratings.
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Before you pull a fuse on the 2023 Subaru Forester
- Use the label printed on the panel cover or the owner's manual for your exact build. Layouts change with options, model year and build date, so a chart for another truck can be wrong.
- Replace a blown fuse only with the same amp rating. A larger fuse can let wiring overheat.
- A fuse that blows again right away means a short or failing component downstream. Find the cause before replacing it again.
- A good fuse doesn't prove the circuit works — relays, grounds and connectors fail too.
- Disconnect the battery before working near high-current fuses or cables.
Learn more: How fuses, relays and truck electrical systems work
More specs for the 2023 Subaru Forester
Oil Capacity & Filter
Capacity, weight, filter PN, drain plug torque, change interval.
Fluid Type Specs
Engine oil, coolant, ATF, diff, brake, PS, DEF — with OEM spec numbers.
Coolant Capacity & Type
Total system capacity, OEM coolant spec, flush interval, bleed tips.
Transmission Fluid & Service
Trans model, fluid spec, capacity, filter PN, service interval.
Torque Specifications
Lug nuts, drain plug, caliper, axle nut, plug, key fasteners.
Brake Pad & Rotor Specs
Pad PNs, rotor size, min thickness, caliper torque.
Tire Size & Pressure
OEM size, cold psi, bolt pattern, wheel size, TPMS.
Battery Size & Group
Group size, CCA, AGM/flooded, dimensions, reset note.
A/C Refrigerant & Oil
R-134a or R-1234yf, charge oz, PAG oil spec.
Bulb Sizes (Headlight, Tail, Fog)
Headlight, fog, tail, turn, reverse, interior.
Factory Maintenance Schedule
Service intervals by mileage, severe-duty notes, known issues.
Towing Capacity & Payload
Max tow, payload, GVWR/GCWR, hitch class by trim.
Serpentine Belt Routing & Length
Belt routing, length, rib count, OEM + aftermarket PNs.
Wheel Alignment Specifications
Camber, caster, toe ranges (front & rear), adjustability notes.
Paint Color Codes
All factory colors with paint codes, sticker location, touch-up tips.
Wiper Blade Sizes
Driver/passenger/rear blade size, attachment, OEM + cross-refs.
Spark Plug Type & Gap
Plug PN, gap, torque, interval by engine.
Transmission & Axle Gear Ratios
Trans gear ratios, axle ratios, RPO codes, tow vs MPG impact.
Key Fob Programming
DIY programming steps, FCC ID, fob PN, battery, transponder.
Same spec — other model years
Maintenance & repair guides
2023 Subaru Forester Maintenance Schedule →
Available maintenance guidance; confirm the manufacturer schedule.
Repair planning references →
Plan the scope of work; detailed procedures need configuration-matched evidence.
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Values can vary by engine, trim and build date; check your VIN-specific service information. Updated 2026-10-09.