What Causes the Brake Lights of Subaru Forester Not to Work?

[JamesRose]

Subaru Forester brake lights not working reasons and solutions are as follows: Check the brake light bulb: The most frequently used light in a car is the brake light, and the bulb has a relatively short lifespan. Solution: When the car's brake lights are not working, the first thing to consider is the brake light bulb. Replacing the bulb should solve the problem. Check the brake light switch: If the brake light switch is faulty, none of the brake lights will work. Solution: During inspection, you can connect the brake light switch with a wire. If the brake lights turn on, it indicates the switch is damaged. Replacing the switch will resolve the issue. Check the fuse: If both the bulb and switch are confirmed to be functioning properly, the next step is to check the fuse. Some cars do not have a separate fuse for the brake lights and share one with other electrical devices. Solution: In this case, check the operation of other electrical devices in the car. Identify any non-functioning devices and replace the corresponding fuse. Check the brake light ground wire: The tail lights in a car share a common ground wire. Solution: If the ground wire is broken or has a poor connection, it can also cause the brake lights to fail. Therefore, do not forget to check the ground wire.

[VonJasmine]

Last time I helped a friend deal with a Forester brake light malfunction, I identified the three most common issues. The brake light switch under the pedal is prone to dust accumulation and sticking, leading to poor contact, especially in older vehicles that have been driven for seven or eight years. The brake light filament in dual-filament bulbs is particularly prone to burning out, so it's recommended to directly remove the lamp cover and replace it with a 1157 model bulb. The Forester's brake circuit fuse is located in the second row of the box under the driver's side dashboard, and a spare fuse can be replaced using needle-nose pliers. If both the bulb and fuse are normal, the issue is likely a broken wire harness near the tailgate hinge. I've repaired over a dozen Foresters, and most problems stem from here—repeated opening and closing of the tailgate wears through the wiring. It's best to use a multimeter to check the voltage at the switch to pinpoint the fault.

[EmersonRose]

As a Forester owner who frequently travels the Sichuan-Tibet route, brake light failures should be addressed based on specific scenarios. Sudden failure to illuminate during rainy weather may be due to water ingress causing a short circuit in the tail light assembly—requiring disassembly to dry the circuit board. In high-altitude low-temperature environments, the brake light switch can easily freeze; warming up the car for twenty minutes and pressing the pedal may restore it with an audible reset sound. For vehicles with aftermarket tow bars, pay special attention to wiring connections, as many third-party wire harnesses have thin copper cores prone to melting. Once in a remote area, I discovered the high-mounted brake light wasn’t working—turned out the roof wiring was crushed by the roof rack. In emergencies, hazard lights can temporarily substitute for brake warnings, but driving to a repair shop must be done below 50 km/h.

[McAnnie]

From the perspective of an experienced auto repair shop master: 80% of Forester brake light failures are due to bulb issues, but be aware some owners mistakenly install single-contact bulbs. The factory brake and parking lights share a common ground wire - if parking lights work but brake lights don't, wiring problems can basically be ruled out. The remaining 20% of cases involve damage to the travel switch on the brake pedal, which requires specialized tools for this hard-to-remove component. The most troublesome cases are those with speed limiter module failures - Foresters with modified cruise control have additional control units requiring computer diagnostics. For vehicles with rodent-chewed wiring, we always reroute fireproof wiring through the headliner.