Subaru Forester Grille: Fitment, Sensors & Common Damage

On the Forester, EyeSight is genuinely purely optical, using dual cameras mounted behind the windshield, not a grille-mounted radar sensor.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front bumper grille (aftermarket) Prasco SB8242104 / Equal Quality G2543

Accuracy note: Covers the Subaru Forester (SJ 2013-2018) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Grilles are sold by trim and facelift, and many generations had different grilles for base, mid and top trims, with or without a radar or camera opening. Where the catalogue splits a grille into left and right or upper and lower sections, buy both halves if both are damaged. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand with the fitment details the catalogue gives; carmakers rarely publish the genuine number against these, so match a genuine grille against your VIN if you want a guaranteed fit.

Front bumper grille (aftermarket)	Prasco SB8242104 (left front, black); Prasco SB8242103 (right front, black); Equal Quality G2543 (left front)
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in the catalogue listings — the genuine grille varies by trim level, facelift and sensor options, so order it against your VIN

Subaru Forester Grille: Cosmetic on the Surface, Functional Underneath

Treating the Subaru Forester's grille as a purely cosmetic part is a common mistake — it also manages radiator airflow, and on many newer models incorporates or surrounds the sensors for adaptive cruise or parking assistance. That functional role is exactly why the correct part number matters more than it might seem.

Before you buy: grille design varies significantly by trim, and higher trims may integrate radar or camera sensors behind or within the grille itself. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Subaru Forester Grille: What It Does

Beyond styling, the grille on the Forester directs airflow to the radiator and, on trims equipped with adaptive cruise control, may house or sit directly in front of the radar sensor used for that system. A grille that looks compatible but lacks the correct sensor cutout can interfere with these systems even if it fits physically.

Subaru Forester Grille: Watch: Fitting It

🎬 Watch: How to Replace Grille 2014-2018 Subaru Forester

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Subaru Forester Grille: Generations, Derivatives & Grille Finish

Standard trims	Chrome-trimmed grille surround
Wilderness/Sport trims	Darker, more rugged grille finish than standard trim, part of a wider black-out styling package on these trims

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A Genuinely Important Clarification Worth Knowing Before Blaming the Grille — Subaru Forester Grille

This is genuinely important to understand if you're facing an EyeSight-related warning: Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system is purely optical, using dual cameras mounted behind the windshield near the rearview mirror, rather than a grille-mounted radar sensor like many other manufacturers use. This means grille damage is very unlikely to be the genuine cause of an EyeSight fault.

A genuinely useful, practical first check worth trying: EyeSight faults are often caused by something as simple as a dead bug, dirt, or a small windscreen crack sitting directly in front of one or both cameras, obscuring their view — worth checking and cleaning this area thoroughly first.

It's also genuinely worth knowing an honest account worth bearing in mind: EyeSight can disable itself intermittently without an obvious single trigger, with at least one documented case speculating this reflects an original factory calibration issue rather than anything the owner has done.

Subaru Forester Grille: Common Damage, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Grille Guide for common damage types, confirming trim-specific fitment, how difficult this job is to DIY, and the ADAS calibration risk with sensor-equipped grilles.

More Subaru Grille

The same part, covered across other Subaru models.