There’s nothing worse than getting in your car at night and being unable to see anything. Your interior lights are something that you take for granted and can be a real pain when they fail. 

You don’t want to lose your phone down the side of the seat and have to wait till morning to find it again. So when your dome lights start to falter or give up the ghost completely, you should get them replaced.

It’s not a big job so when it comes time to replace them, there’s no need to freak out.

What is a dome light? 

A dome light is the light inside the cabin that turns on either when you unlock the car, open the doors or push the button manually. There’s usually one in the front and a lot of the time there’s one for the back seats too. They’re often called ‘reading lights’ and are especially handy for night time when it’s hard to see what you’re doing.

All forms of dome lights will be 12 volts, however dome light assembly’s come in all different shapes and sizes. There are also different shapes and sizes of bulbs as well as different wattages.  

Why do you need a dome light replacement?

Being able to see what you’re doing in the dark is not underrated. Nothing worse than fumbling around with your keys while you’re trying to make a speedy get away. Seatbelts have a nasty habit of being hard to find in the dark, this is why car makers put these lights in your car. 

They aren’t a legal requirement but they’re a convenient and good thing to have. Anything that makes life easier is something worth taking care of.

What symptoms mean your Subaru might need a dome light replacement? 

• Interior lights aren’t turning on when doors open/vehicle unlocks/pushes button
• The light flickers when turned on
• The light is weak when running

How to replace a dome light

• Remove the covering around the faulty dome light
• Remove the faulty bulb and get the specifications required for the new one
• Install the new bulb into the dome light
• Check to see if the new bulb is working properly 
• Refit the covering around the bulb

How much does a Subaru dome light bulb replacement cost? 

As it is not a super difficult job to do, you can expect the bulb to come as cheap as $5 and as much as $25 for the top of the line bulbs. To have it fitted, expect a bill in the $10 to $50 range.

How often do I need to replace a dome light bulb?

Only whenever it starts to fail or fails completely. It isn’t essential so you can go without until it is convenient to replace.

Is a broken dome light bulb unsafe

No, but it is a real pain. It’s a nice feature to have so replace it at your earliest convenience.

You can find a Subaru Dome Light Bulb Replacement mechanic near me with My Auto Shop