These instructions apply to the Subaru Forester Mk5 (SK) 2019-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
After an oil change or service on your Subaru Forester (2019–present) — the SK — you can clear the maintenance reminder yourself through the instrument-cluster INFO menu. No diagnostic tool needed. The reminder is a scheduling prompt, not a fault: it counts toward the next service and simply needs to be zeroed once the work is done so it starts fresh.
What the Maintenance Reminder Means
The SK Forester keeps a maintenance schedule in the multi-function display and prompts you when an item — most often the engine oil and filter — is due. It works on distance and elapsed time, showing the reminder when either threshold is reached, so a car that covers few miles can still be prompted after enough time has passed. The reminder does not read the actual condition of the oil, and it is not a malfunction warning. Because the car cannot detect that a service has been performed, the schedule has to be cleared manually afterwards, otherwise the reminder keeps appearing on the display.
First, a Few Checks
Only reset after the service is done. You’ll use the ‘INFO’ button and the scroll/SET buttons on the steering wheel or wiper stalk. First:
- Finish the maintenance first. Clearing the schedule before the work is complete leaves you without an accurate reminder.
- Park safely on level ground with the parking brake applied.
- Ignition on, engine off. The cluster and its menus need to be powered up, but the engine must not be running.
- No tools required. The reset is entirely done through the on-screen menu.
Resetting the Maintenance Reminder
- Press the START/STOP button twice (without the brake) to switch the ignition on — don’t start the engine.
- Press the ‘INFO’ button repeatedly until the display prompts ‘Push and hold the INFO button for selection screen’.
- Press and hold ‘INFO’ — the menu settings appear.
- Scroll to ‘MAINTENANCE’ and press ‘SET’.
- Select ‘Maintenance schedule’, then ‘Clear all settings’ (confirm) — the reminder is reset.
If the Reminder Won’t Clear
Most failed resets on the Forester come down to not reaching the selection screen or not confirming the clear. Check these points:
- Stay in ignition-on, engine off. If the engine is running, the menu may not behave as expected.
- Hold INFO at the prompt to reach the selection screen — a quick press only cycles the readouts; the press-and-hold is what opens the menu.
- Make sure you selected ‘Maintenance schedule’ and then ‘Clear all settings’, rather than just viewing the schedule.
- Confirm the clear when asked — if you back out without confirming, nothing is saved.
- A separate warning light? A fault stores a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
Once the Reset Is Done
Once you confirm ‘Clear all settings’, the maintenance schedule returns to full and the reminder disappears from the display. The counter then begins tracking toward the next service. The reset only affects the maintenance reminder in the INFO menu — it does not clear any genuine warning lamp, such as a check-engine or oil-pressure light, which are separate systems that indicate faults rather than routine maintenance.
Reset Frequency
Reset the maintenance reminder every time the scheduled service behind it is completed. The exact mileage and time between services depends on your engine, model year and driving conditions, so follow the interval given in your vehicle handbook rather than a fixed figure. Make it the last step of the service — do the work, clear the schedule — and the reminder will always match reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset the maintenance light on a Subaru Forester?
Ignition on (engine off), press INFO to the selection prompt, hold INFO, then MAINTENANCE > Maintenance schedule > Clear all settings.
Do I need a diagnostic tool?
No — it’s an owner menu reset. A scan tool is only needed if a genuine fault code is present.
Where are the buttons?
The INFO and scroll/SET buttons are on the steering wheel or wiper stalk, depending on trim.
It came back — why?
The clear wasn’t confirmed; repeat and accept the prompt so the schedule is actually saved as cleared.
How do I switch the ignition on without starting the engine?
Press the START/STOP button twice without pressing the brake pedal. This powers up the dash and menus while leaving the engine off.
Does clearing the schedule change my service intervals?
It restarts the maintenance schedule from full, so the next reminder is measured from the point you cleared it. That is why you should only clear it once the service is genuinely done.
If another warning light appeared with the service message, our sister site autodtcs.com can help you decode it.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Subaru. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.