Subaru Forester key fob battery

22 of the 29 model years listed for the Subaru Forester have a proven battery. The most common answer is CR2032. Rows below run oldest to newest; a year can appear twice when the car came with more than one kind of key.

1998Remote (separate)
Not confirmed yet
1999Remote (separate)
Not confirmed yet
1999Remote (separate)
Not confirmed yet
2000Remote (separate)
Not confirmed yet
2000Remote (separate)
Not confirmed yet
2001Remote (separate)

CR2032

Owner's manual: manualowl.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Manual text: “Type CR2032 or equivalent”
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2002Remote (separate)

CR2032

Owner's manual: manualowl.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Manual text: “Type CR2032 or equivalent”
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2003Remote (separate)
Not confirmed yet
2004Remote (separate)

CR2032

Owner's manual: manualsdir.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Manual text: “Replace with a new battery (Type CR2032 or equivalent)”
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2005-2006Remote (separate)

CR2025
FCC ID NHVWB1U711
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and carandtruckremotes.com (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Find CR2025 on Amazon
2007-2008Remote (separate)

CR2025
FCC ID NHVWB1U711
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and carandtruckremotes.com (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Find CR2025 on Amazon
2009-2011Remote (separate)

CR2025
FCC ID NHVWB1U711
Two sites agree: bestkeysupply.com and uhs-hardware.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2025 on Amazon
2012-2013Unknown
Not confirmed yet
2014-2015Key-head remote

CR1620
FCC ID CWTWB1U811
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and bestkeysupply.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR1620 on Amazon
2014-2015Smart key
Not confirmed yet
2016Key-head remote

CR1620

Owner's manual: manualslib.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR1620 on Amazon
2016Smart key (access key)

CR2032

Owner's manual: manualslib.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2017-2018Key-head remote

CR1620
FCC ID CWTWB1U811
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and bestkeysupply.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR1620 on Amazon
2017-2018Smart key

CR2032
FCC ID HYQ14AHC
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and americankeysupply.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2019Key-head remote

CR1620

Owner's manual: manualslib.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR1620 on Amazon
2019Smart key (access key fob)

CR2032

Owner's manual: manualslib.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2020-2022Key-head remote

CR1620
FCC ID CWTB1G077
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and bestkeysupply.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR1620 on Amazon
2020-2021Smart key

CR2032
FCC ID HYQ14AHK
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and bestkeysupply.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2022Smart key

CR2032
FCC ID HYQ14AHK
Two sites agree: uhs-hardware.com and bestkeysupply.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2023-2024Key-head remote
Not confirmed yet
2023Smart key

CR2032
FCC ID HYQ14AHK
Owner's manual: uhs-hardware.com and manua.ls (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Manual text: “access key fob: Button battery CR2032 or equivalent”
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2024Smart key

CR2032
FCC ID HYQ14AHK
Owner's manual: uhs-hardware.com and manua.ls (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Manual text: “access key fob: Button battery CR2032 or equivalent”
Find CR2032 on Amazon
2025Key-head remote

CR2025

Owner's manual: manualslib.com and uhs-hardware.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Manual text: “Button battery: CR2025 or equivalent”
Find CR2025 on Amazon
2025Transmitter (key head?)

CR2025

Owner's manual: manualslib.com (checked Nov 1, 2026)
Find CR2025 on Amazon
2026Unknown
Not confirmed yet

Changing the battery

Separate remote fob

This remote is its own fob, separate from the metal key, which makes it one of the easier ones to open.
Find the slot along the edge and turn a coin in it. Go slowly so the clips do not snap.
Swap the cell or cells, keeping the same side up as the old ones.
Close the fob and test it. If it does not work, open it again and check the cell is seated flat.

A CR2025 is 20 mm across and 2.5 mm thick. CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016 share the same width but not the same thickness, so a swap between them can leave a loose contact or a case that will not close.

A CR2032 is 20 mm across and 3.2 mm thick. CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016 share the same width but not the same thickness, so a swap between them can leave a loose contact or a case that will not close.

Key with remote in the head

Here the key blade and remote are one piece. You open the plastic head, not the blade.
Find the seam around the head. Twist a coin or small flat screwdriver in the notch at the blade end or side until the halves part.
Inside you may find a small circuit board in a tray. Lift the board out if the cell is underneath, swap the cell with the same side up, and refit the board.
Close the head, check there is no gap, and try the buttons.

A CR1620 is 16 mm across and 2.0 mm thick. It is easy to confuse with the 20 mm CR20xx sizes, which will not fit.

A CR2025 is 20 mm across and 2.5 mm thick. CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016 share the same width but not the same thickness, so a swap between them can leave a loose contact or a case that will not close.

Smart key (push-button start)

Start by freeing the hidden metal key: there is a latch or slide on the case, and the blade comes out once it moves.
Use the slot where the metal key sat. Twist, do not lever hard, and work along the seam until the halves separate.
Note which side of the old coin cell faces up (usually the side with the writing), lift it out with a plastic tool, and press the new one in the same way.
Close the case until it clicks all the way round, put the metal key back, then try the buttons and a push-button start.

Subaru access keys usually hide an emergency key; with it out, the cover opens at the slot.