2003 SUBARU FORESTER Owners Manual

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
avoid injuries that can result when the SRS air-
bag contacts an occupant not in proper posi-
tion such as one thrown toward the front of the
car during pre-accident braking.
Do not put any objects over the steering wheel
pad and dashboard. If the SRS frontal airbag
deploys, those objects could interfere with its
proper operation and could be propelled inside
the vehicle and cause injury.
Do not attach accessories to the windshield, or
fit an extra-wide mirror over the rear view mir-
ror. If the SRS airbag deploys, those objects
could become projectiles that could seriously
injure vehicle occupants.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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Operation
A) Driver’s side
B) Passenger’s side
1) SRS AIRBAGs deploy as soon as a collision occurs.
2) After deployment, SRS AIRBAGs start to deflate immediately so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed.
A B
1
2
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
The SRS airbag can function only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position.
If the sensors detect a certain predetermined amount
of force during a frontal collision, the control module
sends signals to the frontal airbag modules instructing
them to inflate the SRS frontal airbags. Then both air-
bag modules produce gas, which instantly inflates
driver’s and passenger’s SRS frontal airbags. After the
deployment, the SRS airbags immediately start to de-
flate so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed. The
time required from detecting impact to the deflation of
the SRS airbag after deployment is shorter than the
blink of an eye.
The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag deploys to-
gether with driver’s SRS frontal airbag even when no
one occupies the front passenger’s seat.
Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS airbag would
activate in a non-accident situation, should it occur,
the SRS airbag will deflate quickly, not obscuring vi-
sion and will not interfere with the driver’s ability to
maintain control of the vehicle.
When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud
inflation noise will be heard and some smoke will be
released. These occurrences are normal result of the
deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the
vehicle.
Do not touch the SRS airbag system compo-
nents around the steering wheel and dash-
board with bare hands right after deployment.
Doing so can cause burns because the compo-
nents can be very hot as a result of deployment.
TheSRSfrontalairbagisdesignedtodeployinthe
event of an accident involving a moderate to severe
frontal collision. It is basically not designed to deploy
in lesser frontal impacts because the necessary pro-
tection can be achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, it
is basically not designed to deploy in side or rear im-
pacts or in roll-over accidents because deployment of
the SRS frontal airbag would not help the occupant in
those situations. The SRS airbag is designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis.
SRS airbag deployment depends on the level of force
experienced in the passenger compartment during a
collision. That level differs from one type of collision to
another, and it may have no bearing on the visible
damage done to the vehicle itself.

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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When will the SRS fron tal airbag most likely de-
ploy?
A head-on collision against a thick concrete wall at a
vehicle speed of 12 to 19 mph (20 to 30 km/h) or high-
er activates the SRS frontal airbag. The SRS frontal
airbag will also be activated when the vehicle is ex-
posed to a frontal impact similar in fashion and magni-
tude to the above-mentioned collision.
At what other times might the SRS frontal air-
bag deploy?
The SRS frontal airbag may be activated when the ve-
hicle sustains a hard impact in the undercarriage area
from the road surface (such as when the vehicle
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
plunges into a deep ditch, is severely bumped or
knocked hard against an obstacle on the road such as
a curb).
When is the SRS frontal airbag unlikely to de-
ploy? There are many types of collisions which might not
necessarily require SRS frontal airbag deployment. If
the vehicle strikes an object, such as a telephone pole
or sign pole, or if it slides under a truck’s load bed, or
if it sustains an oblique offset frontal impact, the SRS
frontal airbag may not deploy depending on the level
of accident forces involved.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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When will the SRS frontal airbag not deploy?
The SRS frontal airbag is basically not designed to de-
ploy if the vehicle is struck from side or from behind, or
if it rolls onto its side or roof, or if it is involved in a low-
speed frontal collision. 1) First impact
2) Second impact
In an accident where the vehicle is impacted more
than once, the SRS frontal airbag deploys only once.
Example: In the case of a double collision, first with an-
other vehicle, then against a concrete wall in immedi-
ate succession, once the SRS frontal airbag is
activated on the first impact, it will not be activated on
the second. SRS side airbag (if equipped)
The SRS side airbag is stored in the door side of each
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2
1
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
front seatback, which bears an “SRS AIRBAG” label.
In a moderate to severe side impact collision, the SRS
side airbag on the impacted side of the vehicle de-
ploys between the occupant and the door panel and
supplements the seatbelt by reducing the impact on
the occupant’s chest and head.
The SRS side airbag is designed as only a sup-
plement to the primary protection provided by
the seatbelt. It does not do away with the need
to fasten seatbelts. It is also important to wear
your seatbelt to help avoid injuries that can re-
sult when an occupant is not seated in a proper
upright position.
Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to either
front door. The SRS side airbag is stored in
both front seat seatbacks next to the door, and
it provides protection by deploying rapidly
(faster than the blink of an eye) in the event of a
side impact collision. However, the force of
SRS side airbag deployment may cause injuries
if your head or other body parts are too close to
the SRS side airbag.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
–CONTINUED –
Do not rest your arm on either front door or its
internal trim. It could be injured in the event of
SRS side airbag deployment.
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