
1-16Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
.It is possible to cancel the warning
operation that follows the 6-second 
warning after turning ON the ignition
switch. When the ignition switch is
turned ON next time, however, the
complete sequence of the warning
operation resumes. For further details
about canceling the warning operation,
please contact your SUBARU dealer. 
If there is no passenger on the front passenger ’s seat, the seatbelt warning
device for the front passenger ’s seat will
be deactivated. The front passenger ’s
occupant detection system monitors
whether or not there is a passenger on
the front passenger ’s seat.
Observe the following precautions. Failure
to do so may prevent the device from
functioning correctly or cause the device
to fail. . Do not install any accessory such as a
table or TV onto the seatback.. Do not store a heavy load in the
seatback pocket.. Do not allow the rear seat occupant to
place his/her hands or legs on the front passenger ’s seatback, or allow him/her to
pull the seatback. . Do not use front seats with their back-
ward-forward position and seatback not 
being locked into place securely. If any of them are not locked securely, adjust them
again. For adjusting procedure, refer tothe
“Manual seat ”in the front seats section
in Chapter 1 in this owner ’s manual.
(Models equipped with manual seats only) 
If the seatbelt warning device for the front passenger ’s seat does not function cor-
rectly (e.g., it is activated even when the
front passenger ’s seat is empty or it is
deactivated even when the front passen-
ger has not fastened his/her seatbelt),
take the following actions. . Ensure that no article is placed on the
seat other than a child restraint system 
and the child occupant. . Ensure that there is no article left in the
seatback pocket.. Ensure that the backward-forward po-
sition and seatback of front passenger ’s
seat are locked into place securely by 
moving the seat back and forth. (Models
equipped with manual seats only) 
If the seatbelt warning device for front passenger ’s seat still does not function
correctly after taking relevant corrective
actions described above, immediately
contact your SUBARU dealer for aninspection. &
Fastening the seatbelt
WARNING
. Never use a belt that is twisted or
reversed. In an accident, this can 
increase the risk or severity of
injury.
. Keep the lap belt as low as
possible on your hips. In a colli-
sion, this spreads the force of the
lap belt over stronger hip bones
instead of across the weakerabdomen.
. Seatbelts provide maximum re-
straint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat.
To reduce the risk of sliding
under the seatbelt in a collision,
the front seatbacks should be
always used in the upright posi-
tion while the vehicle is running.
If the front seatbacks are not
used in the upright position in a
collision, the risk of sliding under
the lap belt and of the lap belt
sliding up over the abdomen will
increase, and both can result in
serious internal injury or death.
. Do not put cushions or any other
materials betwe en occupants
and seatbacks or seat cushions. 

&Precautions against vehicle modification
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if 
you want to install any accessory parts to
your vehicle.
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following 
modifications. Such modifications
can interfere with proper operation
of the seatbelt pretensioners. . Attachment of any equipment
(bush bar, winches, snow plow, 
skid plate, etc.) other than genu-
ine SUBARU accessory parts to
the front end.
. Modification of the suspension
system or front end structure.
. Installation of a tire of different
size and construction from the
tires specified on the vehicle 
placard attached to the door 
pillar or specified for individual
vehicle models in this Owner ’s
Manual. Child restraint systems
Infants and small children should always 
be placed in an infant or child restraint
system in the rear seat while riding in the
vehicle. You should use an infant or child
restraint system that meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canada
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, is com-
patible with your vehicle and is appro-
priate for the child
’s age and size. All child
restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or
the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt
(except those covered under the section in
this manual, entitled “Installation of child
restraint systems by use of lower and
tether anchorages (LATCH) ”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle. When
installing the child restraint system, care-
fully follow the manufacturer
’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children 
are safer when properly restrained in the 
rear seating positions than in the front
seating positions. 
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces 
require that infants and small children be
restrained in an approved child restraint
system at all times while the vehicle ismoving.
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-27
– CONTINUED –   

1-28Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child 
on his or her lap while the vehicle is 
moving. The passenger cannot pro-
tect the child from injury in a colli-
sion, because the child will be
caught between the passenger and
objects inside the vehicle. Addition-
ally, holding a child in your lap or
arms in the front seat exposes that
child to another serious danger.
Since the SRS airbag deploys with
considerable speed and force, the
child could be injured or even killed.WARNING
Children should be properly re- 
strained at all times. Never allow a 
child to stand up, or to kneel on any
seat. Unrestrained children will be
thrown forward during sudden stop
or in an accident and can be injured
seriously. 
Additionally, children standing up or 
kneeling on or in front of the front
seat are exposed another serious
danger. Since the SRS airbag de-
ploys with considerable speed and
force, the child could be injured or
even killed. &
Where to place a child re- 
straint system
The following are SUBARU ’s recommen-
dations on where to place a child restraint 
system in your vehicle.
A: Front passenger ’s seat
You should not install a child restraint 
system (including a booster seat) due to
the hazard to children posed by thepassenger ’s airbag.
B: Rear seat, window-side seatingpositions 
Recommended positions for all types of 
child restraint systems. 
In these positions, Automatic/Emergency 
Locking Retractor (A/ELR) seatbelts and
lower anchorages (bars) are provided for   

installing a child restraint system. 
Some types of child restraints might not be 
able to be secured firmly due to projection
of the seat cushion. 
In this seating position, you should use 
only a child restraint system that has a
bottom base that fits snugly against the
contours of the seat cushion and can be
securely retained using the seatbelt. 
C: Rear seat, center seating position 
Installing a child restraint system is not 
recommended, although the A/ELR seat-
belt and an upper anchorage (tether
anchorage) are provided in this position.
Some types of child restraints might not be
able to be secured firmly due to projection
of the seat cushion. 
In this seating position, you should use 
only a child restraint system that has a
bottom base that fits snugly against the
contours of the seat cushion and can be
securely retained using the seatbelt.WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under in 
the rear seat properly restrained at
all times. The SRS airbag deploys
with considerable speed and force
and can injure or even kill children,
especially if they are 12 years of age
and under and are not restrained or
improperly restrained. Because chil-
dren are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured
from deployment is greater. 
For that reason, be sure to secure 
ALL types of child restraint devices
(including forward facing child
seats) in the REAR seats at all times.
You should choose a restraint de-
vice which is appropriate for thechild ’s age, height and weight. Ac-
cording to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly 
restrained in the rear seating posi- 
tions than in the front seating posi-tions.
WARNING
SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS 
EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER ’S
SRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL A
REARWARD FACING CHILD
SAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT PAS-SENGER ’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG. Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-29
– CONTINUED –  

1-30Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
&Choosing a child restraint system
Choose a child restraint system that is 
appropriate for the child ’s age and size
(weight and height) in order to provide the
child with proper protection. The child
restraint system should meet all applic-
able requirements of Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standards for United States or
Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
for Canada. It can be identified by looking
for the label on the child restraint system
or the manufacture ’s statement of com-
pliance in the document attached to the
system. Also it is important for you to
make sure that the child restraint system
is compatible with the vehicle in which it
will be used. &
Installing child restraint sys- 
tems with A/ELR seatbelt
WARNING
. Child restraint systems and seat-
belts can become hot in a vehicle 
that has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small
child. Check the child restraint
system before you place a child
in it.
. Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint system in your vehicle.
Unsecured child restraint sys-
tems can be thrown around in-
side of the vehicle in a sudden
stop, turn or accident; they can
strike and injure vehicle occu-
pants as well as result in serious
injuries or death to the child.
CAUTION
When you install a child restraint 
system, follow the manufacturer ’s
instructions supplied with it. After
installing the child restraint system,
check to ensure that it is held
securely in position. If it is not held
tight and secure, the danger of your
child suffering personal injury in the
event of an accident may be in-creased.
! Installing a rearward facing childrestraint
1. Place the child restraint system in the 
rear seating position. 
2. Run the lap and shoulder belt through   

or around the child restraint system 
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. 
3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle 
until you hear a click.
4. Take up the slack in the lap belt. 
5. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the 
retractor to change the retractor over from
the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
function. Then, allow the belt to rewind
into the retractor. As the belt is rewinding,
clicks will be heard which indicate the
retractor functions as ALR.
6. Push and pull the child restraint 
system forward and from side to side to
check if it is firmly secured. 
Sometimes a child restraint can be more 
firmly secured by pushing it down into the
seat cushion and then tightening theseatbelt. 
7. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt 
to confirm that it cannot be pulled out (ALR
properly functioning).8. To remove the child restraint system, 
press the release button on the seatbelt
buckle and allow the belt to retract
completely. The belt will return to the
ELR mode.
WARNING
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FA- 
CING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER ’SSEAT.DOINGSO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH
TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THECHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE
SRS AIRBAG. Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-31
– CONTINUED –    

1-32Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
NOTE 
When the child restraint system is no 
longer in use, remove it and restore the
ELR function of the retractor. That
function is restored by retracting the
seatbelt fully. ! Installing forward facing child re- straint
1. Place the child restraint system in the 
seating position. 
2. Run the lap and shoulder belt through 
or around the child restraint system
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. 
3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle 
until you hear a click.
4. Take up the slack in the lap belt. 
5. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the 
retractor to change the retractor over from
the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
function. Then, allow the belt to rewind
into the retractor. As the belt is rewinding,
clicks will be heard which indicate the
retractor functions as ALR.6. Before having a child sit in the child 
restraint system, move it back and forth
and right and left to check if it is firmly
secured. Sometimes a child restraint can
be more firmly secured by pushing it down
into the seat cushion and then tightening
the seatbelt. 
7. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt 
to confirm that it cannot be pulled out (ALR
properly functioning).    

Sedan
Station wagon
8. If the child restraint system requires a 
top tether, latch the hook onto the top
tether anchor and tighten the top tether.
See the “Top tether anchorages ”for additional instructions.
9. To remove the child restraint system, 
press the release button on the seatbelt
buckle and allow the belt to retract
completely. The belt will return to the
ELR mode. NOTE 
When the child restraint system is no 
longer in use, remove it and restore the
ELR function of the retractor. That
function is restored by allowing the
seatbelt to retract fully.
&
Installing a booster seat
WARNING
. Child restraint systems and seat-
belts can become hot in a vehicle 
that has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small
child. Check the child restraint
system before you place a child
in it.
. Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint system in your vehicle.
Unsecured child restraint sys-
tems can be thrown around in- 
side of the vehicle in a sudden 
stop, turn or accident; they can
strike and injure vehicle occu-
pants as well as result in serious
injuries or death to the child.
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-33
– CONTINUED –