2009 SUBARU FORESTER airbag

Warranties &Warranties for U.S.A.
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by
Subaru of America, Inc. and sold at retail
by an authorized SUBARU dealer in the
United States come with the followingwarranties: . SUBARU Limited Warranty
. Emission Control Systems Warranty
. Emissions Performance Warranty
All warranty information, including details
of coverage and exclusions, is in the“ Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”.
Please read these warranties carefully.
& Warranties for Canada
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by
Subaru Canada, Inc. and sold at retail by
an authorized SUBARU dealer in Canada
come with the following warranties: . SUBARU Limited Warranty
. Anti-Corrosion Warranty
. Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, including details
of coverage and exclusions, is in the“ Warranty and Service Booklet ”. Please
read these warranties carefully. &
Vehicle with HID headlights
CAUTION
High Intensity Discharge (HID) head-
lights contain mercury. For that
reason, it is necessary to remove
HID headlights before vehicle dis-
posal. Once removed, please reuse,
recycle or dispose of the HID head-
lights as hazardous waste.
& Vehicle without HID head- lights
CAUTION
This vehicle does not contain mer-
cury devices or parts. How to use this Owner
’s
Manual & Using your Owner ’s Manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully
read this manual. To protect yourself and
extend the service life of your vehicle,
follow the instructions in this manual.
Failure to observe these instructions may
result in serious injury and damage to yourvehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen
chapters. Each chapter begins with a brief
table of contents, so you can usually tell at
a glance if that chapter contains the
information you want.
Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This chapter informs you how to use the
seat and seatbelt and contains precau-
tions for the SRS airbags.
Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate
the keys, locks and windows.
Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the opera-
tion of instrument panel indicators and
how to use the instruments and otherswitches. 1
– CONTINUED –

4
Mark Name
Air recirculation
Engine oil
Washer
Door lock (Transmitter)
Door unlock (Transmitter)
Rear gate (Transmitter)Safety precautions when driving &
Seatbelt and SRS airbag
WARNING
. All persons in the vehicle should
fasten their seatbelts BEFORE
the vehicle starts to move. Other-
wise, the possibility of serious
injury becomes greater in the
event of a sudden stop or acci-dent.
. To obtain maximum protection in
the event of an accident, the
driver and all passengers in the
vehicle should always wear seat-
belts when the vehicle is moving.
The SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) airbag does not do away
with the need to fasten seatbelts.
In combination with the seat-
belts, it offers the best combined
protection in case of a seriousaccident.
Not wearing a seatbelt increases
the chance of severe injury or
death in a crash even when the
vehicle has the SRS airbag. .
The SRS airbags deploy with
considerable speed and force.
Occupants who are out of proper
position when the SRS airbag
deploys could suffer very serious
injuries. Because the SRS airbag
needs enough space for deploy-
ment, the driver should always
sit upright and well back in the
seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still
maintaining full vehicle control
and the front passenger should
move the seat as far back as
possible and sit upright and well
back in the seat.
Carefully read the “Seatbelts ”and “*SRS
airbag (Supplemental Restraint Systemairbag) ”sections in chapter 1 for instruc-
tions and precautions concerning the
seatbelt system and SRS airbag system.

&Child safety
WARNING
. Never hold a child on your lap or
in your arms while the vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a
collision, because the child will
be caught between the passen-
ger and objects inside the vehi-cle.
. While riding in the vehicle, in-
fants and small children should
always be placed in the REAR
seat in an infant or child restraint
system which is appropriate for
the child ’s age, height and
weight. If a child is too big for a
child restraint system, the child
should sit in the REAR seat and
be restrained using the seatbelts.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Never allow a child
to stand up or kneel on the seat.
. Put children aged 12 and under in
the REAR seat properly re-
strained at all times in a child
restraint device or in a seatbelt. The SRS airbag deploys with
considerable speed and force
and can injure or even kill chil-
dren, especially if they are 12
years of age and under and are
not restrained or improperly re-
strained. Because children are
lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk of being injured from
deployment is greater.
. NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD
FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THECHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.
. Always turn the child safety locks
to the “LOCK ”position when
children sit on the rear seat.
Serious injury could result if a
child accidentally opens the door
and falls out. Refer to the “Child
safety locks ”section in chapter
2.
. Always lock the passenger ’s win-
dows using the lock switch when
children are riding in the vehicle.
Failure to follow this procedure
could result in injury to a child
operating the power window. Re-
fer to the “Windows ”section in chapter 2.
. Never leave unattended children
in the vehicle. They could acci-
dentally injure themselves or
others through inadvertent op-
eration of the vehicle. Also, on
hot or sunny days, temperature
in a closed vehicle could quickly
become high enough to cause
severe or possibly fatal injuries
to them.
Carefully read the “Child restraint sys-
tems ”, “*SRS airbag (Supplemental Re-
straint System airbag) ”and “Seatbelts ”
sections in chapter 1 for instructions and
precautions concerning the child restraint
system, seatbelt system and SRS airbagsystem.
& Engine exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
. Never inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide, a colorless
and odorless gas which is dan-
gerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
. Always properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent 5
– CONTINUED –

Table of contents
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1
Keys and doors2
Instruments and controls
Climate control4
Audio5
Interior equipment6
Starting and operating7
Driving tips8
In case of emergency9
Appearance care10
Maintenance and service11
Specifications12
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects13
Index14
3

14 &Instrument panel
1) Door locks (page 2-4)
2) Outside mirror switch (page 3-35)
3) Illumination brightness control
(page 3-26)
4) Light control lever (page 3-24)
5) Combination meter (page 3-5)
6) Wiper control lever (page 3-28)
7) Hazard warning flasher switch (page 3-5)
8) Audio (page 5-1)
9) Shift lever (MT) (page 7-13)/ Selector lever (AT) (page 7-15)
10) Climate control (page 4-1)
11) Cruise control (page 7-34)
12) Horn (page 3-38)
13) SRS airbag (page 1-34)
14) Tilt/telescopic steering (page 3-36/ page 3-37)
15) Audio control buttons (page 5-26)
16) Fuse box (page 11-44)
17) Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF switch (page 7-29)
18) Hood lock release knob (page 11-5)
19) Power windows (page 2-19)

20
&Warning and indicator lights
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-9
Front passenger ’s seat-
belt warning light 3-9
SRS airbag system
warning light3-11
/Front passenger
’s fron-
tal airbag ON indicator 3-11
/Front passenger
’s fron-
tal airbag OFF indicator 3-11
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunction
indicator lamp3-12
Coolant temperature low
indicator light/Coolant
temperature high warn-
ing light3-13
Charge warning light 3-13
Oil pressure warning light
3-13
AT OIL TEMP warning
light (AT vehicles)
3-14Mark Name Page
/ABS warning light 3-15
/Brake system warning light
3-16
Door open warning light 3-17
All-Wheel Drive warning
light (AT vehicles)
3-17
Hill start assist warning
light (MT vehicles)
3-17
Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol operation indicator light3-18
Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol warning light/Vehicle
Dynamics Control OFF
indicator light3-18
Turn signal indicator lights
3-20
High beam indicator light 3-20
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)3-21
Security indicator light 3-19 Mark Name Page
Headlight indicator light 3-21
Cruise control indicator light
3-20
Cruise control set indi-
cator light
3-21
Low fuel warning light 3-17
Low tire pressure warn-
ing light (U.S.-spec. models)3-14
SPORT mode indicator
light (AT vehicles)
3-20

Front seats........................................................... 1-2
Manual seat ........................................................ 1-3
Power seat (driver ’s seat –if equipped) ... ............ 1-4
Head restraint adjustment .................................... 1-5
Active head restraint ........................................... 1-5
Seat heater (if equipped) .................................... 1-6
Rear seats ............................................................ 1-6
Armrest .............................................................. 1-7
Head restraint adjustment .................................... 1-7
Reclining the seatback (if equipped) .................... 1-9
Folding down the rear seatback ........................... 1-9
Seatbelts ............................................................. 1-10
Seatbelt safety tips ............................................. 1-10
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ................... 1-11
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ............................................................ 1-11
Seatbelt warning light and chime ........................ 1-12
Fastening the seatbelt ........................................ 1-13
Seatbelt maintenance ......................................... 1-19
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-19
System monitors ................................................ 1-20 System servicing
............................................... 1-21
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-22
Child restraint systems ..................................... 1-22
Where to place a child restraint system .............. 1-23
Choosing a child restraint system ...................... 1-25
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt ........................................................... 1-25
Installing a booster seat ..................................... 1-28
Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) .............. 1-29
Top tether anchorages ....................................... 1-32
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) ................................................ 1-34
Vehicle with SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints for driver, front passenger, and
window-side rear passengers . .......................... 1-34
SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system ........... 1-38
SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag ............. 1-49
SRS airbag system monitors .............................. 1-59
SRS airbag system servicing ... .......................... 1-59
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-60
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1

1-2Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats
WARNING
. Never adjust the seat while driv-
ing to avoid the possibility of
loss of vehicle control and of
personal injury.
. Before adjusting the seat, make
sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers and cargo are
clear of the adjusting mechan-ism.
. 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.
. The SRS airbags deploy with
considerable speed and force.
Occupants who are out of proper position when the SRS airbag
deploys could suffer very serious
injuries. Because the SRS airbag
needs enough space for deploy-
ment, the driver should always
sit upright and well back in the
seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still
maintaining full vehicle control
and the front passenger should
move the seat as far back as
possible and sit upright and well
back in the seat.
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, we strongly recommend
that ALL children (including those
in child seats and those that have
outgrown child restraint devices) sit
in the REAR seat properly re-
strained at all times in a child
restraint device or in a seatbelt,
whichever is appropriate for thechild
’s age, height and weight. Se-
cure ALL types of child restraint
devices (including forward facing
child seat) in the REAR seats at alltimes.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FA-
CING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT
SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD
BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD
TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating posi-
tions than in the front seating posi-
tions. For instructions and precau-