2012 SUBARU OUTBACK maintenance

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. 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. Chapter 4: Climate control
This chapter informs you how to operate
the climate control.
Chapter 5: Audio
This chapter informs you how to operate
your audio system.
Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This chapter informs you how to operate
interior equipment.
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and
operate your SUBARU.
Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your
SUBARU in various conditions and ex-
plains some safety tips on driving.
Chapter 9: In case of emergency
This chapter informs you what to do if you
have a problem while driving, such as a
flat tire or engine overheating.
Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your
SUBARU looking good.
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This chapter informs you when you need
to take your SUBARU to the dealer for
scheduled maintenance and informs you
how to keep your SUBARU running
properly.1
– 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

Front seats........................................................... 1-2
Manual seat (if equipped) .................................... 1-3
Power seat (if equipped) ...................................... 1-4
Head restraint adjustment .................................... 1-6
Seat heater (if equipped) .................................... 1-6
Rear seats ............................................................ 1-7
Reclining the seatback (Outback) ......................... 1-8
Folding down the rear seatback ........................... 1-9
Head restraint adjustment ................................... 1-10
Armrest ............................................................. 1-12
Seatbelts ............................................................. 1-12
Seatbelt safety tips ............................................. 1-12
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ................... 1-13
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ............................................................ 1-13
Seatbelt warning light and chime ........................ 1-14
Fastening the seatbelt ........................................ 1-14
Seatbelt maintenance ......................................... 1-20
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-21
System monitors ................................................ 1-22
System servicing ................................................ 1-22 Precautions against vehicle modification
............ 1-22
Child restraint systems ..................................... 1-23
Where to place a child restraint system .............. 1-24
Choosing a child restraint system ...................... 1-25
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt ........................................................... 1-26
Installing a booster seat ..................................... 1-29
Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) .............. 1-30
Top tether anchorages ....................................... 1-33
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) ................................................ 1-36
General precautions regarding SRS airbag system ............................................................ 1-36
Components ...................................................... 1-42
SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system, SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag .................. 1-45
System operation ............................................... 1-50
SRS airbag system monitors .............................. 1-62
SRS airbag system servicing ... .......................... 1-63
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-64
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1

1-20Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
2. Allow the retractor to roll up the belt.
You should hold the webbing end and
guide it back into the retractor while it is
rolling up. Neatly store the tongue plate in
the recess and then insert the connector
(tongue) plate into the slot.CAUTION
. Do not allow the retractor to roll
up the seatbelt too quickly.
Otherwise, the metal tongue
plates may hit against the trim,
resulting in damaged trim.
. Have the seatbelt fully rolled up
so that the tongue plates are
neatly stored. A hanging tongue
plate can swing and hit against
the trim during driving, causing
damage to the trim. &
Seatbelt maintenance
To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap
and lukewarm water. Never bleach or dye
the belts because this could seriously
affect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments
including the webbing and all hardware
periodically for cracks, cuts, gashes,
tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas.
Replace the seatbelts even if only minor
damage is found.
CAUTION
. Keep the belts free of polishes,
oils, chemicals and particularly
battery acid.
. Never attempt to make modifica-
tions or changes that will prevent
the seatbelt from operating prop-
erly.

possible to switch between the A trip
meter and B trip meter indications while
the odometer/trip meter is lit up. If you do
not press the trip knob within 10 seconds
of illumination of the odometer/trip meter,
the odometer/trip meter will turn off.
Also, if you open and close the driver’s
door within 10 seconds of illumination of
the odometer/trip meter, the odometer/trip
meter will turn off.
The display can be switched as shown in
the following illustration by pressing the
trip knob.
*1: “” or “”and “”or “”cannot
be displayed when the ignition switch is
in the “ON ”position.
*
2: MT models only
To set the trip meter to zero, select the A
trip or B trip meter by pressing the knob
and keep the knob pressed for more than
2 seconds.
CAUTION
To ensure safety, do not attempt to
change the function of the indicator
during driving, as an accident couldresult.
NOTE
If the connection between the combina-
tion meter and battery is broken for any
reason such as vehicle maintenance or
fuse replacement, the data recorded on
the trip meter will be lost. & Tachometer
The tachometer shows the engine speed
in thousands of revolutions per minute.
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the
pointer of the tachometer in the red
zone. In this range, fuel injection will
be cut by the engine control module
to protect the engine from overrev-
ving. The engine will resume run-
ning normally after the engine speed
is reduced below the red zone. NOTE
To protect the engine while the select
lever is in the
“P ” or “N ” position (for
AT and CVT models) or the shift lever is
in the neutral position (for MT models),
the engine is controlled so that the
engine speed may not become too high
even if the accelerator pedal is pressedhard.
& Fuel gauge
1) Low fuel warning light
The fuel gauge shows the approximate
amount of fuel remaining in the tank.
When the ignition switch is in the “LOCK ”
or “Acc ”position, the fuel gauge shows “E ”
even if the fuel tank contains fuel. Instruments and controls
3-7
– CONTINUED –

!Transmission control system warn- ing
If the “AT OIL TEMP ”warning light flashes
after the engine has started, it may
indicate that the transmission control
system is not working properly. Contact
your nearest SUBARU dealer for service
immediately.
& Low tire pressure
warning light (U.S. spec. models)
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON ”position, the low tire pressure warn-
ing light will illuminate for approximately 2
seconds to check that the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) is functioning
properly. If there is no problem and all tires
are properly inflated, the light will go out.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufac-
turer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-
sure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for thosetires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates
a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly under-
inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should
stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle
’s handling and
stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if
under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction,
the telltale will flash for approximately one
minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the
system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of re-
placement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS
to continue to function properly.
Should the warning light illuminate stea-
dily after blinking for approximately one
minute, have the system inspected by
your nearest SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
If this light does not illuminate
briefly after the ignition switch is
turned ON or the light illuminates
steadily after blinking for approxi-
mately one minute, you should have
your Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem checked at a SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible.
If this light illuminates while driving,
never brake suddenly and keep
driving straight ahead while gradu- Instruments and controls
3-15
– CONTINUED –

5-18Audio
&Station preset
! How to preset stations
1. Select the preferred reception mode.
2. Select the preferred station.
3. Press and hold one of the preset
buttons (from
to) to store the
frequency. If the button is pressed briefly,
the preceding selection will remain in the
memory.
NOTE . Up to six stations for each reception
mode may be preset. . If the connection between the radio
and battery is broken for any reason
such as vehicle maintenance or radio
removal, all stations stored in the
preset buttons are cleared. If this
occurs, it is necessary to reset the
preset buttons.. If a cell phone is placed near the
radio, it may cause the radio to emit
noise when a phone call is received.
This noise does not indicate a radiomalfunction.. For type C audio, if you press and
hold a preset button while receiving a
broadcasting station with SPS (Supple-
mental Program Service), the station
will be stored in the memory for that preset button. !
Selecting preset stations
1. Select the preferred reception mode.
2. Press the preferred preset button (from
to) briefly.
NOTE
For type C audio, if the preset button
which stores a broadcasting station
with SPS (Supplemental Program Ser-
vice) while the HD Radio OFF mode isselected, “No digital data available ”will
be displayed and the volume will be
reduced to zero. ! Auto-store
Auto-store button:
Type A audio
Type B audio
Type C audio
Using the Auto-store function, you can
automatically store 6 stations on the current waveband by pressing and holding
the Auto-store button. Use Auto-store to
quickly find the strongest stations, for
example when traveling through different
reception areas. NOTE .
When you use Auto-store, the new
stations replace any stations pre-
viously stored.. Interrupting Auto-store: If you acci-
dentally press the Auto-store button,
you can cancel the Auto-store function
before it has been completed as fol-lows.
–Switch to the other source mode.
– Switch to the other band.
– Press the Auto-store button.
– Press the “SCAN ”button (type A
and B audio). – Press the “SEEK ”button.
– Press any of the preset buttons.
– Turn the “TUNE ”dial.
– Turn off the audio system.
– Turn off the ignition switch.
. When you use the Auto-store func-
tion while selecting the FM mode, even
if you have selected the FM1 or FM2
station, the new stations are stored in
the FM3 (type A and C audio)/FM-AS
(type B audio) station memory. . For type B audio, when you use the

5-22Audio
!Category selection (type C audio)
Change the cate-
gory up by one step
Change the cate-
gory down by one step
To activate the category search mode,
press the “”or “”button. When in the
category search mode, press the “”or
“” button to change the category up or
down.
When a category is selected, turning the “ TUNE ”dial selects channels only within
the selected category.
The control function returns to the normal
mode after approximately 6 seconds. ! Channel scan (type C audio)
“ SCAN/A.S ”button
Press the “SCAN/A.S ”button to change
the radio to the SCAN mode. In this mode,
under the selected category, the radio
scans through the channel until a station
is found. The radio will stop at the station
for 5 seconds while displaying the channel
number, after which scanning will continue
until the entire channel has been scanned. Press the
“SCAN/A.S ”button again to
cancel the SCAN mode and to stop on any
displayed channel.
& Channel preset
! How to preset channels
1. Press the “SAT ”button to select SAT1,
SAT2 and SAT3 reception.
2. Select the desired channel.
3. Press and hold one of the preset
buttons (from
to) to store the
channel. If the button is pressed briefly,
the preceding selection will remain in the
memory.
NOTE . Up to six SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3
channels each may be preset. . If the connection between the radio
and battery is broken for any reason
such as vehicle maintenance or radio
removal, all channels stored in the
preset buttons are cleared. If this
occurs, it is necessary to reset the
preset channels. !
Selecting preset channels
1. Press the “SAT ”button to select SAT1,
SAT2 or SAT3 reception.
2. Press the preferred preset button (from
to) briefly.
& When the following mes-
sages are displayed (type C audio)
If one of the following messages is
displayed when receiving XM signals,
determine the cause based on the follow-
ing information. If you cannot clear these
messages, contact your SUBARU dealer.