
1-18Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Seatbelts
the face or neck, adjust the shoulder belt 
anchor height (window-side seating posi-
tions only) and then if necessary move the
child closer to the belt buckle to help
provide a good shoulder belt fit. Care must
be taken to securely place the lap belt as
low as possible on the hips and not on thechild’s waist. If the shoulder portion of the
belt cannot be properly positioned, a child
restraint system should be used. Never
place the shoulder belt under the child ’s
arm or behind the child ’s back.
! Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers also need to use the 
seatbelts. They should consult their doctor
for specific recommendations. The lap belt
should be worn securely and as low as
possible over the hips, not over the waist. &
Emergency Locking Retrac- 
tor (ELR)
The driver ’s seatbelt has an Emergency
Locking Retractor (ELR). 
The emergency locking retractor allows 
normal body movement but the retractor
locks automatically during a sudden stop,
impact or if you pull the belt very quickly
out of the retractor. & Automatic/Emergency Lock- 
ing Retractor (A/ELR)
Each passenger ’s seatbelt has an Auto-
matic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ 
ELR). The Automatic/Emergency Locking
Retractor normally functions as an Emer-
gency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/
ELR has an additional locking mode,“ Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
mode ”, intended to secure a child restraint
system. 
The ALR mode functions as follows. 
When the seatbelt is once drawn out 
completely and is then retracted even
slightly, the retractor locks the seatbelt in
that position and the seatbelt cannot be
extended. As the belt is rewinding, clicks
will be heard which indicate the retractor
functions as an ALR. When the seatbelt is
retracted fully, the ALR mode is canceled
and the ELR mode is restored. When securing a child restraint system on
the rear passenger
’s seats by using a
seatbelt, the seatbelt must be changed
over to the Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) mode. For instructions on how to
install the child restraint system using a
seatbelt, refer to “Installing child restraint
systems with A/ELR seatbelt ”F 1-32.
When the child restraint system is re-
moved, make sure that the retractor is
restored to the Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (ELR) mode by allowing the seat-
belt to retract fully.
& Seatbelt warning light 
and chime
Refer to “Seatbelt warning light and
chime ”F 3-10.
& 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  

vehicle models in this Owner’s
Manual. Child restraint systems
While riding in the vehicle, infants and 
small children should always be placed in
an infant or child restraint system in one of
the rear seating positions recommended
in this Owner
’s Manual.
You should use an infant or child restraint
system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standards, is compatible with
your vehicle and is appropriate for thechild ’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 described in “Installation of
child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH)
”F 1-37).
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/Child restraint systems1-29
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1-30Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Child restraint systems
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: Second-row outboard seats 
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: Second-row center seat 
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. 
D: Third-row seat 
Installing a child restraint system is not 
recommended, although the A/ELR seat-
belt and two upper anchorages (tether
anchorages) are provided in these posi-tions. 
These seating positions are not equipped 
with lower anchorages (bars) for installing
LATCH system-type child restraints. How-
ever, child restraint devices can be used in
these position using the A/ELR seatbelts 
and upper anchorages (tether an- 
chorages) provided. 
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. 
Consequently, 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 re-
strained 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/Child restraint systems1-31
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1-32Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Child restraint systems
&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 manufacturer ’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. Slide the seat or seat pair to its 
rearmost position. 
2. Adjust the seatback to the upright position. 
3. Place the child restraint system in the 
rear seating position. 
4. Run the lap and shoulder belt through 
or around the child restraint system
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. 
5. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle 
until you hear a click.   

6. Take up the slack in the lap belt. 
7. 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)
mode. 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.8. 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. 
9. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt 
to confirm that it cannot be pulled out (ALR
properly functioning).10. 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/Child restraint systems1-33
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1-34Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Child restraint systems
NOTE 
When the child restraint system is no 
longer in use, remove it and restore the
ELR mode of the retractor. That mode
is restored by retracting the seatbelt
fully. !Installing forward facing child re- straint
Second-row outboard seat 
1) Head restraint 
2) Release button
Second-row center seat 
1) Head restraint 
2) Release button
Third-row seat 
1) Head restraint 
2) Lowering strap 1. When installing on the
second-row
outboard seat , remove the head restraint.
When installing on the second-row cen-
ter seat , raise the head restraint. When
installing on the third-row seat, lower the
head restraint.
2. Slide the seat or seat pair to its 
rearmost position. 
3. Adjust the seatback to the upright position. 
4. Place the child restraint system in the 
seating position. 
5. Run the lap and shoulder belt through 
or around the child restraint system
following the instructions provided by its
manufacturer. 
6. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle 
until you hear a click.     

7. Take up the slack in the lap belt. 
8. 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.9. Before having a child sit in the child 
restraint system, try to 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. 
10. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt 
to confirm that it cannot be pulled out (ALR
properly functioning).Second-row seat
Third-row seat
11. If the child restraint system requires a 
top tether, latch the hook onto the top
tether anchor and tighten the top tether.
For additional instructions, refer to “To p
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Child restraint systems1-35
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