
is important that winter tires be usedwhen driving on snow-covered or icyroads. (All four wheels should be fittedwith tires of the same size and brand).
.It is always important to reducespeed when approaching a corner,even if the vehicle is equipped withVehicle Dynamics Control.
.All four wheels should be fitted withtires of the same size, type, and brand;furthermore, the amount of wearshouldbe the same for all four tires. Ifthese precautions are not observedand non-matching tires are used, it isquite possible that the Vehicle Dy-namics Control system will be unableto operate correctly as intended.
.Always turn off the engine beforereplacing a tire as failure to do so mayrender the Vehicle Dynamics Controlsystem unable to operate correctly.
&Vehicle Dynamics Control
system monitor
Refer to the following sections.
.“Ve h i c l e D y n a m i c s C o n t r o l w a r n i n glight (U.S.-spec models and Canada-spec. models)/Vehicle Dynamics Controloperation indicator light (all models)”F3-18
.“Traction Control system OFF indicatorlight (U.S.-spec models and Canada-spec. models)”F3-19
.“Ve h i c l e D y n a m i c s C o n t r o l w a r n i n glight (Latin America-spec. models)/Trac-tion Control OFF indicator light (LatinAmerica-spec. models)”F3-19
&Traction Control system OFF
switch
Tract io n Cont rol sy stem OFF indic atorlight (U.S.-spec. models and Canada-spec.models)
Starting and operating7-25
–CONTINUED–

7-26Starting and operating
Tr a c t i o n C on t r o l s y s t e m O F F i nd i c a t o rlight (Latin America-spec. models)
Traction Control system OFF switch
Pressing the switch to deactivate theTraction Control system can facilitate thefollowing operations.
.a standing start on a steeply slopingroad with a snowy, gravel-covered, orotherwise slippery surface
.extrication of the vehicle when itswheels are stuck in mud or deep snow
When the switch is pressed during engineoperation, the Traction Control systemOFF indicator light on the combinationmeter illuminates. The Traction Controlsystem willbe deactivated and the vehiclewill behave like a model not equipped withthe Traction Control system. When theswitch is pressed again to reactivate theTraction Control system OFF indicatorlight turns off.
With the Traction Control system deacti-vated, traction enhancement offered byTraction Control system is unavailable.Therefore you should not deactivate theTraction Control system except underabove-mentioned situations.
NOTE
.When the switch has been pressedto deactivate the Traction Control sys-tem, the Traction Control system auto-matically reactivates itself the next timethe ignition key is turned to the“LOCK”position and the engine is restarted..If the switch is held down for 10seconds or longer, the indicator lightturns off,the Traction Control system
is activated, and the system ignoresany further pressing of the switch. Tomake the switch usable again, turn theignition key to the“LOCK”position andrestart the engine..When the switch is pressed todeactivate the Traction Control system,the vehicle’s running performance iscomparable with that of a vehicle thatdoes not have a Traction Controlsystem. Do not deactivate the TractionControl system except when absolutelynecessary.

.You must install four tires that areof the same size, circumferences,construction, manufacturer,brand (tread pattern), degree ofwear, speed symbol and loadindex. Mixing tires of other sizes,circumferences or constructionsmay result in severe mechanicaldamage to the drive train of yourvehicle and may affect ride,handling, braking and speed-ometer/odometer calibration. Italso may be dangerous and leadto loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
If you use a temporary spare tire toreplace a flat tire, be sure to use theoriginaltemporary spare tire storedin the vehicle. Using other sizes mayresult in severe mechanical damageto the drive train of your vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive distributes the enginepower to all four wheels. AWD modelsprovidebetter traction when driving onslippery, wet or snow-covered roads andwhen moving out of mud, dirt or sand. Byshifting power between the front and rearwheels, SUBARU AWD can also provideadded traction during acceleration, andadded engine braking force during decel-eration.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehiclemay handle differently than an ordinarytwo wheel drive vehicle and it containssome features unique to AWD. For safetypurposes as well as to avoid damagingthe AWD system, you should keep thefollowing tips in mind.
.An AWD model is better able to climbsteeper roads under snowy or slippery
conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.There is little difference in handling,however, during extremely sharp turns orsudden braking. Therefore, when drivingdown a slope or turning corners, be sureto reduce your speed and maintain anample distance from other vehicles.
.Always check the cold tire pressurebefore starting to drive. The recom-mended tire pressure is provided on thetire placard, which is located under thedoor latch on the driver’s side.
.There are some precautions that youmust observe when towing your vehicle.For detailed information, refer to“Towing”F9-14.
Driving tips8-5

13-14Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For exam-
ple, if the“XXX”amount equals
1,400 lbs (635 kg) and there will be
five- 150 lbs (68 kg) passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capa-
city is 650 lbs. (1,400!750 (56
150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your ve-
hicle.
Uniform tire quality grading
standards
This information indicates the rela-
tive performance of passenger car
tires in the area of treadwear,
traction, and temperature resis-
tance. This is to aid the consumer
in making an informed choice in the
purchase of tires.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall be-
tween tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tem-
perature A
The quality grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on passen-
ger cars. However, they do not
apply to deep tread, winter type
snow tires, space-saver or tempor-
ary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 12 inches
or less, or to some limited produc-
tion tires.
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.
&Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1-
1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
&Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spe-

cified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include accel-
eration, cornering, hydroplan-
ing, or peak traction charac-
teristics.
&Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified indoor labora-
tory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire
that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or ex-
cessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possi-
ble tire failure.
Reporting safety defects
(U.S.A.)
If you believe that your vehicle has
adefectwhichcouldcausea
crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately in-
form the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in
addition to notifying Subaru of
America, Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar com-
plaints, it may open an investiga-
tion, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehi-
cles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between
you, your dealer, or Subaru of
America, Inc. To contact NHTSA,
you may call the Vehicle Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write
to: Administrator, NHTSA, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE, West
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects13-15
–CONTINUED–

14-6Index
High beam............................................................ 3-22Immobilizer............................................................ 3-21Security.......................................................... 2-4, 3-21Select lever/Gear position....................................... 3-21SPORT mode........................................................ 3-21Traction control system OFF.................................... 3-19Turn signal............................................................ 3-21Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF................................ 3-19Vehicle Dynamics Control operation................. 3-18, 3-19Inside mirror.............................................................. 3-38Interior lights............................................................... 6-2
JJack and jack handle.................................................. 9-19Jack-up point............................................................... 9-6Jump starting............................................................. 9-11
KKey ............................................................................ 2-2Number.................................................................. 2-2Reminder chime....................................................... 3-4Replacement........................................................... 2-4Keyless entry system................................................... 2-8
LLeather seat materials................................................ 10-5License plate light..................................................... 11-41LightBackup................................................................ 11-40Cargo area.................................................... 6-3, 11-44Control switch........................................................ 3-27
Daytime running..................................................... 3-29Dome............................................................ 6-2, 11-42Door step............................................................ 11-43Front fog..................................................... 3-32, 11-39Front side marker......................................... 3-28, 12-12Ignition switch......................................................... 3-4License plate....................................................... 11-41Map .............................................................. 6-3, 11-43Parking............................................................... 11-38Rear combination................................................. 11-39Rear gate............................................................... 6-3Stop.................................................................... 11-39Ta i l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 - 3 9 , 11 - 4 0Turn signal.................................................. 3-29, 11-39Vanity mirror.................................................. 6-5, 11-43Loading your vehicle................................................... 8-12Low fuel warning light................................................. 3-17Low tire pressure warning light..................................... 3-14Lower and tether anchorage........................................ 1-37Lumbar support........................................................... 1-7
MMain fuse................................................................ 11-35MaintenancePrecautions........................................................... 11-3Schedule............................................................... 11-3Seatbelt................................................................. 1-26Tools..................................................................... 9-19Malfunctionindicator light (check engine warning light)....3-12ManualTransmission oil..................................................... 12-6

14-10Index
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-21, 12-8Chains.................................................................. 8-11Inspection............................................................ 11-22Pressures and wear.............................................. 11-23Replacement........................................................ 11-26Rotation............................................................... 11-26Size and pressure.................................................. 12-8Types.................................................................. 11-21Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)..... 7-27, 9-10, 11-21Warning light......................................................... 3-14Tires and wheels....................................................... 11-21Tools........................................................................ 9-19Top tether anchorages........................................ 1-37, 1-40Towing...................................................................... 9-14All wheels on the ground........................................ 9-17Flat-bed truck........................................................ 9-17Hooks................................................................... 9-15Weight ..................................................................8-21Traction Control systemOFF indicator light.................................................. 3-19OFF switch........................................................... 7-25TrailerConnecting............................................................ 8-19Hitch............................................................ 8-18, 8-24Towing.................................................................. 8-21Towing tips............................................................ 8-26Trip meter................................................................... 3-7Turn signalIndicator lights....................................................... 3-21Lever.................................................................... 3-29
UUnder-floor storage compartment.................................. 6-16
VValet mode................................................................ 2-18Vanity mirror...................................................... 6-5, 11-43VehicleCapacity weight...................................................... 8-12Identification........................................................ 12-15Symbols.................................................................... 3Vehicle Dynamics ControlOperation indicator light................................... 3-18, 3-19System.................................................................. 7-23Warning light.................................................. 3-18, 3-19Ventilator.................................................................... 4-2
WWarning and indicator lights.......................................... 3-9Warning chimesSeatbelt................................................................. 3-10Warning lightABS .............................................................. 3-15, 7-21All-Wheel Drive...................................................... 3-18AT OIL TEMP......................................................... 3-13Brake system......................................................... 3-16Charge.................................................................. 3-13CHECK ENGINE.................................................... 3-12Door open............................................................. 3-17Low fuel................................................................ 3-17Low tire pressure.................................................... 3-14Oil pressure........................................................... 3-13