
1-10Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Pull the lever up and adjust the seatbackto the desired position.
Then release the lever and make sure theseatback is securely locked into place.
&Folding down the seatback
WARNING
.Never allow passengers to rideon the folded seatback or in thecargo area. Doing so may resultin serious injury or death.
.Secure skis and other long itemsproperly to prevent them frombeing thrown around inside thevehicle and causing serious in-jury during a sudden stop, asudden steering maneuver or a
rapid acceleration.
.If passengers are sitting on thethird-row seat, never drive whilefolding the second-row seat. Itcan be a serious interference atthe time of braking and impact.
.If passengers are sitting on thethird-row seat, never drive whilethe center seatback of the sec-ond-rowseat is folded. Doing somay result in serious injury in theevent of hard braking or animpact.
.When you return the seatback toits original position, shake theseatback slightly to confirm thatit is securely fixed in place. If theseatback is not securely fixed inplace, the seatback may sud-denly fold down in the event ofsudden braking, or objects maymove out from the cargo area,which could cause serious injuryor death.
.After returning the seatback to itsoriginal position, be sure to placeall of the seatbelts and the tabattached to the seat cushionabove the seat cushion. Also,make certain that the shoulderbelts are fully visible.
1. Slide the seat or seat pair to itsrearmost position.
2. Lower the head restraint to its lowestposition. Refer to“Head restraint adjust-ment”F1-12.
3. Unlock the seatback by pulling theleverand then fold the seatback down.
4. To return the seatback to its originalposition, raise the seatback until it locksinto place. Make sure it is securely locked.

&Folding down the seatback
WARNING
.Never allow passengers to rideon the folded seatback or in thecargo area. Doing so may resultin serious injury or death.
.Secure skis and other long itemsproperly to prevent them frombeing thrown around inside thevehicleand causing serious in-jury during a sudden stop, asudden steering maneuver or arapid acceleration.
.When you returnthe seatback toits original position, shake theseatback slightly to confirm thatit is securely fixed in place. If theseatback is not securely fixed inplace, the seatback may sud-denly fold down in the event ofsudden braking, or objects maymove out from the cargo area,which could cause serious injuryor death.
.Afterreturning the seatback to itsoriginal position, be sure to placeall of the seatbelts and the tabattached to the seat cushionabove the seat cushion. Also,make certain that the shoulder
belts are fully visible.
1) Lowering strap2) Folding lever
1. Pull the lowering strap to lower thehead restraint.
2. Pull up the folding lever to release theseatback lock, and fold down the seat-back. Refer to“Head restraint adjustment”F1-16.
To r e t u r n t h e s e a t b a c k t o i t s o r i g i n a lposition, raise the seatback until it locksinto place. Make sure it is securely locked.
NOTE
1) Holder
.Before folding or raising the seat-back of the third-row seat, confirm thatthe seatbelt is flat against the sidewallat the lower point and the webbing isattached to the holder..When raising the seatback of thethird-row seat, if the seatbelt catcheson the seatback, hold the belt forwardof the seatback while latching theseatback.
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1-16Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
&Head restraint adjustment
Both the third-row seats are equipped withhead restraints.
WARNING
.Never drive the vehicle with thehead restraints lowered when theseats are occupied because theyare designed to reduce the risk ofserious neck injury in the eventthat the vehicle is struck from therear.
.All occupants, including the dri-ver, should not operate a vehicleor sit in a vehicle’s seat until thehead restraints are placed in theirproper positions in order to mini-mize the risk of neck injury in theevent of a crash.
1) When not used (retracted position)2) When used (raised position)
1) Head restraint2) Lowering strap
To raise:
Pull the headrestraint up.
To lower:
Pull the lowering strap.
When the seats are not occupied, lowerthe head restraints to improve rearwardvisibility.
CAUTION
.The head restraint is not intendedto be used at the lower position.Before sitting on the seat, raisethe head restraint.
.After returning the head re-straints to the raised position,shake the head restraint slightlyto confirm that it is securely fixedin place.
.When you lower the head re-straints, confirm that there areno passengers or objects on thethird-row seat.

Seatbelts
&Seatbelt safety tips
WARNING
.All persons in the vehicle shouldfasten their seatbelts BEFOREthe vehicle starts to move. Other-wise, the possibility of seriousinjury becomes greater in theevent of a sudden stop or acci-dent.
.All belts should fit snugly in orderto provide full restraint. Loosefitting belts are not as effective inpreventing or reducing injury.
.Each seatbelt is designed tosupport only one person. Neveruse a single belt for two or morepersons–even children.Other-wise, in an accident, seriousinjury or death could result.
.Replace all seatbelt assembliesincluding retractors and attach-ing hardware worn by occupantsof a vehicle that has been in aserious accident. The entire as-sembly should be replaced evenif damage is not obvious.
.Put children aged 12 and under in
a rear seat properly restrained atall times. The SRS airbag de-ploys with considerable speedand force and can injure or evenkill children, especially if they are12 years of age and under andare not restrained or improperlyrestrained. Because children arelighter and weaker than adults,their risk of being injured fromdeployment is greater. Conse-quently, we strongly recommendthat ALL children (includingthose in child seats and thosethat have outgrown child re-straint devices) sit in a REARseat properly restrained at alltimes in a child restraint deviceor in a seatbelt, whichever isappropriate for the child’s heightand weight.
Always secure ALL types of childrestraint devices (including for-ward facing child seats) in one ofthe rear seating positions recom-mended in this Owner’s Manual.
NEVERINSTALL A REARWARDFA C I N G C H I L D S E AT I N T H EFRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKSSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TOTHE CHILD BY PLACING THECHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics,children are safer when properlyrestrained in the rear seatingpositions than in the front seat-ing positions. For instructionsand precautions concerning thechild restraint system, refer to“Child restraint systems”F1-29.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crashsensing and diagnostic module, which willrecord the use of the seatbelt(s) by thedriver and front passenger when any ofthe SRS frontal, side and curtain airbagsdeploy.
!Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that issuitable for your vehicle. Refer to“Childrestraint systems”F1-29.
!Children
If a child is too big for a child restraintsystem, the child should sit in the rear seatand be restrained using the seatbelts.According to accident statistics, childrenare safer when properly restrained in therear seating positions than in the frontseating positions.Never allow a child tostand up or kneel on the seat.
If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses
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1-18Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
the face or neck, adjust the shoulder beltanchor height (window-side seating posi-tions only) and then if necessary move thechild closer to the belt buckle to helpprovide a good shoulder belt fit. Care mustbe taken to securely place the lap belt aslow as possible on the hips and not on thechild’s waist. If the shoulder portion of thebelt cannot be properly positioned, a childrestraint system should be used. Neverplacethe shoulder belt under the child’sarm or behind the child’s back.
!Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers also need to use theseatbelts. They should consult their doctorfor specific recommendations. The lap beltshouldbe worn securely and as low aspossible over the hips, not over the waist.
&Emergency Locking Retrac-
tor (ELR)
The driver’s seatbelt has an EmergencyLocking Retractor (ELR).
The emergency locking retractor allowsnormal body movement but the retractorlocks automatically during a sudden stop,impact or if you pull the belt very quicklyout 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 LockingRetractor 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 restraintsystem.
The ALR mode functions as follows.
When the seatbelt is once drawn outcompletely and is then retracted evenslightly, the retractor locks the seatbelt inthat position and the seatbelt cannot beextended. As the belt is rewinding, clickswill be heard which indicate the retractorfunctions as an ALR. When the seatbelt isretracted fully, the ALR mode is canceledand the ELR mode is restored.
When securing a child restraint system onthe rear passenger’s seats by using aseatbelt, the seatbelt must be changedover to the Automatic Locking Retractor(ALR) mode. For instructions on how toinstall the child restraint system using aseatbelt, refer to“Installing child restraintsystems with A/ELR seatbelt”F1-32.
When the child restraint system is re-moved, make sure that the retractor isrestored 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 andchime”F3-10.
&Fastening the seatbelt
WARNING
.Never use a belt that is twisted orreversed. In an accident, this canincrease therisk or severity ofinjury.
.Keep the lap belt as low aspossible on your hips. In a colli-sion, this spreads the force of thelap belt over stronger hip bones

instead of across the weakerabdomen.
.Seatbelts provide maximum re-straint when the occupant sitswell back and upright in the seat.To r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f s l i d i n gunder the seatbelt in a collision,thefront seatbacks should bealways used in the upright posi-tion while the vehicle is running.If the front seatbacks are notused in the upright position in acollision, the risk of sliding underthe lap belt and of the lap beltsliding up over the abdomen willincrease, and both can result inserious internal injury or death.
.Do not put cushions or any othermaterials between occupantsand seatbacks or seat cushions.If you do so, the risk of slidingunder the lap belt and of the lapbelt sliding up over the abdomenwill increase, and both can resultin serious internal injury ordeath.
WARNING
Never place the shoulder belt underthe arm or behind the back. If anaccident occurs, this can increasethe risk or severity of injury.
CAUTION
Metallic parts of the seatbelt canbecome very hot in a vehicle thathas been closed up in sunny weath-er; they could burn an occupant. Donot touch such hot parts until theycool.
!Front seatbelts
1. Adjust the seat position according tothe following procedure.
Driver’s seat:Adjust the seatback to theupright position. Move the seatback as farfrom the steering wheel as practical whilestill maintaining full vehicle control.
Front passenger’s seat:Adjust the seat-back to the upright position. Move the seatas far back as possible.
2. Sit well back in the seat.
3. Pick up the tongue plate and pull thebelt out slowly. Do not let it get twisted. Ifthe belt stops before reaching the buckle,return the beltslightly and pull it out moreslowly. If the belt still cannot be unlocked,let the belt retract slightly after giving it astrong pull, then pull it out slowly again.
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1-28Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
viceable parts. For required ser-vicing of front seatbelt retractorsequipped with seatbelt preten-sioners, see your nearestSUBARU dealer.
.When discarding front seatbeltretractor assemblies or scrap-ping the entire vehicle due tocollision damage or for otherreasons, consult your SUBARUdealer.
&System monitors
A diagnostic system continually monitorsthe readiness of the seatbelt pretensionerwhile the vehicle is being driven. Theseatbeltpretensioners share the controlmodule with the airbag system. Therefore,if any malfunction occurs in a seatbeltpretensioner, the SRS airbag systemwarning light will illuminate. For details,refer to“SRS airbag system monitors”F1-71.
&System servicing
WARNING
.When discarding a seatbelt re-tractor assembly or scrappingthe entire vehicle damaged by a
collision, consult your SUBARUdealer.
.Tampering with or disconnectingthe system’s wiring could resultin accidental activation of theseatbelt pretensioner and/or air-bag or could make the systeminoperative, which may result inserious injury. Do not use elec-trical test equipment on anycircuit related to the seatbeltpretensioner and airbag sys-tems. For required servicing ofthe seatbelt pretensioner, seeyour nearest SUBARU dealer.
CAUTION
The front sub sensors are locatedon both sides of the radiator panel,and the airbag control module in-cludingthe impact sensors is lo-cated under the center console. Ifyou need service or repair in thoseareas or near the front seatbeltretractors, we recommend that youhave an authorized SUBARU dealerperform the work.
NOTE
If the front part of the vehicle isdamaged in an accident to the extentthat the seatbelt pretensioner does notoperate, contact your SUBARU dealeras soon as possible.
&Precautions against vehicle
modification
Always consult your SUBARU dealer ifyou want to install any accessory parts toyour vehicle.
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the followingmodifications. Such modificationscan interfere with proper operationof the seatbelt pretensioners.
.Attachment of any equipment(bush bar, winches, snow plow,skid plate, etc.)other than genu-ine SUBARU accessory parts tothe front end.
.Modification of the suspensionsystem or front end structure.
.Installation of a tire of differentsize and construction from thetires specified on the vehicleplacard attached to the doorpillar or specified for individual

contours of the seat cushion and can besecurely retained using the seatbelt.
C: Second-row center seat
Installing a child restraint system is notrecommended, although the A/ELR seat-belt and an upper anchorage (tetheranchorage) are provided in this position.
Some types of child restraints might not beable to be secured firmly due to projectionof the seat cushion.
In this seating position, you should useonly a child restraint system that has abottom base that fits snugly against thecontours of the seat cushion and can besecurelyretained using the seatbelt.
D: Third-row seat
Installing a child restraint system is notrecommended, although the A/ELR seat-belt and two upper anchorages (tetheranchorages)are provided in these posi-tions.
These seating positions are not equippedwith lower anchorages (bars) for installingLATCH system-type child restraints. How-ever, child restraint devices can be used inthese position using the A/ELR seatbeltsand upper anchorages (tether an-chorages) provided.
Some typesof child restraints might not beable to be secured firmly due to projectionof the seat cushion.
In this seating position, you should useonly a child restraint system that has abottom base that fits snugly against thecontours of the seat cushion and can besecurely retained using the seatbelt.
WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under inthe rear seat properly restrained atalltimes. The SRS airbag deployswith considerable speed and forceand can injure or even kill children,especially if they are 12 years of ageand under and are not restrained orimproperly restrained. Because chil-dren are lighter and weaker thanadults, their risk of being injuredfrom deployment is greater.
Consequently, be sure to secureALL types of child restraint devices(including forward facing childseats) 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 ISEQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER’SSRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL AREARWARD FACING CHILDSAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT PAS-SENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKSSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TOTHE CHILD BY PLACING THECHILD’SHEADTOOCLOSETOTHE SRS AIRBAG.
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