&Warning and indicator lights
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-12
Front passenger’s
seatbelt warning light3-12
SRS airbag system
warning light3-14
CHECK ENGINE warn-
ing light/Malfunction in-
dicator light3-15
Charge warning light 3-15
Oil pressure warning
light3-15
Engine low oil level
warning indicator3-16
AT OIL TEMP warning
light (CVT models)3-16
/ABS warning light 3-18
/Brake system warning
light3-18Mark Name Page
/Electronic parking
brake indicator light3-20
Hill Holder indicator
light3-21
Door open indicator 3-22
Low fuel warning light 3-21
All-Wheel Drive warn-
ing light (CVT models)3-22
Power steering warning
light3-22
Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol warning light/Vehi-
cle Dynamics Control
operation indicator light3-23
Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol OFF indicator light3-24
Access key warning in-
dicator (if equipped)3-24
Security indicator light 3-29
Turn signal indicator
lights3-30Mark Name Page
High beam indicator
light3-30
Automatic headlight
beam leveler warning
light (if equipped)3-30
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)3-31
Cruise control indicator 3-30
Cruise control set indi-
cator3-30
X-mode indicator (if
equipped)3-31
Hill descent control in-
dicator (if equipped)3-31
Headlight indicator light 3-31
Low tire pressure
warning light (U.S.
spec. models)3-16
/Front passenger’s fron-
tal airbag ON indicator
light3-14
/Front passenger’s fron-
tal airbag OFF indicator
light3-14
–CONTINUED–
23
Ignition switch (models without push-
button start system)......................................... 3-3
LOCK.................................................................. 3-3
ACC.................................................................... 3-4
ON...................................................................... 3-4
START ................................................................ 3-4
Key reminder chime............................................ 3-4
Ignition switch light............................................. 3-4
Push-button ignition switch (models with
push-button start system)............................... 3-5
Safety precautions.............................................. 3-5
Operating range for push-button start system...... 3-5
Switching power................................................. 3-6
When access key does not operate properly........ 3-7
Hazard warning flasher....................................... 3-7
Meters and gauges.............................................. 3-7
Combination meter illumination........................... 3-7
Canceling the function for meter/gauge needle
movement upon turning on the ignition
switch............................................................... 3-8
Speedometer....................................................... 3-8
Odometer............................................................ 3-8
Double trip meter................................................ 3-9
Tachometer......................................................... 3-9
Fuel gauge......................................................... 3-10
Temperature gauge............................................ 3-11
ECO gauge........................................................ 3-11
Warning and indicator lights............................. 3-12
Seatbelt warning light and chime........................ 3-12
SRS airbag system warning light........................ 3-14Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF
indicators........................................................ 3-14
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator light.................................................. 3-15
Charge warning light.......................................... 3-15
Oil pressure warning light.................................. 3-15
Engine low oil level warning indicator................ 3-16
AT OIL TEMP warning light (CVT models)........... 3-16
Low tire pressure warning light (U.S. spec.
models)........................................................... 3-16
ABS warning light.............................................. 3-18
Brake system warning light................................ 3-18
Electronic parking brake indicator light.............. 3-20
Hill Holder indicator light................................... 3-21
Low fuel warning light....................................... 3-21
Door open indicator........................................... 3-22
Windshield washer fluid warning indicator.......... 3-22
All-Wheel Drive warning light (CVT models) ........ 3-22
Power steering warning light.............................. 3-22
Vehicle Dynamics Control warning light/Vehicle
Dynamics Control operation indicator light ....... 3-23
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF indicator light..... 3-24
Warning chimes and warning indicator of the
keyless access with push-button start system (if
equipped)........................................................ 3-24
Security indicator light....................................... 3-29
Select lever/gear position indicator..................... 3-30
Turn signal indicator lights................................. 3-30
High beam indicator light................................... 3-30
Cruise control indicator..................................... 3-30
Cruise control set indicator................................ 3-30
Instruments and controls
3
Instruments and controls/Warning and indicator lights
Warning and indicator lights
Several of the warning and indicator lights
illuminate momentarily and then go out
when the ignition switch is initially turned
to the“ON”position. This permits check-
ing the operation of the bulbs.
Apply the parking brake and turn the
ignition switch to the“ON”position. For
the system check, the following lights
illuminate and turn off after several sec-
onds or after the engine has started:
: Seatbelt warning light
(The seatbelt warning light turns off
only when the driver fastens the
seatbelt.)
: Front passenger’s seatbelt warning
light
(The seatbelt warning light turns off
only when the front seat passenger
fastens the seatbelt.)
: SRS airbag system warning light
ON /
: Front passenger’s frontal airbag
ON indicator light
/: Front passenger’s frontal airbag
OFF indicator light
/: CHECK ENGINE warning light/
Malfunction indicator light
: Charge warning light
: Oil pressure warning light
: AT OIL TEMP warning light
(CVT models)
/: ABS warning light
: Vehicle Dynamics Control warning
light/Vehicle Dynamics Control opera-
tion indicator light
: Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF indica-
tor light
/: Brake system warning light
: Hill Holder indicator light
: All-Wheel Drive warning light (CVT
models)
: Power steering warning light
: Low tire pressure warning light
(U.S. spec. models)
: Low fuel warning light
: Hill descent control indicator (if
equipped)
If any lights fail to illuminate, it indicates a
burned-out bulb or a malfunction of the
corresponding system.
Consult your authorized SUBARU dealer
for repair.
&Seatbelt warning light
and chime
Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt
warning device at the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat, as required by current
safety standards.
With the ignition switch turned to the“ON”
position, this device reminds the driver
and front passenger to fasten their seat-
belts by the warning lights in the locations
indicated in the following illustration and a
chime.
Driver’s warning light
3-12
&CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunc-
tion indicator light
CAUTION
If the CHECK ENGINE warning light/
malfunction indicator light illumi-
nates while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked/repaired by
your SUBARU dealer as soon as
possible. Continued vehicle opera-
tion without having the emission
control system checked and re-
paired as necessary could cause
serious damage, which may not be
covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
If this light illuminates steadily or blinks
while the engine is running, it may indicate
that there is a problem or potential
problem somewhere in the emission con-
trol system.
!If the light illuminates constantly
If the light illuminates constantly while
driving or does not turn off after the engine
starts, an emission control system mal-
function has been detected.
You should have your vehicle checked by
an authorized SUBARU dealer immedi-
ately.
NOTE
This light also illuminates when the fuel
filler cap is not tightened until it clicks.
If you have recently refueled your vehicle,
the cause of the CHECK ENGINE warning
light/malfunction indicator light coming on
could be a loose or missing fuel filler cap.
Remove the cap and retighten it until it
clicks. Make sure nothing is interfering
with the sealing of the cap. Tightening the
cap will not make the CHECK ENGINE
warning light/malfunction indicator light
turn off immediately. It may take several
driving trips. If the light does not turn off,
take your vehicle to your authorized
SUBARU dealer immediately.
!If the light is blinking
If the light is blinking while driving, an
engine misfire condition has been de-
tected which may damage the emission
control system.
To prevent serious damage to the emis-
sion control system, you should conform
to the following instructions.
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard acceleration.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.Reduce the amount of cargo, if possi-
ble.
.Stop towing a trailer as soon as
possible.The CHECK ENGINE warning light/mal-
function indicator light may stop blinking
and illuminate steadily after several driv-
ing trips. You should have your vehicle
checked by an authorized SUBARU deal-
er immediately.
&Charge warning light
If this light illuminates when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the charging
system is not working properly.
If the light illuminates while driving or does
not turn off after the engine starts, stop the
engine at the first safe opportunity and
check the alternator belt. If the belt is
loose, broken or if the belt is in good
condition but the light remains illuminated,
contact your nearest SUBARU dealer
immediately.
&Oil pressure warning
light
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the
oil pressure warning light on. This
may cause serious engine damage.
If this light illuminates when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the engine oil
pressure is low and the lubricating system
Instruments and controls/Warning and indicator lights
–CONTINUED–3-15
Instruments and controls/Warning and indicator lights
is not working properly.
If the light illuminates while driving or does
not turn off after the engine starts, stop the
engine at the first safe opportunity and
check the engine oil level. If the oil level is
low, add oil immediately. If the engine oil is
at the proper level but the light remains
illuminated, contact your nearest
SUBARU dealer immediately.
&Engine low oil level
warning indicator
This indicator appears when the engine oil
level decreases to the lower limit.
If the engine low oil level warning indicator
appears while driving, park the vehicle at a
safe and level location, and then check
the engine oil level. When the engine oil
level is not within the normal range, refill
with engine oil. Refer to“Engine oil”F11 -
11 .
If the warning indicator does not disappear
after refilling with engine oil or the warning
indicator appears even though the engine
oil level is within the normal range, have
the system checked by a SUBARU dealer.
NOTE
.After replacing or adding the engine
oil, if the engine oil level is within the
normal range when restarting the en-gine on a level surface, the warning
indicator will be off.
.The warning indicator may appear
temporarily in the following conditions
because a low oil level may be detected
as a result of significant oil movement
in the engine.
–when the vehicle is considerably
inclined on an uphill or steep slope
–when the vehicle has continu-
ously accelerated and decelerated
–when the vehicle is continuously
turned
–when the vehicle is driven on a
road that alternates continuously
between uphill and downhill
&AT OIL TEMP warning
light (CVT models)
If this light illuminates when the engine is
running, it may indicate that the transmis-
sion fluid temperature is too hot.
If the light illuminates while driving, im-
mediately stop the vehicle in a safe place
and let the engine idle until the warning
light turns off.
!Transmission control system warn-
ing
If the“AT OIL TEMP”warning light flashes
after the engine has started, it mayindicate 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 those
tires.)
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-
3-16
Driving tips/Off road driving
conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.
There is little difference in handling,
however, during extremely sharp turns or
sudden braking. Therefore, when driving
down a slope or turning corners, be sure
to reduce your speed and maintain an
ample distance from other vehicles.
.Always check the cold tire pressure
before starting to drive. The recom-
mended tire pressure is provided on the
tire placard, which is located on the door
pillar on the driver’s side.
.There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detailed information, refer to“Towing”
F9-13.Off road driving
WARNING
.Always maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden brak-
ing or under other similar condi-
tions.
.Always use the utmost care in
driving–overconfidence be-
cause you are driving an All-
Wheel Drive vehicle could easily
lead to a serious accident.
&Legacy
Your AWD vehicle is neither a conven-
tional off-road vehicle nor an all terrain
vehicle. It is a passenger car designed
primarily for on-road use. The AWD
feature gives it some limited off-road
capabilities in situations in which the
driving surface is relatively level, obstruc-
tion-free and otherwise similar to on-road
driving conditions. Operating it under other
than those conditions could subject the
vehicle to excessive stress which might
result in damage not eligible for repairunder warranty. If you do take your
SUBARU off road, you should review the
common sense precautions in the next
section (applicable to the Outback) for
general guidance. But please keep in
mind that your vehicle’s off-road capabil-
ities are more limited than those of the
Outback.
Never attempt to drive through pools and
puddles, or roads flooded with water.
Water entering the engine air intake or
the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto
electrical parts may damage your vehicle
and may cause it to stall.
&Outback
CAUTION
Frequent driving of an AWD model
under hard-driving conditions such
as rough roads or off roads will
necessitate more frequent replace-
ment of the following items than that
specified in the maintenance sche-
dule described in the“Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet”.
.Engine oil
.Brake fluid
.Manual transmission oil (MT
models)
8-6
Engine overheating
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has fully cooled down.
When the engine is hot, the coolant
is under pressure. Removing the
cap while the engine is still hot
could release a spray of boiling hot
coolant, which could burn you very
seriously.
If the engine overheats, pull off the road
safely and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
&If steam is coming from the
engine compartment
Turn off the engine and get everyone
away from the vehicle until it cools down.
&If no steam is coming from
the engine compartment
NOTE
For details about how to check the
coolant level or how to add coolant,
refer to“Engine coolant”F11-14.
1. Keep the engine running at idling
speed.2. Open the hood to ventilate the engine
compartment. Refer to“Engine hood”
F11-7.
Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. If
the fan is not turning, immediately turn off
the engine and contact your authorized
dealer for repair.
3. After the engine coolant temperature
has dropped, turn off the engine.
If the temperature gauge stays in the
overheated zone, turn off the engine.
4. After the engine has fully cooled down,
check the coolant level in the reserve
tank.
If the coolant level is below the“LOW”
mark, add coolant up to the“FULL”mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reserve
tank, add coolant to the reserve tank.
Then remove the radiator cap and fill the
radiator with coolant.
If you remove the radiator cap from a hot
radiator, first wrap a thick cloth around the
radiator cap, then turn the cap counter-
clockwise slowly without pressing down
until it stops. Release the pressure from
the radiator. After the pressure has been
fully released, remove the cap by pressing
down and turning it.
Towing
WARNING
Never tow AWD vehicles with the
front wheels raised off the ground
while the rear wheels are on the
ground, or with the rear wheels
raised off the ground while the front
wheels are on the ground. This will
cause the vehicle to spin away due
to the operation or deterioration of
the center differential.
If towing is necessary, SUBARU recom-
mends it be done by your SUBARU dealer
or a commercial towing service.
In case of emergency/Engine overheating
–CONTINUED–9-13
Maintenance and service/Cooling system
Cooling system
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has cooled down
completely. Since the coolant is
under pressure, you may suffer
serious burns from a spray of boil-
ing hot coolant when the cap is
removed.
CAUTION
.Vehicles are filled at the factory
with SUBARU Super Coolant that
does not require the first change
for 11 years/137,500 miles (11
years/220,000 km). This coolant
should not be mixed with any
other brand or type of coolant
during this period. Mixing with a
different coolant will reduce the
life of the coolant. Should it be
necessary to top off the coolant
for any reason, use only
SUBARU Super Coolant.
If the SUBARU Super Coolant is
diluted with another brand ortype, the maintenance interval is
shortened to that of the mixing
coolant.
.Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
&Cooling fan, hose and con-
nections
Your vehicle employs an electric cooling
fan which is thermostatically controlled to
operate when the engine coolant reaches
a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate
even when the engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge exceeds the normal operating
range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Refer to“Temperature gauge”
F3-11.
Check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
Refer to“Fuses”F11-38 and“Fuses and
circuits”F12-10. If the fuse is not blown,
have the cooling system checked by your
SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is neces-
sary, there may be a leak in the engine
cooling system. It is recommended that
the cooling system and connections bechecked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
&Engine coolant
!Checking the coolant level
1)“FULL”level mark
2)“LOW”level mark
Check the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside
of the reservoir while the engine is cool.
2. If the level is close to or lower than the
“LOW”level mark, add coolant up to the
“FULL”level mark. If the reserve tank is
empty, remove the radiator cap and refill
as required.
3. After refilling the reserve tank and the
radiator, reinstall the caps and check that
the rubber gaskets inside the radiator cap
are in the proper position.
11-14