
General information
&California proposition 65
warning
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its consti-
tuents, and certain vehicle compo-
nents contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. In addi-
tion, certain fluids in vehicles and
certain components of product wear
contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
&California Perchlorate Advi-
sory
Certain vehicle components such as air-
bag modules, seatbelt pretensioners and
keyless entry transmitter batteries may
contain perchlorate material. Special
handling may apply for service or vehicle
end of life disposal. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/
hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
&Noise from under the vehicle
NOTE
You may hear a noise from under the
vehicle approximately 5 to 10 hours
after the ignition switch is turned to the
“LOCK”/“OFF”position. However, this
does not indicate a malfunction. This
noise is caused by the operation of the
fuel evaporation leakage checking sys-
tem and the operation is normal. The
noise will stop after approximately 15
minutes.
&Event data recorder
This vehicle is equipped with an event
data recorder (EDR). The main purpose of
an EDR is to record, in certain crash or
near crash-like situations, such as an air
bag deployment or hitting a road obstacle,
data that will assist in understanding how
a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR
is designed to record data related to
vehicle dynamics and safety systems for
a short period of time, typically 30 seconds
or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
.How various systems in your vehicle
were operating;
.Whether or not the driver and passen-
ger safety belts were buckled/fastened;
.Howfar(ifatall)thedriverwasdepressing the accelerator and/or brake
pedal; and,
.How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE:
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle
only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs;
no data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal
data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) are recorded. However, other
parties, such as law enforcement, could
combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely ac-
quired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special
equipment is required, and access to the
vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition
to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties,
such as law enforcement, that have the
special equipment, can read the informa-
tion if they have access to the vehicle or
the EDR.
9

&Warning and indicator lights
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-14
Front passenger’s
seatbelt warning light3-14
SRS airbag system
warning light3-15
/Front passenger’s
frontal airbag ON indi-
cator3-16
/Front passenger’s
frontal airbag OFF in-
dicator3-16
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunc-
tion indicator light3-16
Coolant temperature
low indicator light/
Coolant temperature
high warning light3-17
Charge warning light 3-18
Oil pressure warning
light3-18
Engine oil level warn-
ing light3-18Mark Name Page
AT OIL TEMP warning
light (CVT models)3-19
ABS warning light 3-21
Brake system warning
light3-21
Door open warning
light3-23
AWD warning light
(CVT models)3-23
Power steering warn-
ing light3-23
Hill start assist warn-
ing light/Hill start assist
OFF indicator light3-22
Vehicle Dynamics
Control warning light/
Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation indi-
cator light3-24
Vehicle Dynamics
Control OFF indicator
light3-25
Turn signal indicator
lights3-31Mark Name Page
High beam indicator
light3-31
Automatic headlight
beam leveler warning
light (if equipped)3-31
Front fog light indicator
light3-31
Access key warning
indicator (if equipped)3-25
Security indicator light 3-30
Headlight indicator
light3-32
Cruise control indica-
tor light (if equipped)3-31
Cruise control set in-
dicator light (if
equipped)3-31
Low fuel warning light 3-22
Low tire pressure
warning light
(U.S.-spec. models)3-19
Windshield washer
fluid warning light3-19
–CONTINUED–
23

Ignition switch (models without“keyless
access with push-button start system”)......... 3-4
LOCK.................................................................. 3-4
ACC.................................................................... 3-5
ON...................................................................... 3-5
START ................................................................ 3-5
Key reminder chime............................................ 3-5
Ignition switch light (if equipped)......................... 3-6
Push-button ignition switch (models with
push-button start system)............................... 3-6
Safety precautions.............................................. 3-6
Operating range for push-button start system...... 3-6
Switching power status....................................... 3-7
When access key does not operate properly........ 3-8
Hazard warning flasher....................................... 3-8
Meters and gauges.............................................. 3-9
Combination meter illumination........................... 3-9
Canceling the function for meter/gauge needle
movement upon turning on the ignition
switch............................................................... 3-9
Speedometer...................................................... 3-10
Odometer........................................................... 3-10
Double trip meter............................................... 3-10
Tachometer........................................................ 3-11
Fuel gauge......................................................... 3-12
ECO gauge (if equipped).................................... 3-12
Warning and indicator lights............................. 3-13
Initial illumination for system check.................... 3-13
Seatbelt warning light and chime........................ 3-14
SRS airbag system warning light........................ 3-15Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF
indicators........................................................ 3-16
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction
indicator light.................................................. 3-16
Coolant temperature low indicator light/Coolant
temperature high warning light......................... 3-17
Charge warning light.......................................... 3-18
Oil pressure warning light.................................. 3-18
Engine low oil level warning light....................... 3-18
Windshield washer fluid warning light................ 3-19
AT OIL TEMP warning light (CVT models)........... 3-19
Low tire pressure warning light (U.S.-spec.
models)........................................................... 3-19
ABS warning light.............................................. 3-21
Brake system warning light (red)........................ 3-21
Low fuel warning light....................................... 3-22
Hill start assist warning light/Hill start assist OFF
indicator light.................................................. 3-22
Door open warning light.................................... 3-23
All-Wheel Drive warning light (CVT models) ........ 3-23
Power steering warning light.............................. 3-23
Vehicle Dynamics Control warning light/Vehicle
Dynamics Control operation indicator light ....... 3-24
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF indicator light..... 3-25
Warning chimes and warning indicator of the
keyless access with push-button start system (if
equipped)........................................................ 3-25
Security indicator light....................................... 3-30
Select lever/gear position indicator (CVT
models)........................................................... 3-30
Turn signal indicator lights................................. 3-31
High beam indicator light................................... 3-31
Instruments and controls
3

Before that time, the ECO gauge does
not operate.Warning and indicator lights
&Initial illumination for system
check
Several of the warning and indicator lights
illuminate when the ignition switch is
initially turned to the“ON”position. This
permits checking 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 then turn off after several
seconds 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/Mal-
function indicator light
: Coolant temperature low indicator
light/Coolant temperature high warn-
ing light
: Charge warning light
: Oil pressure warning light
: Engine low oil level warning light
(models with type A combination
meter)
: Windshield washer fluid warning light
(models with type A combination
meter)
: AT OIL TEMP warning light
(CVT models)
: Low tire pressure warning light
(U.S.- spec. models)
/: ABS warning light
/: Brake system warning light
: Low fuel warning light
: Hill start assist warning light/Hill start
assist OFF indicator light
: Door open warning light
: AWD warning light (CVT models)
Instruments and controls/Warning and indicator lights
–CONTINUED–3-13

Instruments and controls/Warning and indicator lights
!Brake fluid level warning
This light illuminates when the brake fluid
level has dropped to near the“MIN”level
of the brake fluid reservoir with the ignition
switch in the“ON”position and with the
parking brake fully released.
If the brake system warning light should
illuminate while driving (with the parking
brake fully released and with the ignition
switch positioned in“ON”), it could be an
indication of leaking of brake fluid or worn
brake pads. If this occurs, immediately
stop the vehicle at the nearest safe
location and check the brake fluid level.
If the fluid level is below the“MIN”mark in
the reservoir, do not drive the vehicle.
Have the vehicle towed to the nearest
SUBARU dealer for repair.
!Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD) system warning
The brake system warning light also
illuminates if a malfunction occurs in the
EBD system. In that event, it illuminates
together with the ABS warning light.
The EBD system may be malfunctioning if
the brake system warning light and ABS
warning light illuminate simultaneously
during driving.
Even if the EBD system fails, the conven-
tional braking system will still function.
However, the rear wheels will be moreprone to locking when the brakes are
applied harder than usual and the vehi-
cle’s motion may therefore become some-
what harder to control.
If the brake system warning light and ABS
warning light illuminate simultaneously,
take the following steps.
1. Stop the vehicle in the nearest safe,
flat location.
2. Shut down the engine, apply the
parking brake and then restart it.
3. Release the parking brake. Even if
both warning lights turn off, the EBD
system may be malfunctioning. Drive
carefully to the nearest SUBARU dealer
and have the system inspected.
4. If both warning lights illuminate again
and remain illuminated after the engine
has been restarted, shut down the engine
again, apply the parking brake, and check
the brake fluid level.
5. If the brake fluid level is not below the
“MIN”mark, the EBD system may be
malfunctioning. Drive carefully to the
nearest SUBARU dealer and have the
system inspected.
6. If the brake fluid level is below the
“MIN”mark, DO NOT drive the vehicle.
Instead, have the vehicle towed to the
nearest SUBARU dealer for repair.&Low fuel warning light
The low fuel warning light illuminates
when the tank is nearly empty, at approxi-
mately 2.6 US gal (10.0 liters, 2.2 Imp gal).
It only operates when the ignition switch is
in the“ON”position.
CAUTION
Promptly put fuel in the tank when-
ever the low fuel warning light
illuminates. Engine misfires as a
result of an empty tank could cause
damage to the engine.
NOTE
This light does not turn off unless the
tank is replenished up to an internal
fuel quantity of approximately 4.5 US
gal (17 liters, 3.7 Imp gal).
&Hill start assist warning
light/Hill start assist
OFF indicator light
!Hill start assist warning light
While the engine is running, if there are
any malfunctions in the Hill start assist
system, the warning light will illuminate.
3-22

Starting and operating/Preparing to drive
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and states using two-wheel
dynamometers in their emission testing
program have EXEMPTED SUBARU
AWD vehicles from the portion of the
testing program that involves a two-wheel
dynamometer. There are some states that
use four-wheel dynamometers in their
testing program. When properly used, this
equipment should not damage a SUBARU
AWD vehicle.
Under no circumstances should the rear
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks
and adjustments every day before you
start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and
lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition
of the tires. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
4. Check that the hood and rear gate are
fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside
and outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your
passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning
and indicator lights when the ignition
switch is turned to the“ON”position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-
ing lights after starting the engine.
10. Check that no small animals enter the
engine compartment.
CAUTION
Trapping small animals in the cool-
ing fan and belts of the engine may
result in a malfunction. Check that
no small animal enters the engine
compartment and under the vehicle
before starting the engine.
NOTE
.Engine oil, engine coolant, brake
fluid, washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops.
.When towing a trailer, refer to“Trai-
ler hitch (dealer option)”F8-15.
7-8

Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission
transmission fluid to overheat.
.Never move the vehicle rearward
by inertia with the select lever set
in a forward driving position or
move the vehicle forward by
inertia with the select lever set
in the“R”position. Doing so may
result in an unexpected accident
or malfunction.
.When parking the vehicle, first
securely apply the parking brake
and then place the select lever in
the“P”position. Do not park for
a long time with the select lever
in any other position as doing so
could result in a dead battery.
&Continuously variable trans-
mission features
The continuously variable transmission is
electronically controlled and provides an
infinite number of forward speeds and 1
reverse speed. It also has a manual mode.
NOTE
.When the engine coolant tempera-
ture is still low, the transmission will
upshift or downshift at higher engine
speeds than when the coolant tempera-
ture is sufficiently high in order to
shorten the warm-up time and improvedriveability. The gearshift timing will
automatically shift to the normal timing
after the engine has warmed up.
.Immediately after transmission fluid
is replaced, you may feel that the
transmission operation is somewhat
unusual. This results from invalidation
of data which the on-board computer
has collected and stored in memory to
allow the transmission to shift at the
most appropriate times for the current
condition of your vehicle. Optimized
shifting will be restored as the vehicle
continues to be driven for a while.
.When driving a CVT model under
continuous heavy load conditions such
as when towing a camper or climbing a
long, steep hill, the engine speed or the
vehicle speed may automatically be
reduced. This is not a malfunction. This
phenomenon results from the engine
control function maintaining the cool-
ing performance of the vehicle. The
engine and vehicle speed will return to
a normal speed when the engine is able
to maintain the optimum cooling per-
formance after the heavy load de-
creases. Driving under a heavy load
must be performed with extreme care.
Do not try to pass a vehicle in front
when driving on an uphill slope while
towing..The continuously variable transmis-
sion is a chain type system that
provides superior transmission effi-
ciency for maximum fuel economy. At
times, depending on varying driving
conditions, a chain operating sound
may be heard that is characteristic of
this type of system.
&Select lever
!Select lever positions
1) Select lever button
7-24

Starting and operating/Braking
&Power steering system fea-
tures
The vehicle is equipped with an electric
power steering system. When the ignition
switch is turned to the“ON”position, the
power steering warning light on the
combination meter illuminates to inform
the driver that the warning system is
functioning properly. Then, if the engine
started, the warning light turns off to inform
the driver that the steering power assist is
operational.
CAUTION
When the power steering warning
light is illuminated, there may be
more resistance when the steering
wheel is operated. Drive carefully to
the nearest SUBARU dealer and
have the vehicle inspected immedi-
ately.
NOTE
If the steering wheel is operated in the
following ways, the power steering
control system may temporarily limit
the power assist in order to prevent the
system components, such as the con-
trol computer and drive motor, from
overheating..The steering wheel is operated fre-
quently and turned sharply while the
vehicle is maneuvered at extremely low
speeds, such as while frequently turn-
ing the steering wheel during parallel
parking.
.The steering wheel remains in the
fully turned position for a long period
of time.
At this time, there will be more resis-
tance when steering. However this is
not a malfunction. Normal steering
force will be restored after the steering
wheel is not operated for a while and
the power steering control system has
an opportunity to cool down. However,
if the power steering is operated in a
non-standard way which causes power
assist limitation to occur too fre-
quently, this may result in a malfunc-
tion of the power steering control
system.
Braking
&Braking tips
WARNING
Never rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. This can cause
dangerous overheating of the
brakes and needless wear on the
brake pads and linings.
!When the brakes get wet
When driving in rain or after washing the
vehicle, the brakes may get wet. As a
result, brake stopping distance will be
longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle
at a safe speed while lightly depressing
the brake pedal to heat up the brakes.
!Use of engine braking
Remember to make use of engine braking
in addition to foot braking. When descend-
ing a grade, if only the foot brake is used,
the brakes may start working improperly
because of brake fluid overheating,
caused by overheated brake pads. To
help prevent this, shift into a lower gear to
get stronger engine braking.
!Braking when a tire is punctured
Do not depress the brake pedal suddenly
when a tire is punctured. This could cause
7-30