NOTE

This section is applicable to the driver’s side seatbelt.

The pretensioner sensor also serves as follows.

● SRS frontal airbag sensor ● Side impact sensor ● Rollover sensor

If the sensor detects a certain predetermined amount of force during frontal or side collisions or rollover accidents, the front seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt more effectively restrains the driver.

When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an operating noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke will be released.

These occurrences are normal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

Once the seatbelt pretensioner has been activated, the seatbelt retractor remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.

NOTE

● Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to activate in minor impacts.

● In cases of rollover accidents, as the curtain airbags deploy, the driver’s side seatbelt pretensioner and front passenger’s side shoulder belt pretensioner are activated simultaneously.

● In cases of frontal collisions, the following components will operate simultaneously.

– Seatbelt pretensioner for driver – Seatbelt pretensioner for front passenger (shoulder belt pretensioner only)
– SRS frontal airbag for driver – SRS frontal airbag for front passenger* – SRS side airbags (both sides) (if an offset frontal collision occurs) – SRS curtain airbags (both sides) (if an offset frontal collision occurs) *: This does not operate if the occupant detection system deactivates airbag operation.

● In cases of side collisions, the following components will operate simultaneously.

– SRS curtain airbag (impacted side)
– SRS side airbag (impacted side) (when both the satellite safing sensor and any of the center pillar impact sensors/front door impact sensors sense an impact force) – Seatbelt pretensioner for driver (when both the satellite safing sensor and the driver’s side front door impact sensor sense an impact force)
– Seatbelt pretensioner for front passenger (shoulder belt pretensioner only) (when both the satellite safing sensor and the front passenger’s side front door impact sensor sense an impact force)

● Pretensioners are designed to function on a one-time-only basis. In the event that a pretensioner is activated, both the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt retractor assemblies should be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assemblies, use only genuine SUBARU parts.

● If either front seatbelt does not retract or cannot be pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

● If the front seatbelt retractor assembly or surrounding area has been damaged, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

● When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to explain to the buyer that it has seatbelt pretensioners by alerting the buyer to the contents of this section.

WARNING

● To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts” .

● Do not modify, remove or strike the front seatbelt retractor assemblies or surrounding area.

● When discarding front seatbelt retractor assemblies or scrapping the entire vehicle due to collision damage or for other reasons, consult your SUBARU dealer.