Your vehicle is equipped with a SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system that complies with the new advanced frontal airbag requirements in the amended Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208.

The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system automatically determines the deployment force of the driver’s SRS frontal airbag at the time of deployment as well as whether or not to activate the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag and, if activated, the deployment force of the SRS frontal airbag at the time of deployment.

Your vehicle has warning labels on the driver’s and front passenger’s sun visors beginning with the phrase “EVEN WITH ADVANCED AIR BAGS” and a tag attached to the glove box lid beginning with the phrase “Even with Advanced Air Bags”. Make sure that you carefully read the instructions on the warning labels and tag.

Always wear your seatbelt. The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system is a supplemental restraint system and must be used in combination with a seatbelt. All occupants should wear a seatbelt or be seated in an appropriate child restraint system.

For the locations of the SRS airbags, refer to “Components” .

In a moderate to severe frontal collision, the following components deploy.

● SRS frontal airbag for driver ● SRS frontal airbag for front passenger ● SRS knee airbag for driver ● SRS side airbag*1 ● SRS curtain airbag*1

*1: When an offset frontal collision that is severe enough to deploy the front airbag occurs.

These components supplement the seatbelts by reducing the impact to the occupant’s head, chest and knees.

Driver’s SRS frontal airbag

The driver’s SRS frontal airbag uses a dual stage inflator. The inflator operates in different ways depending on the severity of impact.

Have the system inspected by your SUBARU dealer immediately if the SRS airbag system warning light illuminates.

Front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag

The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag uses a dual stage inflator. The inflator operates in different ways depending on the severity of impact.

The occupant detection system sensor is installed under the seat upholstery and monitors the physique and posture of the front passenger. Using this information, the occupant detection system determines whether the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag should be deployed or not.

The occupant detection system may not inflate the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag even when the driver’s SRS frontal airbag deploys. This is normal. In this case, although the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag does not operate, the front passenger’s seatbelt pretensioner operates with the driver’s seatbelt pretensioner.

For details about the seatbelt pretensioner, refer to “Front seatbelt pretensioners” .

CAUTION

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may prevent the SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system from functioning correctly or cause the system to fail.

● Do not apply any strong impact to the front passenger’s seat such as by kicking.

● Do not let rear passengers rest their feet between the front seat back and seat cushion.

● Do not spill liquid on the front passenger’s seat. If liquid is spilled, wipe it off immediately.

● Do not remove or disassemble the front passenger’s seat.

● Do not install any accessory (such as an audio amplifier) other than a genuine SUBARU accessory under the front passenger’s seat.

● Do not place anything (shoes, umbrella, etc.) under the front passenger’s seat.

● Do not use the front passenger’s seat with the head restraint removed.

● Do not leave any articles on the front passenger’s seat or the seatbelt tongue and buckle engaged when you leave your vehicle.

● Do not put sharp object(s) on the seat or pierce the seat upholstery.

● Do not place a magnet near the seatbelt buckle and the seatbelt retractor.

● Do not use front seats with their backward-forward position and seatback not being locked into place securely. If any of them are not locked securely, adjust them again. For adjusting procedure, refer to “Manual seat” F1-4 (models equipped with manual seats only).

If the seatbelt buckle switch and/or front passenger’s occupant detection system have failed, the SRS airbag system warning light will illuminate. Have the system inspected by your SUBARU dealer immediately if the SRS airbag system warning light illuminates.

If your vehicle has sustained impact, this may affect the proper function of the SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system.

Have your vehicle inspected at your SUBARU dealer. Do not use the front passenger’s seat while driving the vehicle to your SUBARU dealer.

Passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators

Refer to “Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators” .

Occupant detection system

The occupant detection system sensor is installed under the seat upholstery and monitors the physique and posture of the front passenger. Using this information, the occupant detection system determines whether the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag should be deployed or not.

If the front passenger’s seat cushion is wet, this may adversely affect the ability of the system to determine deployment. If the seat cushion is wet, the front passenger should stop sitting on the front passenger’s seat. Wipe off liquid from the seat immediately, let the seat dry naturally and then check that the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators work properly.

If the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators do not work properly even when the front passenger’s seat is dry, do not allow anyone to sit on the front passenger’s seat and have the occupant detection system checked by your SUBARU dealer.

Also, if luggage or electronic devices are placed on the front passenger’s seat, this may adversely affect the ability of the system to determine deployment. This may prevent the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators from working properly. Check that the indicators work properly.

When the OFF indicator turns off and the ON indicator illuminates, the front passenger’s frontal airbag may deploy during a collision. Remove luggage and electronic devices from the front passenger’s seat.

Conditions in which front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is not activated

The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag will not be activated when any of the following conditions are met regarding the front passenger’s seat:

● The seat is empty.

● The seat is equipped with an appropriate child restraint system and an infant is restrained in it. (See WARNING that follows.)
● The front passenger’s occupant detection system is malfunctioning.

WARNING

NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SEAT EVEN IF THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SRS FRONTAL AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. Be sure to install it in the REAR seat in a correct manner. Also, it is strongly recommended that any forward facing child seat or booster seat be installed in the REAR seat, and that even children who have outgrown a child restraint system be also seated in the REAR seat. This is because children sitting in the front passenger’s seat may be killed or severely injured should the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag deploy.

REAR seats are the safest place for children.

CAUTION

When the front passenger’s seat is occupied by an infant in an appropriate child restraint system, observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may interfere with the proper operation of the occupant detection system, activating the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag even though that seat is occupied by the infant in the child restraint system.

. Do not place any article (including electronic devices) on the seat other than the infant in the child restraint system.

. Do not place more than one infant in the child restraint system.

If the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON indicator illuminates and the OFF indicator turns off even when an infant or a small child is in a child restraint system (including booster seat)

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”/ “OFF” position.

2. Remove the child restraint system from the seat.

3. By referring to the child restraint manufacturer’s recommendations as well as the child restraint system installation procedures in “Child restraint systems” , correctly install the child restraint system.

4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position and make sure that the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON indicator turns off and the OFF indicator illuminates.

If still the ON indicator remains illuminated while the OFF indicator turns off, take the following actions.

● Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other than the child restraint system and the child occupant.

● Ensure that the backward-forward position and seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into place securely by moving the seat back and forth.

If the ON indicator still remains illuminated while the OFF indicator turns off after taking relevant corrective actions described above, relocate the child restraint system to the rear seat and immediately contact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection.

NOTE

When a child who has outgrown a child restraint system or a small adult is seated in the front passenger’s seat, the SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system may or may not activate the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag depending on the occupant’s seating posture. Children should always wear a seatbelt when sitting in the seat irrespective of whether the airbag is deactivated or activated. If the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is activated (the ON indicator remains illuminated while the OFF indicator turns off), take the following actions.

● Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other than the occupant.

If the ON indicator still remains illuminated while the OFF indicator turns off despite the fact that the actions noted above have been taken, seat the child/ small adult in the rear seat and immediately contact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection. Even if the system has passed the dealer inspection, it is recommended that on subsequent trips the child/small adult always take the rear seat.

Children who have outgrown a child restraint system should always wear the seatbelt irrespective of whether the airbag is deactivated or activated.

Conditions in which front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is activated

The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag will be activated for deployment upon impact when any of the following conditions are met regarding the front passenger’s seat.

● When the seat is occupied by an adult.

● When certain items (e.g. jug of water) are placed on the seat.

If the passenger’s frontal airbag OFF indicator illuminates and the ON indicator turns off even when the front passenger’s seat is occupied by an adult

This can be caused by the adult incorrectly sitting in the front passenger’s seat.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”/ “OFF” position.

2. Ask the front passenger to set the seatback to the upright position, sit up straight in the center of the seat cushion, correctly fasten the seatbelt, position his/ her legs out forward, and adjust the seat to the rearmost position.

3. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position.

If the OFF indicator remains illuminated while the ON indicator remains off, take the following actions.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”/ “OFF” position.

2. Make sure that the front passenger does not use a blanket, seat cushion, seat cover, seat heater or massager, etc.

3. If wearing excessive layers of clothing, the front passenger should remove any unnecessary items before sitting in the front passenger’s seat, or should sit in a rear seat.

4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position and wait 6 seconds to allow the system to complete self-checking. Following the system check, both indicators turn off for 2 seconds. Now, the ON indicator should illuminate while the OFF indicator remains off.

If the OFF indicator still remains illuminated while the ON indicator remains off, ask the occupant to move to the rear seat and immediately contact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection.

How to contact the vehicle manufacturer concerning modifications for persons with disabilities that may affect the advanced airbag system (U.S. only)

Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, rear seat, seatbelts, front bumper, front side frame, radiator panel, instrument panel, combination meter, steering wheel, steering column, tire, suspension or floor panel can affect the operation of the SUBARU advanced airbag system. If you have any questions, you may contact the following SUBARU distributors.

<Continental U.S., Alaska and the District of Columbia>
Subaru of America, Inc.

Customer Dealer Services Department P.O. Box 6000
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)

<Hawaii>
Servco Subaru Inc., dba Subaru Hawaii 2850 Pukoloa Street, Suite 202, Honolulu, HI 96819
808-839-2273

<Guam>
Shen’s Corporation dba Prestige Automobile 491, East Marine Drive, Route 1 Dededo, Guam
671-633-2698

<Puerto Rico> Trebol Motors
P.O. Box 11204, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910
787-793-2828

There are currently no SUBARU distributors in any other U.S. territories. If you are in such an area, please contact the SUBARU distributor or dealer from which you bought your vehicle.

Operation

A) Driver’s side
B) Passenger’s side
1) SRS AIRBAGs deploy as soon as a collision occurs.

2) After deployment, SRS AIRBAGs start to deflate immediately so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed.

The SRS airbags can function only when the ignition switch is in the “ON” position.

The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system is designed to determine the activation or deactivation condition of the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag depending on the characteristic of item (s) or person on the front passenger’s seat monitored by the front passenger’s occupant detection system sensor. For this reason, only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag may deploy in the event of a collision, but this does not mean failure of the system.

If the front impact sensors and the impact sensors in the airbag control module detect a predetermined amount of force during a frontal collision, the control module sends signals to the airbag module(s) (only driver’s module or both driver’s and front passenger’s modules) instructing the module(s) to inflate the SRS frontal airbag(s). On driver’s side, the SRS knee airbag also inflates with the SRS frontal airbag.

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags use dual stage inflators.

The two inflators of each airbag are triggered either sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the severity of impact, in the case of the driver’s SRS frontal airbag and depending on the severity of impact and the characteristic of item(s) or person on the seat in the case of the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag.

After deployment, the SRS airbag immediately starts to deflate so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed and the driver’s ability to maintain control of the vehicle is not impaired. The time required from detecting impact to the deflation of the SRS airbag after deployment is shorter than the blink of an eye.

Both when only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag deploys and the driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags deploy, the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt pretensioners operate at the same time.

When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud inflation noise will be heard and some smoke will be released. These occurrences are a normal result of the deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

CAUTION

Do not touch the SRS airbag system components around the steering wheel and dashboard with bare hands right after deployment. Doing so can cause burns because the components can be very hot as a result of deployment.

The driver’s SRS frontal airbag and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag are designed to deploy in the event of an accident involving a moderate to severe frontal collision. They are not designed to deploy in most lesser frontal impacts because the necessary protection can be achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, they are not designed to deploy in most side or rear impacts or in most roll-over accidents because deployment of only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags would not help the occupant in those situations. The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags are designed to function on a one-time-only basis.

SRS airbag deployment depends on the level of force experienced in the passenger compartment during a collision. That level differs from one type of collision to another, and it may have no bearing on the visible damage done to the vehicle itself.

Example of accident in which the driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will most likely deploy

A head-on collision against a thick concrete wall at a vehicle speed of 12 to 19 mph (20 to 30 km/h) or higher activates only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags. The airbag(s) will also be activated when the vehicle is exposed to a frontal impact similar in fashion and magnitude to the collision described above.

Examples of the types of accidents in which it is possible that the driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will deploy

Only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags may be activated when the vehicle sustains a hard impact in the undercarriage area from the road surface (such as when the vehicle plunges into a deep ditch, is severely impacted or knocked hard against an obstacle on the road such as a curb).

Examples of the types of accidents in which deployment of the driver’s/ driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) is unlikely to occur

1) The vehicle strikes an object, such as a telephone pole or sign pole.

2) The vehicle slides under the load bed of a truck.

3) The vehicle sustains an oblique offset frontal impact.

4) The vehicle sustains an offset frontal collision.

5) The vehicle strikes an object that can move or deform, such as a parked vehicle.

There are many types of collisions which might not necessarily require deployment of driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s). In the event of accidents like those illustrated, the driver’s/ driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) may not deploy depending on the level of accident forces involved.

Examples of the types of accidents in which the driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) are not designed to deploy in most cases

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags are designed not to deploy in most cases if the vehicle is struck from the side or from behind, or if it rolls onto its side or roof, or if it is involved in a lowspeed frontal collision.

In an accident where the vehicle is impacted more than once, the driver’s and/or front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will deploy only once on the first impact.

Example: In the case of a double collision, first with another vehicle, then against a concrete wall in immediate succession, once either or both of the driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags is/are activated on the first impact, it/they will not be activated on the second impact.