Subaru Forester (2023 year). Manual in english

(61,1)

System servicing

WARNING

When discarding a seatbelt re-

tractor assembly or scrapping
the entire vehicle damaged by a
collision, consult your SUBARU
dealer.

Tampering with or disconnecting

the system’s wiring could result
in accidental activation of the
seatbelt pretensioner and/or
SRS airbag or could make the
system inoperative, which may
result in serious injury. Do not
use electrical test equipment on
any circuit related to the seatbelt
pretensioner and SRS airbag sys-
tems. For required servicing of
the seatbelt pretensioner, con-
sult your nearest SUBARU deal-
er.

CAUTION

For the locations of the sensors and
control modules, refer to “Compo-
nents”

�

P83.

If you need service or repair in those
areas or near the front seatbelt

retractors, have the work performed
by your authorized SUBARU dealer.

NOTE

If the front or side part of the vehicle is
damaged in an accident to the extent
that the seatbelt pretensioner does not
operate, contact your SUBARU dealer
as soon as possible.

Precautions against vehicle
modification

Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you
want to install any accessory parts to your
vehicle.

CAUTION

Do not perform any of the following
modifications. Such modifications
can interfere with proper operation
of the seatbelt pretensioners.

Attachment of any equipment

(bush bar, winches, snow plow,
skid plate, etc.) other than genu-
ine SUBARU accessory parts to
the front end.

Modification of the suspension

system or front end structure.

Installation of a tire of different

size and construction from the
tires specified on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s
door pillar or specified for indivi-
dual vehicle models in this Own-
er’s Manual.

Seatbelt pretensioners

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(62,1)

1-7. Rear Seat Reminder

This function prompts the driver to confirm
the presence of passengers and cargo in
the rear.
This function will be activated when the
rear doors are opened and closed.
It alerts the driver by warning messages on
the combination meter display (color LCD)
and beeps when the ignition switch is
turned from the “ON” position to the “OFF”
position.

NOTE

This function does not directly de-
tect passengers and cargo in the
rear seat.

This function detects the opening
and closing of the rear doors. In this

situation, there is the possibility that
the following phenomenon may oc-
cur.

– It may alert the driver even if there

are no passengers or cargo in the
rear seat.

– It may not alert the driver even if

there are passengers and cargo
in the rear seat.

This function can be turned ON/OFF
using the meter customizing func-
tion. Refer to “Function settings and
adjustments on the combination
meter display (color LCD)”

�

P24.

The ON/OFF setting will not be
changed even if the ignition switch
is turned to the “OFF” position.

The ON/OFF setting will be returned
to the default setting if the battery is
removed.

1-8. Child restraint systems

Safety precautions

Infants and small children should always
be placed in an infant or child restraint
system in the rear seat while riding in the
vehicle.

You should use an infant or child restraint
system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standards, is compatible with
your vehicle and is appropriate for the
child’s age and size.

All child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or
the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt
(except those described in “Installation of
child restraint systems by use of lower and

Rear Seat Reminder

(63,1)

tether anchorages (LATCH)”

�

P71).

Children could be endangered in an
accident if their child restraint systems
are not properly secured in the vehicle.
When installing the child restraint system,
carefully follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.

According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front
seating positions.

All U.S. states and Canadian provinces
require that infants and small children be
restrained in an approved child restraint
system at all times while the vehicle is
moving.

Lock release knob

Unlocked

Locked

Unlocking marker in red

WARNING

Before installing a child restraint

system, be sure to confirm that
the seatback is securely locked
into place. Otherwise, in an acci-
dent, serious injury or death
could result.

Do not leave children in the car

unattended. High interior tem-
peratures may cause heat stroke
and dehydration that result in
serious injury or death.

WARNING

Never let a passenger hold a child on
his or her lap or in his or her arms
while the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the child
(or infant) from injury in a collision,
because the child will be caught
between the passenger and objects
inside the vehicle.

Additionally, holding a child in your
lap or arms in the front seat exposes
that child to another serious danger.
Since the SRS airbag deploys with
considerable speed and force, the
child could be injured or even killed.

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(64,1)

WARNING

Children should be properly re-
strained at all times. Never allow a
child to stand up, or to kneel on any
seat. Unrestrained children will be
thrown forward during sudden stop
or in an accident and can be injured
seriously.

Additionally, children standing up or
kneeling on or in front of the front
seat are exposed another serious
danger. Since the SRS airbag de-
ploys with considerable speed and
force, the child could be injured or
even killed.

Safety tips for installing child
restraint systems

WARNING

Child restraint systems and seat-

belts can become hot in a vehicle
that has been closed up in sunny
weather; they could burn a small
child. Check the child restraint
system before you place a child
in it.

Do not use a seatbelt extender. If

a seatbelt extender is used when
installing a child restraint sys-
tem, the seatbelt will not securely
hold the child restraint system.
Use of a seatbelt extender could
cause death or serious injury to
children or other passengers in
sudden braking, swerving, or
accidents.

Attach the child restraint system

to the anchors properly. When
using the LATCH anchors, be
sure that there are no foreign
objects around the anchors.
Make sure the child restraint
system is securely attached.
Otherwise it may cause death or
serious injury to children or other
passengers in sudden braking,

swerving, or accidents.

Do not leave an unsecured child

restraint system in your vehicle.
Unsecured child restraint sys-
tems can be thrown around in-
side of the vehicle in a sudden
stop, turn or accident; they can
strike and injure vehicle occu-
pants as well as result in serious
injuries or death to the child.

CAUTION

When you install a child restraint
system, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions supplied with it. After
installing the child restraint system,
check to ensure that it is held
securely in position. If it is not held
tight and secure, the danger of your
child suffering personal injury in the
event of an accident may be in-
creased.

Child restraint systems

(65,1)

Where to place a child re-
straint system

The following descriptions are SUBARU’s
recommendations on where to place a
child restraint system in your vehicle.

WARNING

Several types of child restraint

systems may conceal the buckle
of the neighboring seat. If the
occupant of the neighboring seat
cannot correctly fasten the seat-
belt, that person must move to a
different seat. If the seatbelt can-
not be correctly fastened, there is
the risk of serious injury or death
in the event of sudden braking or
a collision.

If the child restraint system can-

not be correctly installed be-
cause it contacts the driver’s
seat, move the child restraint
system to a different seat. If it
cannot be installed in a different
seat (other than the driver’s seat),
adjust the front seat so that
contact does not occur.

A: Front passenger’s seat

You should not install a child restraint
system (including a booster seat) due to
the hazard to children posed by the
passenger’s airbag.

B: Rear seat, window-side seating
positions

Recommended positions for all types of
child restraint systems.
In these positions, the following equipment
is provided for installing a child restraint
system.

Automatic Locking Retractor/Emer-
gency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR)
seatbelts

Lower anchorages (bars)

Upper anchorages (tether anchorages)

C: Rear seat, center seating position

In this position, the following equipment is
provided for installing a child restraint
system.

ALR/ELR seatbelts

Lower anchorages (bars)

Top tether anchorages

Some types of child restraint systems
might not be able to be secured firmly
due to projection of the seat cushion.
In this seating position, you should use
only a child restraint system that has a
bottom base that fits snugly against the
contours of the seat cushion and can be
securely retained using the seatbelt.
The rear center seat includes lower an-
chorages, and the lower anchorages on
the center side of the rear right seat can be
used to install a child restraint system.
When a child restraint system is installed in
the rear center seat using the lower
anchorages, do not sit in the rear right

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(66,1)

seat.
If a child restraint system is not correctly
fixed in place (for example, if a child
restraint system can be moved more than
1 inch (2.5 cm) from side to side), the child
restraint system should be moved to a
window seat position of the rear seat.

WARNING

Even with advanced airbags, chil-

dren can be seriously injured by
the airbag. Seat children in the
rear seat properly restrained at
all times. The SRS airbag deploys
with considerable speed and
force and can injure or even kill
children, especially if they are not
restrained or improperly re-
strained. Because children are
lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk of being injured from
deployment is greater.

For that reason, be sure to secure
ALL types of child restraint sys-
tems (including forward facing
child restraint systems) in the
REAR seats at all times. You
should choose a restraint system
which is appropriate for the
child’s age, height and weight.
According to accident statistics,

children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating
positions.

Do not use lower anchorages

(bars) for a seat in the center
seating position unless a child
restraint system manufacturer’s
instructions permit and specify
using anchors spaced as far
apart as those in this vehicle.

Do not connect two or more lower

hooks onto the same anchorage
(bar).

WARNING

S I N C E Y O U R V E H I C L E I S

EQUIPPED WITH A PASSEN-
GER’S SRS AIRBAG, NEVER IN-
STALL A CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEM IN THE FRONT PAS-
SENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLA-
CING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO
CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.

Do not allow children to lean their

heads or any other parts of their
bodies against the door or the
area of the seat, front and rear
pillars or roof side rails. The SRS
side airbags and SRS curtain
airbags deploy even if children
are seated in the child restraint
system, and the impact could
cause death or serious injury to
the child.

To secure the child restraint sys-

tem, be sure to comply with all
installation instructions provided
by the child restraint system
manufacturer. Not doing so could
result in death or serious injury to
children in a sudden stop or
accident.

Child restraint systems

(67,1)

Choosing a child restraint
system

Choose a child restraint system that is
appropriate for the child’s age and size
(weight and height) in order to provide the
child with proper protection. The child
restraint system should meet all applicable
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards for the United States or
of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
for Canada. It can be identified by looking
for the label on the child restraint system or
the manufacturer’s statement of compli-
ance in the document attached to the
system.

Also it is important for you to make sure
that the child restraint system is compa-
tible with the vehicle in which it will be
used.

NOTE

Some sizes of child restraint systems
may not fit the vehicle seat. Before
purchasing a child restraint system,
check whether it fits on the vehicle seat.

Installing child restraint sys-
tems with ALR/ELR seatbelt

CAUTION

When you install a child restraint

system, follow the manufac-
turer’s instructions supplied with
it. After installing the child re-
straint system, check to ensure
that it is held securely in position.
If it is not held tight and secure,
the danger of your child suffering
personal injury in the event of an
accident may be increased.

When installing a child restraint

system in the rear center seating
position, set both seatbacks to
the original position. Otherwise,
the child restraint system cannot
be securely restrained, which

may result in death or serious
injuries in the event of sudden
stop, sudden steering maneuver
or an accident.

Installing a rearward facing child
restraint system

WARNING

NEVER INSTALL A CHILD RE-

STRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLA-
CING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO
CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.

Before installing a child restraint

system, be sure to confirm that
the seatback is securely locked
into place. Otherwise, in an acci-
dent, serious injury or death
could result.

1. Place the child restraint system in the

rear seating position.

WARNING

When you intend to install a child
restraint system in the rear center
seating position, if the child restraint

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(68,1)

system does not fit snugly against
the contours of the rear center seat
cushion, install the child restraint
system in the window-side seating
position to be safe. For details, refer
to “Where to place a child restraint
system”

�

P63.

2. Run the lap and shoulder belt through

or around the child restraint system
following the instructions provided by
its manufacturer.

3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle

until you hear a click.

4. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
5. If using the seatbelt in the ALR mode is

recommended by the manufacturer’s
instructions supplied with the child
restraint system, perform the following
procedure.
(1) Pull out the seatbelt fully from the

retractor to change the retractor
over from the Emergency Locking
Retractor (ELR) to the Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.

(2) Allow the belt to rewind into the

retractor. As the belt is rewinding,
clicks will be heard which indicate
the retractor functions as ALR.

6. Before having a child sit in the child

restraint system, try to move it back
and forth and right and left to check if it
is firmly secured. Sometimes a child
restraint system can be more firmly
secured by pushing it down into the
seat cushion and then tightening the
seatbelt. It should not be possible to
move the child restraint system more
than 1 in (2.5 cm) in any direction along
the seatbelt path.

7. If the seatbelt has been set to the ALR

mode in step 5, pull at the shoulder
portion of the belt to confirm that it
cannot be pulled out (ALR properly
functioning).

Child restraint systems

(69,1)

8. To remove the child restraint system,

press the release button on the seat-
belt buckle and allow the belt to retract
completely. The belt will return to the
ELR mode.

NOTE

When the child restraint system is no
longer in use, remove it and restore the
ELR function of the retractor. That
function is restored by allowing the
seatbelt to retract fully.

Installing a forward facing child
restraint system

WARNING

NEVER INSTALL A CHILD RE-

STRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLA-
CING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO
CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.

Before installing a child restraint

system, be sure to confirm that
the seatback is securely locked
into place. Otherwise, in an acci-
dent, serious injury or death
could result.

1. Place the child restraint system in the

rear seating position.

2. For models with rear seat reclining

mechanism, if there is a gap between
the child restraint system and the
seatback, adjust the seatback angle
until good contact is achieved.

3. Remove the head restraint of the rear

seating position where the child re-
straint system is to be installed. For
details, refer to “Head restraints”

�

P43.

CAUTION

Store the head restraint in the cargo
area. Do not place the head restraint
in the passenger compartment to
prevent it from being thrown around
in the passenger compartment in a
sudden stop or a sharp turn.

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(70,1)

WARNING

When you intend to install a child
restraint system on the rear center
seating position, if the child restraint
system does not fit snugly against
the contours of the rear center seat
cushion, install the child restraint
system on the window-side seating
position to be safe. For details, refer
to “Where to place a child restraint
system”

�

P63.

4. Run the lap and shoulder belt through

or around the child restraint system
following the instructions provided by
its manufacturer.
– When a child restraint system is

installed on the rear center seating

position, pass the rear center seat-
belt through the belt guide properly.
For details, refer to “Rear center
seatbelt”

�

P53.

5. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle

until you hear a click.

6. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
7. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the

retractor to change the retractor over
from the Emergency Locking Retractor
(ELR) to the Automatic Locking Re-
tractor (ALR) function. Then, allow the
belt to rewind into the retractor. As the
belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard
which indicate the retractor functions
as ALR.

8. Before having a child sit in the child

9. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt

to confirm that it cannot be pulled out
(ALR properly functioning).

Child restraint systems

(71,1)

10. Latch the top tether hook onto the

tether anchorage that is located behind
the rear seat and tighten the top tether
firmly. For additional instructions, refer
to “Top tether anchorages”

�

P75.

11. To remove the child restraint system,

press the release button on the seat-
belt buckle and allow the belt to retract
completely. The belt will return to the
ELR mode.

Remember that the head restraint is not
intended to be used at the lowest position
(retracted position). Therefore, when the
rear center seat is occupied (including
when a child restraint system is installed)
next time, be sure to raise the head
restraint to the extended position.

NOTE

When the child restraint system is no
longer in use, remove it and restore the
ELR function of the retractor. That
function is restored by allowing the
seatbelt to retract fully.

Installing a booster seat or
booster cushion

Booster seat

Booster cushion

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(72,1)

1. Adjust the head restraint as follows.

For booster seat:

(1) Remove the head restraint from

the rear seating position where the
child restraint system is to be
installed.

(2) Store the removed head restraint

in the cargo area.

CAUTION

Do not place the head restraint in the
passenger compartment to prevent
it from being thrown around in the
passenger compartment in a sud-
den stop or a sharp turn.

For booster cushion:

(1) Raise the head restraint to the

extended position (center seat).
Do not remove the head restraint.

2. Place the booster seat/cushion in the

rear seating position and sit the child
on it. The child should sit well back on
the booster seat/cushion.

3. For models with rear seat reclining

mechanism, if there is a gap between
the booster seat/cushion and the seat-
back, adjust the seatback angle until
good contact is achieved.

4. Run the lap and shoulder belt through

or around the booster seat/cushion
and the child following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer. For
booster seat/cushion with a belt guide,
use the seatbelt through the belt guide.

5. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle

until you hear a click. Take care not to
twist the seatbelt.
Make sure the shoulder belt is posi-
tioned across the center of child’s
shoulder and that the lap belt is
positioned as low as possible on the
child’s hips.

Child restraint systems

(73,1)

6. To remove the booster seat/cushion,

press the release button on the seat-
belt buckle and allow the belt to retract.

WARNING

Never use a belt that is twisted or

reversed. In an accident, this can
increase the risk or severity of
injury to the child.

Never place the shoulder belt

under the child’s arm or behind
the child’s back. If an accident
occurs, this can increase the risk
or severity of injury to the child.

The seatbelt should fit snugly in

order to provide full restraint.
Loose fitting belts are not as

effective in preventing or redu-
cing injury.

Place the lap belt as low as

possible on the child’s hips. A
high-positioned lap belt will in-
crease the risk of sliding under
the lap belt and of the lap belt
sliding up over the abdomen, and
both can result in serious injury
or death.

Make sure the shoulder belt is

positioned across the center of
child’s shoulder. Placing the
shoulder belt over the neck may
result in neck injury during sud-
den braking or in a collision.

Installation of child restraint
systems by use of lower and
tether anchorages (LATCH)

Lower and tether anchorages

WARNING

Attach the child restraint system

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(74,1)

When installing a child restraint

system using LATCH anchors
with the rear seatbelt fastened,
ensure that the rear seatbelt does
not become caught in the child
restraint system or the lower
LATCH anchorages.

NOTE

The seatbelt warning system of the rear
seats detects if any of the seats are
occupied by a passenger. Installing a
child restraint system in the rear seat-
ing area, using the LATCH anchors,
may result in the activation of the
passenger seatbelt warning light and
chime. Fastening the rear seatbelt prior
to installing the child restraint system
will avoid activating the passenger
seatbelt warning light and chime.
For details, refer to “Rear passenger’s
seats”

�

P168.

Some types of child restraint systems can
be installed on the rear seat of your vehicle
without use of the seatbelts. Such child
restraint systems are secured to the
dedicated anchorages provided on the
vehicle body. The lower and tether an-
chorages are sometimes referred to as the
LATCH system (

ower

nchors and

ethers for

ildren).

Your vehicle is equipped with five lower
anchorages (bars) and three upper an-
chorages (tether anchorages) for accom-
modating such child restraint systems.

Lower anchorages

WARNING

Do not connect two or more lower
hooks onto the same anchorage
(bar).

There are a total of 5 lower anchorages at
the rear seat. The second lower ancho-
rage from the right side is used for both the
right seat and center seat. Each lower
anchorage is located where the seat
cushion meets the seatback.

Child restraint systems

(75,1)

Tether anchorages

The tether anchorages (upper an-
chorages) are provided at the locations
shown in the above illustration. For details,
refer to “Top tether anchorages”

�

P75.

To install a child restraint system
using lower and tether an-
chorages

WARNING

Before installing a child restraint
system, be sure to confirm that the
seatback is securely locked into
place. Otherwise, in an accident,
serious injury or death could result.

1. Move the seatback back and forth to

confirm that it is securely locked into
place.
– Check the red colored unlocking

marker which is attached to the
bottom of the lock release knob is
not visible. For details, refer to
“Folding down the rear seatback”

�

P40.

2. You will find “

” marks at the bottoms

of the rear seatback. These marks
indicate the positions of the lower
anchorages (bars).

3. Peel off the anchorage cover from the

selected side of the rear seatback.
Fold the peeled anchorage cover in
half and affix it with hook and loop tape
to expose the anchorages (bars) to be
used for installation of the child re-
straint system.

– CONTINUED –

Child restraint systems

Seat,

seatbelt

and

SRS

airbags

(76,1)

4. Remove the rear seat head restraint.

For details, refer to “Head restraints”

�

P43.

CAUTION

5. While following the instructions sup-

plied by the child restraint system
manufacturer, connect the lower hooks
onto the lower anchorages located at
“ ” marks on the bottom of the rear
seatback. When the hooks are con-
nected, make sure the adjacent seat-
belts are not caught.

6. For models with rear seat reclining

mechanism, if there is a gap between
the child restraint system and the
seatback, adjust the seatback angle
until good contact is achieved.

7. If your child restraint system is a

flexible attachment type (which uses
tether belts), push the child restraint
system into the seat cushion and pull
both left and right lower tether belts up
to secure the child restraint system by
taking up the slack in the belt.

8. Latch the top tether hook onto the

tether anchorage that is located behind
the rear seat and tighten the top tether
firmly. For additional instructions, refer
to “Top tether anchorages”

�

P75.

Child restraint systems

Subaru Forester (2023 year). Manual in english - page 4