2022 Subaru Outback Seatbelt Pretensioners
Seatbelt Pretensioners
The following seatbelts have a seatbelt pre-tensioner.
- Driver’s seatbelt
- Front passenger’s seatbelt
- Rear passenger’s seatbelt (window side)
The seatbelt pre-tensioners are designed to be activated in the event of an accident involving a moderate to severe frontal and side collision and rollover accident.
WARNING
- To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts” FP46.
- Do not modify, remove or strike the seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners or surrounding area. This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pre-tensioner or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in serious injury. Seatbelt pre-tensioners have no user-serviceable parts. For required servicing of seatbelt retractors equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners, consult your SUBARU dealer.
- When discarding seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners or scrapping the entire vehicle due to collision damage or for other reasons, consult your SUBARU dealer.
NOTE
- Seatbelt pre-tensioners are not designed to activate in minor impacts or in rear impacts.
- Pretensioners are designed to function on a one-time-only basis. In the event that pretension is activated, the seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners should be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assemblies, use only genuine SUBARU parts.
- If a seatbelt that has a seatbelt pre-tensioner does not retract or cannot be pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the pre-tensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
- If the 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 inform the buyer that the vehicle is equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners. Also, notify the buyer of the contents in this section.
Seatbelt with Shoulder Belt Pretensioner
NOTE
This section is applicable to the following components.
- Front passenger’s seatbelt
- Rear passenger’s seatbelt (window side)
The pre-tensioner sensor also serves as follows. - Front-impact sensor
- Side impact sensor
- Front door impact sensor
- Rollover sensor
If the sensor detects a certain predetermined amount of force during frontal or side collisions or rollover accidents, any seatbelt that has a seatbelt pre-tensioner is quickly drawn back in by the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt more effectively restrains the seat occupant.
The rear passenger’s seatbelt (window side) pre-tensioner includes a tension-reducing device that limits the peak forces exerted by the seatbelt on the occupant in the event of a collision.
The front passenger’s seatbelt pre-tensioner includes a tension-reducing device that limits the peak forces exerted by the seatbelt on the occupant in the event of a collision. The adaptive force limiter will select a reducing load to suit the body size of the occupant as detected by the occupant detection system sensors. When a seatbelt pre-tensioner 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 pre-tensioner has been activated, the seatbelt retractor remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt can not be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.
Seatbelt with Shoulder Belt and Lap Belt Pretensioners
NOTE
This section is applicable to the following components.
- Driver’s seatbelt
- Seatbelt retractor assembly (shoulder belt pre-tensioner and adaptive force limiter)
- Lap belt pretensioner
The shoulder belt pre-tensioner is supplemented by a lap belt pre-tensioner, which is located at the base of the center pillar. Like the shoulder belt pre-tensioner, the lap belt pre-tensioner instantaneously pulls in the belt to eliminate slack if a certain level of frontal collision force is detected. As a result, the seatbelt restrains the front seat occupant more effectively.
The driver’s seatbelt pre-tensioner includes a tension-reducing device that limits the peak forces exerted by the seatbelt on the occupant in the event of a collision. The adaptive force limiter will select a reducing load to suit the body size of the occupant as detected by the occupant detection sensor.
When a seatbelt pre-tensioner 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 pre-tensioner has been activated, the seatbelt pre-tensioner remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.
System Monitors
A diagnostic system continually monitors the readiness of the seatbelt pre-tensioner with the ignition switch in the “ON” position. The seatbelt pre-tensioners share the control module with the SRS airbag system. Therefore, if any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt pre-tensioners, the SRS airbag system warning light will illuminate. For details, refer to “SRS Airbag System Monitors” FP108.
System Servicing
WARNING
- When discarding a seatbelt retractor 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 pre-tensioners 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 pre-tensioner and SRS airbag systems. For required servicing of the seatbelt pre-tensioner, consult your nearest SUBARU dealer.
CAUTION
For the locations of the sensors and control modules, refer to “Components” FP85. 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 pre-tensioner 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 the proper operation of the seatbelt pre-tensioners
- Attachment of any equipment (bush bar, winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) other than genuine SUBARU accessory parts to the front end.
- Modification of the suspension system or front-end structure.
- Installation of a tire of different sizes and construction from the tires specified on the vehicle placard attached to the driver’s door pillar or specified for individual vehicle models in this Owner’s Manual.