2022 Subaru Ascent Seatbelt Pretensioners Owners Manual

2022 Subaru Ascent Seatbelt Pretensioners

Seatbelt Pretensioners

The following seatbelts have a seatbelt pretensioner.

• Driver’s seatbelt
• Front passenger’s seatbelt
• Second-row seatbelts (window-side)
  The seatbelt pretensioners are designed to be activated in the event of an accident involving a moderate to severe frontal and side collision and rollover accident.

NOTE

• Seatbelt pretensioners 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 a pretensioner is activated, the driver’s, front passenger’s, and second-row (window-side) seatbelt retractor assemblies 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 pretensioner 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 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 pretensioners. Also, notify the buyer of the contents in this section.

Front seatbelt with shoulder belt and lap belt pretensioners

1. Seatbelt retractor assembly (shoulder belt pretensioner and adaptive force limiter)
2. Lap belt pretensioner

The pretensioner sensor also serves as follows.

• Front-impact sensor
• Side impact sensor
• Rollover sensor

WARNING

• To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts” P53.
• Do not modify, remove or strike the seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pretensioners or the surrounding area. This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pretensioners or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in serious injury. Seatbelt pretensioners have no user-serviceable parts. For required servicing of seatbelt retractors equipped with seatbelt pretensioners, consult your SUBARU dealer.
• When discarding seatbelt retractor assemblies equipped with seatbelt pretensioners or scrapping the entire vehicle due to collision damage or for other reasons, consult your SUBARU dealer.

When the seatbelt pretensioners are activated, an operating noise will sound 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 pretensioner remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.

Shoulder belt pretensioner 

The shoulder belt pretensioner instantaneously pulls the belt to eliminate slack if a certain level of force is detected during frontal, side or rollover accidents. As a result, the seatbelt restrains the front seat occupant more effectively.
The front shoulder belt pretensioner 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 reduce the load to suit the body size of the occupant as detected by the occupant detection sensor (front passenger’s seatbelt).

Lap belt pretensioner

The shoulder belt pretensioner is supplemented by a lap belt pretensioner, which is located at the base of the center pillar. The lap belt pretensioner instantaneously pulls 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.

Second-row (window-side) seatbelts with shoulder belt pretensioner

The pretensioner sensor also serves as follows.

• Front-impact sensor
• Side 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 pretensioner is quickly drawn back in by the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt more effectively restrains the seat occupant. The second-row seatbelt (window-side) pretensioners include a tension-reducing device that limits the peak forces exerted by the seatbelt on the occupant in the event of a collision. 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 can not be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.

System monitors

A diagnostic system continually monitors the readiness of the seatbelt pretensioner with the ignition switch in the “ON” position. The seatbelt pretensioners share the control module with the SRS airbag system. Therefore, if any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt pretensioner, the SRS airbag system warning light will illuminate. For details, refer to “SRS airbag system monitors” P111.

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 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 systems. For required servicing of the seatbelt pretensioner, consult your nearest SUBARU dealer.

CAUTION

For the locations of the sensors and control modules, refer to “Components” P91. 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 the proper operation of the seatbelt pretensioners.

• 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.