All persons in the vehicle should fasten their seatbelts BEFORE the vehicle starts to move. Otherwise, the possibility of serious injury becomes greater in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
All belts should fit snugly in order to provide full restraint. Loose-fitting belts are not as effective in preventing or reducing injury.
Each seatbelt is designed to support only one person. Never use a single belt for two or more persons – even children. Otherwise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result.
Replace all seatbelt assemblies including retractors and attach hardware worn by occupants of a vehicle that has been in a serious accident. The entire assembly should be replaced even if the damage is not obvious.
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 restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. For that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (including those in child restraint systems) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a child restraint system or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for the child’s height and weight. Secure ALL types of child restraint systems in the REAR seats at all times.
NEVER INSTALL A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. For instructions and precautions concerning the child restraint system, refer to “Child Restraint Systems” FP58.

This vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which will record the use of the seatbelt by the front passenger when any of the SRS frontal, side and curtain airbags deploy.

Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suitable for this vehicle. Refer to “Child Restraint Systems” FP58.
Children
If a child is too big for a child restraint system, the child should sit in the rear seat and be restrained using the seatbelts. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. Never allow a child to stand up or kneel on the seat. If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses the face or neck, move the child closer to the belt buckle to help provide a good shoulder belt fit. Care must be taken to securely place the lap belt as low as possible on the hips and not on the child’s waist. If the shoulder portion of the belt can not be properly positioned, a child restraint system should be used. Never place the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the child’s back.
Expectant mothers

Expectant mothers also need to use seatbelts. They should consult their doctor for specific recommendations. The lap belt should be worn securely and as low as possible over the hips, not over the waist.

Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)

The driver’s seatbelt has an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The emergency locking retractor allows normal body movement but the retractor locks automatically during a sudden stop, impact or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR)

Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR). The Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor normally functions as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The ALR/ ELR has an additional locking mode, “Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode”, intended to secure a child restraint system.
The ALR mode functions as follows.
When the seatbelt is once drawn out completely and is then retracted even slightly, the retractor locks the seatbelt in that position and the seatbelt cannot be extended. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indicates the retractor functions as an ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, the ALR mode is canceled and the ELR mode is restored.
When securing a child restraint system on the rear seats by using a seatbelt, the seatbelt must be changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.

For instructions on how to install the child restraint system using a seatbelt, refer to “Installing Child Restraint Systems with ALR/ELR Seatbelt” FP63.
When the child restraint system is removed, make sure that the retractor is restored to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode by allowing the seatbelt to retract fully.

Seatbelt Warning Light and Chime

Refer to “Seatbelt Warning Light and Chime” FP179.

Fastening the Seatbelt

WARNING

Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In an accident, this can increase the risk or severity of the injury.
Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your hips. In a collision, this spreads the force of the lap belt over stronger hip bones instead of across the weaker abdomen.
Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding under the seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks should be always used in the upright position while the vehicle is running.
If the front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a collision, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death.
Do not put cushions or any other materials between occupants and seatbacks or seat cushions. If you do so, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death.

WARNING
Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back. If an accident occurs, this can increase the risk or severity of the injury.

CAUTION
Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn an occupant. Do not touch such hot parts until they cool.

Front seatbelts

Adjust the seat position:
Driver’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright position. Move the seat as far from the steering wheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control.
Front passenger’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright position. Move the seat as far back as possible.
Sit well back in the seat.
Pick up the tongue plate and pull the belt out slowly. Do not let it get twisted.
1. If the belt stops before reaching the buckle, return the belt slightly and pull it out more slowly.
2. If the belt still cannot be unlocked, let the belt retract slightly after giving it a strong pull, then pull it out slowly again.
Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.
To tighten the lap part, pull up on the shoulder belt.
Place the lap belt as low as possible on the hips, not on the waist.

Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height

The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position best suited for the driver/front passenger. Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without touching the neck.

To raise:
Push and hold the upper part of the anchor and slide the anchor up.
To lower:
Push and hold the upper part of the anchor and slide the anchor down.
Pull down the anchor to make sure that it is locked in place.

WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjust the seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder belt over the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking or in a collision.

Unfastening the seatbelt

Push the button on the buckle.
Retract the seatbelt slowly to prevent it from getting tangled or twisted.

Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.

Rear seatbelts (except rear center seatbelt on Outback/Subaru Outback Wilderness)

Sit well back in the seat.
Pick up the tongue plate and pull the belt out slowly. Do not let it get twisted.
- If the belt stops before reaching the buckle, return the belt slightly and pull it out more slowly.
- If the belt still cannot be unlocked, let the belt retract slightly after giving a strong pull on it, then pull it out slowly again.
Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.
To tighten the lap part, pull up on the shoulder belt.
Place the lap belt as low as possible on the hips, not on the waist.

Unfastening the seatbelt

Push the button on the buckle.
Retract the seatbelt slowly to prevent it from getting tangled or twisted.
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door

Rear center seatbelt on Outback/Subaru Outback Wilderness

Center seatbelt tongue plate
Anchor tongue plate
Anchor buckle
Center seatbelt buckle

WARNING
Fastening the seatbelt with the webbing twisted can increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident. When fastening the belt after it is pulled out from the retractor, especially when inserting the anchor tongue plate into the mating buckle (on the right-hand side), always check that the webbing is not twisted.

WARNING
Be sure to fasten both tongue plates to the respective buckles. If the seatbelt is used only as a shoulder belt (with the anchor tongue plate not fastened to the anchor buckle on the right-hand side), it cannot properly restrain the wearer in position in an accident, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.

Rear center seatbelt is stowed in the recess of the ceiling.

Retrieve the anchor tongue plate from the slot in the recess by pulling the anchor tongue plate.
Pass the seatbelt through the belt guide.
Make sure that the mark on the anchor tongue plate and the mark on the buckle face outwards.
After confirming that the webbing is not twisted, insert the anchor tongue plate attached at the webbing end into the buckle on the right-hand side until a click sounds.
1. If the belt stops before reaching the buckle, return the belt slightly and pull it out more slowly.
2. If the belt still cannot be unlocked, give it a strong pull and let it retract slightly, then pull it out slowly again.
Insert the center seatbelt tongue plate into the center seatbelt buckle until it clicks.
To tighten the lap part, pull up on the shoulder belt. And place the lap belt as low as possible on the hips, not on the waist.

Unfastening the seatbelt

Push the release button of the center seatbelt buckle (on the left-hand side) to unfasten the seatbelt.
Insert a tongue plate or other hard pointed object into the slot in the connector (buckle) on the right-hand side and push it in. The anchor tongue plate will then disconnect from the buckle.
Allow the retractor to roll up the belt.
You should hold the webbing end and guide it back into the retractor while it is rolling up. Neatly store the tongue plate in the recess and then insert the anchor tongue plate into the slot.

CAUTION
Observe the following precautions. Otherwise, the tongue plate can hit the trim, causing damage to the trim.

Do not allow the retractor to roll up the seatbelt too quickly.
Have the seatbelt fully rolled up so that the tongue plates are neatly stored.

Seatbelt Maintenance

To clean the seatbelts, use mild soap and lukewarm water. Never bleach or dye the belts because this could seriously affect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the webbing and all hardware periodically for cracks, cuts, gashes, tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas. Replace the seatbelts even if only minor damage is found.

CAUTION

Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemicals and particularly battery acid.
Never attempt to make modifications or changes that will prevent the seatbelt from operating properly.

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