2021 Subaru Forester Owners Manual - Alarm system

Alarm system

The alarm system helps to protect your vehicle and valuables from theft. The horn sounds and the hazard warning flashers flash if someone attempts to break into your vehicle.

The system can be armed or disarmed with the keyless access function or access key fob.

The system will not be activated when the push-button ignition switch is in the “ACC” or “ON” position.

The system can be armed or disarmed with the remote transmitter.

The system will not be activated when the key is inserted into the ignition switch.

Your vehicle’s alarm system has been set for activation at the time of shipment from the factory. You can set the system for deactivation yourself or have it done by your SUBARU dealer.

Alarm system 139

When the alarm system is armed, it is triggered by the opening any of the doors, the rear gate or engine hood.

The alarm system will activate the follow- ing alarms when triggered.

The vehicle’s horn will sound for 30 seconds.

The hazard warning flashers will flash for 30 seconds.

If any of the doors, the rear gate or engine hood remains open after the 30-second period, the horn will continue to sound for a maximum of 3 minutes. If the door, rear gate or engine hood is closed while the horn is sounding, the horn will stop sounding with a delay of up to 30 seconds.

Map lights (illuminates only when the door interlock switch is in the “DOOR” position)

Dome light (illuminates only when the dome light switch is in the “DOOR” position)

Cargo area light (illuminates only when the cargo area light switch is in the “DOOR” position)

The notifications regarding the map lights, dome light and cargo area light are deactivated as the factory setting. A SUBARU dealer can activate the sys- tem. Contact your SUBARU dealer for details.

Arming the system

The alarm system becomes armed when the following operation is performed.

Close all windows and the moonroof (if equipped) and turn the ignition switch to the “OFF” position.

Carry the key and get out of the vehicle.

Make sure that the engine hood is locked.

Lock the doors using any of the following methods.

Locking using the remote keyless entry system. For details, refer to “Remote keyless entry system”

 P131.

Locking using the keyless access function (if equipped). For details, refer to “Locking with the door lock sensor”

 P119.

Locking using the power door lock- ing switch. For details, refer to “Locking using power door locking switch”

 P136.

Locking using the rear lock button. For details, refer to “Locking with the rear lock button”  P120.

Locking using the power rear gate lock button. For details, refer to “Lock- ing with the power rear gate lock button”  P120.

Security indicator light

All doors, the rear gate and fuel filler lid will lock, an electronic chirp will sound once, the hazard warning flashers will flash once, and the secur- ity indicator light will start flashing rapidly.

If any of the doors or the rear gate is not fully closed, an electronic chirp

sounds five times and the hazard warning flashers flash five times to alert you that the doors (or the rear gate) are not properly closed. When you close the door, doors will automa- tically lock and the system will auto- matically arm in 30 seconds.

Approximately 30 seconds later, the system will enter surveillance state.

When the system is in surveillance state, the security indicator light will then flash slowly (twice approximately every 2 sec- onds), indicating that the system has been armed for surveillance.

The system can be armed even if the windows and/or moonroof are open. Always make sure that they are fully closed before arming the system.

The 30-second standby time can be eliminated if you prefer. Have it per- formed by your SUBARU dealer.

If any of the following actions is done during the standby period, the system will not switch to the surveil- lance state.

Doors (including the rear gate) are unlocked using the access key fob/remote transmitter.

Doors (including the rear gate)

are unlocked using the keyless access function (models with “key- less access with push-button start system”).

Any door (including the rear gate and engine hood) is opened.

The ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position (models without “keyless access with push-button start system”).

Push-button ignition switch is turned to the “ACC” position (mod- els with “keyless access with push- button start system”).

Disarming the system

Perform either of the following procedures.

Briefly press a button (for less than 2 seconds) on the access key fob/remote transmitter.

Carry the access key fob and perform either of the following procedures (models with “keyless access with push-button start system”).

Grip the front door handle.

Press the rear gate opener button.

Unlock using the PIN code access.

The flashing of the security indicator light will then change slowly (once approxi- mately every 3 seconds from twice ap- proximately every 2 seconds), indicating

that the alarm system has been disarmed.

If you cannot disarm the system using the access key fob/transmitter (i.e., the trans- mitter is lost, broken or the transmitter battery is too weak), you can disarm the system without using the access key fob/ remote transmitter.

The system can be disarmed if you turn the ignition switch from the “LOCK”/“OFF” position to the “ON” position with a registered key/access key fob.

Alarm system setting

To change the setting of your vehicle’s alarm system for activation or deactiva- tion, do the following.

Disarm the alarm system. Refer to “Disarming the system”  P140.

Sit in the driver’s seat and shut all doors, the rear gate and engine hood.

Child safety locks 141

Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position.

Hold down “ ” of the driver’s power door locking switch, open the driver’s door within the following 1 second, and wait 10 seconds without releasing the switch. The setting will then be changed as follows.

Type A combination meter

Type B combination meter

& If you have accidentally trig- gered the alarm system

! To stop the alarm

Do any of the following operations:

Press any button on the access key fob/ remote transmitter.

Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position (models without “keyless access with push-button start system”).

Turn the push-button ignition to the “ACC” position (models with “keyless access with push-button start system”).

Valet mode

When you choose the valet mode, the alarm system does not operate. In valet mode, the remote transmitter is used only for locking and unlocking the doors and rear gate and panic activation.

To enter the valet mode, change the setting of your vehicle’s alarm system to deactivation mode. Refer to “Alarm system setting”  P140. The security indicator light will continue to flash once every 3 seconds, indicating that the system is in the valet mode.

To exit valet mode, change the setting of your vehicle’s alarm system to activation mode. Refer to “Alarm system setting”

 P140.