2021 Subaru Forester Owners Manual - Seatbelt pretensioners

Seatbelt pretensioners

The following seatbelts have a seatbelt pretensioner.

Driver’s seatbelt

Front passenger’s seatbelt

Rear passenger’s seatbelt (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.

Seatbelt pretensioners are not de- signed to activate in minor impacts or in rear impacts.

Pretensioners are designed to func- tion on a one-time-only basis. In the event that a pretensioner is activated, both the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt retractor assemblies should be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU dealer. When replacing seat- belt 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 pos- sible.

If the seatbelt retractor assembly or

Seatbelt pretensioners 59

When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to inform the buyer that the vehicle is equipped with seatbelt preten- sioners. Also, notify the buyer of the contents in this section.

NOTE

This section is applicable to the follow- ing components.

Rear passenger’s seatbelt (window- side)

The pretensioner sensor also serves as follows.

SRS frontal airbag sensor

Side impact sensor

Rollover sensor

If the sensor detects a certain predeter- mined 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 rear passenger’s seatbelt (window- side) pretensioner includes a tension reducing device which 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.

Seatbelt with shoulder belt and lap belt pretensioners

NOTE

Seatbelt retractor assembly (shoulder belt pretensioner and adaptive force limiter)

Lap belt pretensioner

The shoulder belt pretensioner is supple- mented by a lap belt pretensioner, which is located at the base of the center pillar. Like the shoulder belt pretensioner, the lap belt pretensioner 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 front seatbelt pretensioner includes a tension reducing device which 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 the suit body size of occupant as detected by the occupant detection system sensors.

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 pretensioner re- mains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.

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”  P105.

System servicing

NOTE

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