2020 Subaru Forester Owners Manual - Seatbelts

Seatbelts

Your 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.

Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your vehicle. Refer to “Child restraint systems”  P61.

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

cannot 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 also need to use the 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 Retrac- tor (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 Retrac- tor (ALR/ELR)

Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Auto- matic Locking Retractor/Emergency Lock- ing Retractor (ALR/ELR). The Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor normally functions as an Emer- gency Locking Retractor (ELR). The ALR/ ELR has an additional locking mode “Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode” intended to secure a child restraint system. 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 indicate the retractor functions as an ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, the ALR mode is released.

When securing a child restraint system on

the rear seats by the use of the seatbelt, the seatbelt must be changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.

When the child restraint system is re- moved, make sure that the seatbelt re- tracts fully and the retractor returned to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode.

For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the ALR mode and restore it to the ELR mode, refer to “Installing child restraint systems with ALR/ELR seatbelt”

 P66.

Seatbelt warning light and chime

Refer to “Seatbelt warning light and chime”

 P167.

Fastening the seatbelt

Adjust the seat position according to the following procedure.

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 seat- back 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.

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 it a strong pull, then pull it out slowly again.

Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.

To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.

Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

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.

Pull the release knob and slide the anchor up.

Pull the release knob and slide the anchor down.

Pull down the anchor to make sure that it is locked in place.

1) Button

Push the button on the buckle.

Have the seatbelt retracted slowly to avoid the seatbelt being tangled or twisted.

Before closing the door, make sure that the

belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.

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 it a strong pull, then pull it out slowly again.

Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.

To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.

Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

1) Button

Push the button on the buckle.

Have the seatbelt retracted slowly to avoid the seatbelt being tangled or twisted.

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

Center seatbelt tongue plate

Connector (tongue)

Connector (buckle)

Center seatbelt buckle

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

Retrieve the connector (tongue) plate from the slot in the recess by pulling the connector (tongue) plate, then pull out the seatbelt slowly.

Pass the seatbelt through the belt guide.

After confirming that the webbing is not twisted, insert the connector (tongue) attached at the webbing end into the buckle on the right-hand side until a click

is heard.

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 it a strong pull, then pull it out slowly again.

Insert the center seatbelt tongue plate into the center seatbelt buckle marked “CENTER” on the left-hand side until it clicks.

To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.

Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

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 connector (tongue) plate will then disconnect from the buckle.

With the belt held by hand, allow the

retractor to roll up the belt slowly. 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 on the ceiling and then insert the connector (tongue) plate into the slot located at the front of the recess.

Seatbelt maintenance

To clean the seatbelts, use a 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. Re- place the seatbelts even if only minor damage is found.