Get Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags -> SRS airbag (Type A) Guide for Subaru Outback SUV Fourth Generation (2010-2014)

1-38 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

2. Open the cover flaps to use the

anchorages.

3. Fasten the top tether hook of the child

restraint system to the appropriate upper

anchorage.

4. Tighten the top tether securely.

*SRS airbag (Supplemental

Restraint System airbag)

(Type A)

*SRS: This stands for Supplemental Re-

straint System. This name is used be-

cause the airbag system supplements the

vehicle’s seatbelts.

CAUTION

The descriptions in this section vary

depending on the year and month of

vehicle production. Determine

which of the following categories

your vehicle belongs to, and then

refer to the descriptions specified to

that category.

TYPE A: Vehicles manufactured in

August 2012 or before

TYPE B: Vehicles manufactured in

September 2012 and after

The month and year your vehicle

was manu factured can be deter-

mined by checking the certification

label located on the lower side of B

pillar.

Certification label

A) Year and month

Your vehicle is equipped with a supple-

mental restraint system in addition to a

lap/shoulder belt at each front seating

position and each rear window-side seat-

ing position. The supplemental restraint

system (SRS) consists of six airbags.

The configurations are as follows:

. Driver’s and front passenger’s frontal

airbags

. Driver’s and front passenger’s side

airbags

. Curtain airbags (for driver, front pas-

senger, and window-side rear passen-

gers)

These SRS airbags are designed only

as a supplement to the primary protec-

tion provided by the seatbelt.

The system also controls front seatbelt

pretensioners. For operation instructions

and precautions concerning the seatbelt

pretensioner, refer to “Front seatbelt pre-

tensioners” F1-23.

& General precautions regard-

ing SRS airbag system

WARNING

. To obtain maximum protection in

the event of an accident, the

driver and all passengers in the

vehicle should always wear seat-

belts when the vehicle is moving.

The SRS airbag is designed only

to be a supplement to the primary

protection provided by the seat-

belt. It does not eliminate the

need to fasten seatbelts. In com-

bina tion with the seatb elts, it

offers the best combined protec-

tion in case of a serious accident.

Not wearing a seatbelt increases

the chance of severe injury or

death in a crash even when the

vehicle has the SRS airbag.

For instructions and precautions

concerning the seatbelt system,

refer to “Seatbelts” F1-14.

. The SRS side airbag and SRS

curtain airbag are designed only

to be a supplement to the primary

protection provided by the seat-

belt. They do not eliminate the

need to fasten seatbelts. It is also

important to wear your seatbelt

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-39

– CONTINUED –

1-40 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

to help avoid injuries that can

result when an occupant is not

seated in a proper upright posi-

tion.

WARNING

. The SRS airbags deploy with

considerable speed and force.

Occupants who are out of proper

position when the SRS airbag

deploys could suffer very serious

injuries. Because the SRS airbag

needs enough space for deploy-

ment, the driver should always

sit upright and well back in the

seat as far from the steering

wheel as practical while still

maintaining full vehicle control

and the front passenger should

move the seat as far back as

possible and sit upright and well

back in the seat.

WARNING

. Do not sit or lean unnecessarily

close to either front door. The

SRS side airbags are stored in

both front seat seatbacks next to

the door, and they provide pro-

tection by deploying rapidly (fas-

ter than the blink of an eye) in the

event of a side impact collision.

However, the force of SRS side

airbag deployment may cause

inj uries if your head or other

parts of the body are too close

to the SRS side airbag.

. Since your vehicle is equipped

with SRS curtain airbags, do not

sit or lean unnecessarily close to

the front or rear door on either

side. Also, do not put your head,

arms or hands out of the window.

The SRS curtain airbags on both

sides of the cabin are stored in

the roof side (between the front

pillar and a point over the rear

seat), and they provide protec-

tion by deploying rapidly (faster

than the blink of an eye) in the

event of a side impact. For Out-

back models, the SRS curtain

airbags also deploy in the event

of a rollover. However, the force

of its deploym ent may cause

injuries if your head is too close

to it.

. Do not sit or lean unnecessarily

close to the SRS airbag. Because

the SRS airbag deploys with

considerable speed – faster than

the blink of an eye – and force to

protect in high speed collisions,

the force of an airbag can injure

an occupant whose body is too

close to SRS airbag.

It is also important to wear your

seatbelt to help a void injuries

that can result when the SRS

airbag contacts an occupant not

in proper position such as one

thrown forward during pre-acci-

dent braking.

Even when properly positioned,

there remains a possibility that

an occupant may suffer minor

injury such as abrasions a nd

bruises to the face or arms

because of the SRS airbag de-

ployment force.

WARNING

. Do not rest your arm on either

front door or its internal trim. You

could be injured in the event of

SRS side airbag deployment.

. Do not place any objects over or

near the SRS airbag cover or

between you and the SRS airbag.

If the SRS airbag deploys, these

objects could interfere with its

proper operation and could be

propelled inside the vehicle,

causing injury.

WARNING

Do not put any objects over the

steering wheel pad and dashboard.

If the SRS frontal airbag deploys,

these objects could interfere with its

proper operation and could be pro-

pelled inside the vehicle, causing

injury.

WARNING

Do not attach accessories to the

windshield, or fit an extra-wide mir-

ror over the rear view mirror. If the

SRS airbag deploys, those objects

could become projectiles that could

seriously injure vehicle occupants.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-41

– CONTINUED –

1-42 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

WARNING

. Do not attach accessories to the

door trim or near either SRS side

airbags and do not place objects

near the SRS side airbags. In the

event of SRS side airbag deploy-

ment, they could be propelled

dangerously toward the vehicle’s

occupants and cause injuries.

. Do not attach a hands-free micro-

phone or any other accessory to

a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear

pillar, the windshield, a side win-

dow, an assist grip, or any other

cabin surface that would be near

a deploying SRS curtain airbag.

A hands-free microphone or

other accessory in such a loca-

tion could be propelled through

the cabin with great force by the

curtain airbag, or it could prevent

correct deployment of the curtain

airbag. In either case, the result

could be serious injuries.

WARNING

Do not hang coat hangers or other

hard or pointed objects on the coat

hooks. If such items were hanging

on the coat hooks during deploy-

ment of the SRS curtain airbags,

they could cause serious injuries by

coming off the coat hooks and being

thrown through the cabin or by

preventing deployment of the cur-

tain airbags.

Before hanging clothing on the coat

hooks, make sure there are no sharp

objects in the pockets. Hang cloth-

ing directly on the coat hooks with-

out using hangers.

WARNING

Do not put any kind of cover or

clothes or other objects over either

front seatback and do not attach

labels or stickers to the front seat

surface on or near the SRS side

airbag. They could prevent proper

deployment of the SRS side airbag,

reducing protection available to the

front seat’s occupant.

WARNING

Put children in the rear seat properly

restrained at all times. The SRS

air bag 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 deploy-

ment is greater.

Consequently, we strongly recom-

mend that ALL children (including

those in child seats and those that

have outgrown child restraint de-

vices) sit in the REAR seat properly

restrained at all times in a child

restraint device or in a seatbelt,

whichever is appropria te for the

child’s age, height and weight.

Secure ALL types of child restraint

devices (including forward facing

child seats) in the REAR seats at

all times.

According to accident statistics,

children are safer when properly

restrained in the rear seating posi-

tions than in the front seating posi-

tions.

For instructions and precautions

concerning the child restraint sys-

tem, refer to “Child restraint sys-

tems” F1-25.

WARNING

NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FA-

CING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT

SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS

INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD

BY PLACING THE CHILD’S HEAD

TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.

WARNING

Never allow a child to stand up or

kneel on the front passenger’s seat.

The SRS airbag deploys with con-

siderable force and can injure or

even kill the child.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-43

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1-44 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

WARNING

Never hold a child on your lap or in

your arms. The SRS airbag deploys

with considerable force and can

injure or even kill the child.

WARNING

. Never allow a child to do the

following.

– Kneel on any passenger’s

seat facing the side window

– Wrap his/her arms around the

front seat seatback

– Pu t his/her head, arms or

other parts of the body out of

the window

In the event of an accident, the

force of SRS side airbag and/or

SRS curtain airbag deployment

could injure the child seriously

because his/her head, arms or

other parts of the body are too

close to the SRS side airbag and/

or SRS curtain airbag.

. Since your vehicle is also

equipped with a front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbag, children

aged 12 and under should be

placed in the rear seat anyway

and should be properly re-

strained at all times.

CAUTION

. When the SRS airbag deploys,

some smoke will be released.

This smoke could cause breath-

ing problems for people with a

history of asthma or other

breathing trouble. If you or your

passengers have breathing pro-

blems after SRS airbag deploys,

get fresh air promptly.

. A deploying SRS airbag releases

hot gas. Occupants could get

burned if they come into direct

contact with the hot gas.

NOTE

When you sell your vehicle, we urge

you to explain to the buyer that it is

equipped with SRS airbags by alerting

the buyer to the applicable section in

this Owner’s Manual.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-45

– CONTINUED –

1-46 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

& Components

1) SRS frontal airbag

2) SRS side airbag

3) SRS curtain airbag

The SRS airbags are st owed in the

following locations.

Driver’s SRS frontal airbag: in the center

portion of the steering wheel

Front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag:

near the top of the dashboard under an

“SRS AIRBAG” mark

SRS side airbag: in the door side of each

front seat seatback which bears an “SRS

AIRBAG” label

SRS cur tain airbag: in the roof side

(between the front pillar and a point over

the rear seat)

An “SRS AIRBAG” mark is located at the

top of each center pillar.

1) Front sub sensor (right-hand side)

2) Front sub sensor (left-hand side)

3) SRS airbag system warning light

4) Frontal airbag module (driver’s side)

5) Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and

OFF indicator

6) Frontal airbag module (front passenger’s

side)

7) Airbag control module (including impact

sensor [all models] and rollover sensor

[Outback])

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

1-47

– CONTINUED –

1-48 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

1) Rear wheel house impact sensor (left-

hand side)

2) Curtain airbag module (left-hand side)

3) Front door impact sensor (left-hand side)

4) Curtain airbag module (right-hand side)

5) Front passenger’s occupant detection

control module

6) Center pillar impact sensor (left-hand

side)

7) Seatbelt pretensioner (left-hand side)

8) Lap belt pretensioner (driver’s side)

9) Side airbag module (left-hand side)

10) Seatbelt buckle switch (right-hand side)

11) Rear wheel house impact sensor (right-

hand side)

12) Side airbag module (right-hand side)

13) Seatbelt pretensioner (right-hand side)

14) Center pillar impact sensor (right-hand

side)

15) Lap belt pretensioner (front passenger’s

side)

16) Front passenger’s occupant detection

system weight sensor

17) Front door impact sensor (right-hand

side)

& SUBARU advanced frontal

airbag system, SRS side air-

bag and SRS curtain airbag

Your vehicle is equipped with a SUBARU

advanced frontal airbag system that com-

plies with the new advanced frontal airbag

requirements in the amended F ederal

Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)

No. 208.

The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag

system automatically determines the de-

ployment force of the driver’s SRS frontal

airbag at the time of deployment as well as

whether or not to activate the front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbag and, if

activated, the deployment force of the

SRS frontal airbag at the time of deploy-

ment.

Your vehicle has warning labels on the

driver’s and front passenger’s sun visors

beginning with the phrase “EVEN WITH

ADVANCED AIR BAGS” and a tag

attached to the glove box lid beginning

with the phrase “Even with Advanced Air

Bags”. Make sure that you carefully read

the instructions on the warning labels and

tag.

Always wear your seatbelt. The SUBARU

advanced frontal airbag system is a

supplemental restraint system and must

be used in combination with a seatbelt. All

occupants should wear a seatbelt or be

seated in an appropriate child restraint

system.

For the locations of the driver’s SRS

frontal airbag, front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbag, SRS side airbag and SRS

curtain airbag, refer to “Components” F1-

46.

In a moderate to severe frontal collision,

the driver’s and front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbags deploy and supplement the

seatbelts by reducing the impact on the

driver’s and front passenger’s head and

chest.

In a moderate to severe side impact

collision, the SRS side airbag on the

impacted s ide of the vehicle deploys

between the occupant and the door panel

and supplements the seatbelt by reducing

the impact to the occupant’s chest and

waist.

In a moderate to severe side impact

collision, the SRS curtain airbag on the

impacted s ide of the vehicle deploys

between the occupant and the side

window and supplements the seatbelt by

reducing the impact to the occupant’s

head.

NOTE

The SRS side airbag, SRS curtain air-

bag and seatbelt pretensioner are not

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-49

– CONTINUED –

1-50 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

controlled by the SUBARU advanced

frontal airbag system.

! Driver’s SRS frontal airbag

The driver’s SRS frontal airbag uses a

dual stage inflator. The inflator operates in

different ways depending on the severity

of impact.

Have the system inspected by your

SUBARU dealer immediately if the SRS

airbag system warning light illuminates.

! Front passenger’s SRS frontal air-

bag

The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag

uses a dual stage inflator. The inflator

operates in different ways depending on

the severity of impact.

The total load on the seat is monitored by

the passenger’s occupant detection sys-

tem weight sensor under the seat.

Using the total seat load and seatbelt

bu ckle switch , the occupant detection

system d etermines whether the front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbag should or

should not be inflated.

The occupant detection system may not

inflate the front passenger’s SRS frontal

airbag even when the driver’s SRS frontal

airbag deploys. This is normal.

CAUTION

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may prevent the

SUBARU advanced frontal airbag

system from functioning correctly

or cause the system to fail.

. Do not apply any strong impact

to the front passenger’s seat

such as by kicking.

. Do not spill liquid on the front

pass enger’s seat. If liquid is

spilled, wipe it off immediately.

. Do not remove or disassemble

the front passenger’s seat.

. Do not install any acce ssory

(such as an audio amplifier) other

than a genuine SUBARU acces-

sory under the front passenger’s

seat.

. Do not place anything (shoes,

umbrella, et c.) under the front

passenger’s seat.

. Do not use the front passenger’s

seat with the head restraint re-

moved.

. Do not leave any articles on the

front passenger’s seat or the

seatbelt tongue and buckle en-

gaged when you leave your ve-

hicle.

. Do not place a magnet near the

seatbelt buckle and the seatbelt

retractor.

. Do not use front seats with their

backward-forward position and

seatback not being locked into

place securely. If any of them are

not locked securely, adjust them

again. For adjusting procedure,

refer to “Manual seat” F1-3

(models equipped with manual

seats only).

If the seatbelt buckle switch and/or front

passenger’s occupant detection system

have failed, the SRS airbag system

warning light will illuminate. Have the

system inspected by your SUBARU deal-

er immediately if the SRS airbag system

warning light illuminates.

If your vehicle has sustained impact, this

may affect the proper function of the

SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system.

Have your vehicle inspected at your

SUBARU dealer.

! Passenger’s frontal airbag ON and

OFF indicators

Refer to “Front passenger’s frontal airbag

ON and OFF indicators” F3-15.

! Conditions in which front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbag is not

activated

The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag

will not be activated when any of the

following conditions are met regarding the

front passenger’s seat:

. The seat is empty.

. The seat is equipped with a rearward

facing child restraint system and an infant

is restrained with it. (See WARNING that

follows.)

. The seat is equipped with a forward

facing child restraint system and a small

child is restrained with it. (See WARNING

that follows.)

. The seat is equipped with a booster

seat and a small child is in the booster

seat. (See WARNING that follows.)

. The seat is relieved of the occupant

load for a time exceeding the predeter-

mined monitoring time period.

. The seat is occupied by a child who

has outgrown a child restraint system

(See WARNING that follows.) or by a

small adult.

. The front passenger’s occupant detec-

tion system is malfunctioning.

WARNING

NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FA-

CING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT

PASSENGER’S SEAT EVEN IF THE

FRONT PASSENGER’S SRS FRON-

TAL AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. Be

sure to install it in the REAR seat in

a correct manner. Also, it is strongly

recommended that any forward fa-

cing child seat or booster seat be

installed in the REAR seat, and that

even children who have outgrown a

child restraint system be also

seated in the REAR seat. This is

because children sitting in the front

passenger’s seat may be killed or

severely injured should th e front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbag de-

ploy. REAR seats are the safest

place for children.

CAUTION

When the front passenger’s seat is

occupied by a child, observe the

following precautions. Failure to do

so may increase the load on the

front passenger’s seat, activating

the front passenger’s SRS frontal

airbag even though t hat seat is

occupied by a child.

. Do not place any article on the

seat other than the child occu-

pant and a child restraint system.

. Do not place more than one child

on the seat.

. Do not install any accessory

such as a table or TV onto the

seatback.

. Do not store a heavy load in the

seatback pocket.

. Do not allow the rear seat occu-

pant to place his/her hands or

legs on the front passenger’s

seatback, or allow him/her to pull

the seatback.

! If the front passenger’s frontal air-

bag ON indicator illuminates and the

OFF indicator turns off even when

an infant or a small child is in a child

restraint system (including booster

seat)

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”/

“OFF” position.

2. Remove the child restraint system

from the seat.

3. By referring to the child restraint

manufacturer’s recommendations as well

as the child restraint system installation

procedures in “Child restraint systems”

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-51

– CONTINUED –

1-52 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

F1-25, correctly install the child restraint

system.

4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”

position and make sure that the front

passenger’s frontal airbag ON indicator

turns off and the OFF indicator illuminates.

If still the ON indicator remains illuminated

while the OFF indicator turns off, take the

following actions.

. Ensure that no article is placed on the

seat other than the child restraint system

and the child occupant.

. Ensure that there is no article left in the

seatback pocket.

. Ensure that the backward-forward po-

sition and seatback of front passenger’s

seat are locked into place securely by

moving the seat back and forth. (Models

equipped with manual seats only)

If the ON indicator still remains illuminated

while the OFF indicator turns off after

taking r elevant corrective actions d e-

scribed above, relocate the child restraint

system to the rear seat and immediately

contact your SUBARU dealer for an

inspection.

NOTE

When a child who has outgrown a child

restraint system or a small adult is

seated in the front passenger’s seat,

the SUBARU advanced frontal airbag

system may or may not activate the

front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag

depending on the occupant’s seating

posture. If the front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbag is activated (the ON

indicator remains illuminated while

the OFF indicator turns off), take the

following actions.

. Ensure that no article is placed on

the seat other than the occupant.

. Ensure that there is no article left in

the seatback pocket.

If the ON indicator still remains illumi-

nated while the OFF indicator turns off

despite the fact that the actions noted

above have been taken, seat the child/

small adult in the rear seat and im-

mediately contact your SUBARU dealer

for an inspection. Even if the system

has passed the dealer inspection, it is

recommended that on subsequent trips

the child/small adult always take the

rear seat.

Children wh o have outgrown a child

restraint system should always wear the

seatbelt irrespective of whether the airbag

is deactivated or activated.

! Conditions in which front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbag is activated

The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag

will be activated for deployment upon

impact when any of the following condi-

tions is met regarding the front passen-

ger’s seat.

. When the seat is occupied by an adult.

. When a heavy article is placed on the

seat.

CAUTION

When the front passenger’s seat is

occupied by an adult, observe the

following precautions. Failure to do

so may lessen the load on the front

passenger’s seat, deactivating the

front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag

despite the fact that the seat is

occupied by an adult. This may

result in personal injury.

. Do not allow the rear seat occu-

pant to lift the front passenger’s

seat cushion using his/her feet.

. Do not place any article under the

front pa sseng er ’ s seat, o r

squeeze any article from behind

and under the seat. This may lift

the seat cushion.

. Do not squeeze any article be-

tween the front passenger’s seat

and side trim/pillar, door or cen-

ter console box. This may lift the

seat cushion.

! If the passenger’s frontal airbag OFF

indicator illuminates and the ON

indicator turns off even when the

front passenger’s seat is occupied

by an adult

This can be caused by the adult incor-

rectly sitting in the front passenger’s seat.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”/

“OFF” position.

2. Ask the front passenger to set the

seatback to the upright position, sit up

straight in the center of the seat cushion,

correctly fasten the seatbelt, position his/

her legs out forward, and adjust the seat to

the rearmost position.

3. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”

position.

If the OFF indicator remains illuminated

while the ON indicator remains off, take

the following actions.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”/

“OFF” position.

2. Ensure that there is no article, book,

shoe, or other object trapped under the

seat, at the rear of the seat, or on the side

of the seat.

3. Ensure that the backward-for ward

position and seatback of front passenger’s

seat are locked into place securely by

moving the seat back and forth. (Models

equipped with manual seats only)

4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”

position and wait 6 seconds to allow the

system to complete self-checking. Follow-

ing the system check, both indicators turn

off for 2 seconds. Now, the ON indicator

should illuminate while the OFF indicator

remains off.

If the OFF indicator still remains illumi-

nated while the ON indicator remains off,

ask the occupant to move to the rear seat

and immediately contact your SUBARU

dealer for an inspection.

! Effect vehicle modifications made

for persons with disabilities may

have on SUBARU advanced frontal

airbag system operation (U.S. only)

Changing or moving any parts of the front

seats, seatbelts, front bumper, front side

frame, instrument panel, combination me-

ter, steering wheel, steering column, tire,

suspension or floor panel can affect the

operation of the SUBARU advanced air-

bag system. If you have any questions,

you may contact the following SUBARU

distributors:

<Continental U.S., Alaska and the District

of Columbia>

Subaru of America, Inc.

Customer Dealer Services Department

P.O. Box 6000

Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000

1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)

Servco Subaru Inc., dba Subaru Hawaii

2850 Pukoloa Street, Suite 202, Honolulu,

HI 96819

808-839-2273

<Guam>

Shen’s Corporation dba Prestige Automo-

bile

491, East Marine Drive, Route 1 Dededo,

Guam

671-633-2698

Trebol Motors

P.O. Box 11204, San Juan, Puerto Rico

00910

787-793-2828

There are currently no SUBARU distribu-

tors in any other U.S. territories. If you are

in such an a rea, please contact the

SUBARU distributor or dealer from which

you bought your vehicle.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-53

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1-54 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

& System operation

CAUTION

Do not touch the SRS airbag system

components with bare hands right

after deployment. Doing so can

cause burns because the compo-

nents can be very hot as a result of

deployment.

The SRS airbags can function only when

the ignition switch is in the “ON” position.

When the SR S airbag(s) deploy(s), a

sudden, fairly loud inflation noise will be

heard and some smoke will be released.

These occurrences are a normal result of

the deployment. This smoke does not

indicate a fire in the vehicle.

! SUBARU advanced frontal airbag

operation

1) Driver’s side

2) Passenger’s side

The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag

system is designed to determine the

activation or deactivation condition of the

front pa ssenger’s SRS frontal airbag

depending on the total load on the front

passenger’s seat monitored by the front

passenger’s occupant detection system

weight sensor. For this reason, only the

driver’s SRS frontal airbag may deploy in

the event of a collision, but this does not

mean failure of the system.

If the front sub sensors inside both front

fenders and the impact sensors in the

airbag control module detect a predeter-

mined amount of force during a frontal

collision, the control module sends signals

to the airbag module(s) (only driver’s

module or both driver’s and front passen-

ger’s modules) instructing the module(s)

to inflate the SRS frontal airbag(s). The

driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal

airbags use dual stage inflators. The two

inflators of each airbag are triggered either

sequentially or simultaneously, depending

on the severity of impact in the case of the

driver’s SRS frontal airbag and depending

on the severity of impact and the total load

on the seat in the case of the front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbag.

After deployment, the SRS airbag imme-

diately starts to deflate so that the driver’s

vision is not obstructed and the driver’s

ability to maintain control of the vehicle is

not impaired. The time required from

detecting impact to the deflation of the

SRS airbag after deployment is shorter

than the blink of an eye.

Both when only the driver’s SRS frontal

airbag deploys and the driver’s and front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbags deploy,

the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt

pretensioners operate at the same time.

The driver’s SRS frontal airbag and front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbag are de-

signed to deploy in the event of an

accident involving a moderate to severe

frontal collision. They are not designed to

de ploy in most lesser frontal impacts

because the necessary protection can be

achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, they

are not designed to deploy in most side or

rear impacts or in most rollover accidents

because deployment of only the driver’s

SRS frontal airbag or both driver’s and

front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags

would not help the occupant in those

situations. The driver’s and front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbags are designed to

function on a one-time-only basis.

SRS airbag deployment depends on the

level of force experienced in the passen-

ger compartment during a collision. That

level differs from one type of collision to

another, and it may have no bearing on

the visible damage done to the vehicle

itself.

! Examples of accident in which the

driver’s/driver’s and front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will most

likely deploy

A head-on collision against a thick con-

crete wall at a vehicle speed of 12 to 19

mph (20 to 30 km/h) or higher activates

only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or both

driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal

airbags. The airbag(s) will also be acti-

vated when the vehicle is exposed to a

f rontal impact simil ar in fa shion and

magnitude to the col lision described

above.

! Examples of the types of accidents

in which it is possible that the

driver’s/driver’s and front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will de-

ploy

Only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-55

– CONTINUED –

1-56 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbags may be activated when the

vehicle sustains a hard impact in the

undercarriage area from the road surface

(such as when the vehicle plunges into a

deep ditch, is severely impacted or

knocked hard against an obstacle on the

road such as a curb).

! Examples of the types of accidents in which deployment of the driver ’s/driver’s

and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) is unlikely to occur

1) The vehicle strikes an object, such as a

telephone pole or sign pole.

2) The vehicle slides under the load bed of

a truck.

3) The vehicle sustains an oblique offset

frontal impact.

4) The vehicle sustains an offset frontal

collision.

5) The vehicle strikes an object that can

move or deform, such as a parked

vehicle.

There are many types of collisions which

might not necessarily require deployment

of driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s

SRS frontal airbag(s). In the event of

accidents like those illustrated, the dri-

ver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbag(s) may not deploy depend-

ing on the level of accident forces in-

volved.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-57

– CONTINUED –

1-58 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

! Examples of the types of accidents

in which the driver’s/driver’s and

front passenger’s SRS frontal

airbag(s) is not designed to deploy

in most cases

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbags are designed not to deploy

in most cases if the vehicle is struck from

the side or from behind, or if it rolls onto its

side or roof, or if it is involved in a low-

speed frontal collision.

1) First impact

2) Second impact

I n an accident where the vehicle is

impacted more than once, the driver’s

and/or front passenger’s SRS frontal

airbag(s) will deploy only once on the first

impact.

Example: In the case of a double collision,

first with another vehicle, then against a

concrete wall in immediate succession,

once either or both of the driver’s and front

passenger’s SRS frontal airbags is/are

activated on the first impact, it/they will not

be activated on the second impact.

WARNING

If the vehicle is damaged in an

accident but the SRS frontal airbag

does not deploy, contact your

SUBARU dealer as soon as possi-

ble.

! SRS side airbag and SRS curtain

airbag operation

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS

side airbags and SRS curtain airbags

deploy independently of each other be-

cause each has its own impact sensor.

Therefore, they may not both deploy in the

same accident. Also, the SRS side airbag

and SRS curtain airbag deploys indepen-

dently of the driver’s and front passen-

ger’s SRS frontal airbags in the steering

wheel and instrument panel.

An impact sensor, which senses impact

force, is located in each of the following

locations.

. In the left and right front doors

. In the left and right center pillars

. In the left and right rear wheel houses

. In the airbag control module

For Outback models, a rollover sensor is

also located inside the airbag control

module.

If the impact sensor that is located in the

airbag control module and one of the

center pillar impact sensors or front door

impact sensors together sense an impact

force above a predetermined level in a

side collision, the control module causes

both the SRS side airbag and curtain

airbag on the impacted side to inflate

regardless of whether the rear wheel

house impact sensor on the same side

senses an impact.

If the impact sensor that is located in the

airbag control module and one of the rear

wheel house impact s ensors together

sense an impact force above a predeter-

mined level in a side collision, the control

module causes only the SRS curtain

airbag on the impacted side to inflate.

For Outback models, if the rollover sensor

detects rollover of the vehicle, the control

module inflates the SRS curtain airbags.

At this time, the driver ’s and front passen-

ger ’s seatbelt pretensioners also operate

at the same time.

After the deployment, the SRS side airbag

immediately starts to deflate. The time

required from detection of an impact to

deflation of an SRS side airbag after

deployment is shorter than the blink of

an eye.

The SRS curtain airbag remains inflated

for a while following deployment then

slowly deflates.

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain

airbag deploy even when no one occupies

the seat on the side on which an impact is

applied.

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain

airbag are designed to deploy in the event

of an accident involving a moderate to

severe side impact collision. They are

basically not designed to deploy in a

lesser side impact.

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain

airbag deployment depend on the level of

force experienced in the passenger com-

partment during a side impact collision.

That level differs from one type of collision

to another, and it may have no bearing on

the visible damage done to the vehicle

itself.

For Outback models, the SRS curtain

airbags are also designed to deploy when

the vehicle is in an extremely inclined

state such as during a rollover. They are

not designed to deploy in most lesser

inclined state.

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain

airbag are not designed to deploy in most

rear impacts because the SRS side airbag

and SRS curtain airbag deployment would

not help the occupant in those situations.

Each SRS side airbag and SRS curtain

airbag are designed to function on a one-

time-only basis.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-59

– CONTINUED –

1-60 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

! Example of the type of accident in

which the SRS side airbag will most

likely deploy

A severe side impact near the front seat

activates the SRS side airbag.

! Examples of the types of accidents

in which the SRS curtain airbag will

most likely deploy

Legacy models

A severe side impact near the front seat or

the rear seat activates the SRS curtain

airbag.

Outback models

1) The vehicle is involved in a severe side

impact near the front seat or the rear

seat.

2) The vehicle rolls onto its side or the roof.

3) The angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal or

the skidding vehicle’s tires hit a curb-

stone laterally.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-61

– CONTINUED –

1-62 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

! Examples of the types of accidents in which it is possible that the SRS side

airbag and the SRS curtain airbag will deploy (Outback)

1) Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard

surface

2) Falling into or jumping over a deep hole

3) Landing hard or vehicle falling

It is possible that the SRS side and curtain

airbags will deploy if a serious impact

occurs to the underside of your vehicle.

Some examples are shown in the illustra-

tion.

! Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS side airbag is unlikely to

deploy

1) The vehicle is involved in an oblique

side-on impact.

2) The ve hicle is involved in a side-on

impact in an area outside the vicinity of

the passenger compartment.

3) The vehicle strikes a telephone pole or

similar object.

4) The ve hicle is involved in a side-on

impact from a motorcycle.

5) The vehicle rolls onto its side or the roof.

There are many types of collisions which

might not necessarily require SRS side

airbag deployment. In the event of acci-

dents like those illustrated, the SRS side

airbag may not deploy depending on the

level of accident forces involved.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-63

– CONTINUED –

1-64 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

! Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS curtain airbag is unlikely

to deploy

Legacy models

1) The vehicle is involved in an oblique

side-on impact.

2) The ve hicle is involved in a side-on

impact in an area outside the vicinity of

the passenger compartment.

3) The vehicle strikes a telephone pole or

similar object.

4) The ve hicle is involved in a side-on

impact from a motorcycle.

5) The vehicle rolls onto its side or the roof.

There are many types of collisions which

might not necessarily require SRS curtain

airbag deployment. In the event of acci-

dents like those illustrated, the SRS

curtain airbag may not deploy depending

on the level of accident forces involved.

Outback models

1) The vehicle is involved in an oblique

side-on impact.

2) The ve hicle is involved in a side-on

impact in an area outside the vicinity of

the passenger compartment.

3) The vehicle strikes a telephone pole or

similar object.

4) The ve hicle is involved in a side-on

impact from a motorcycle.

There are many types of collisions which

might not necessarily require SRS curtain

airbag deployment. In the event of acci-

dents like those illustrated, the SRS

curtain airbag may not deploy depending

on the level of accident forces involved.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-65

– CONTINUED –

1-66 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

! Examples of the types of accidents

in which the SRS side airbag and

SRS curtain airbag is not designed

to deploy in most cases

1) The vehicle is involved in frontal collision

with another vehicle (moving or station-

ary).

2) The vehicle is struck from behind.

3) The vehicle pitches end over end.

In the event of accidents like those

illustrated, the SRS side airbag and SRS

curtain airbag are not designed to deploy

in most cases.

1) First impact

2) Second impact

A) SRS curtain airbag

B) SRS side airbag

In an accident where the vehicle is struck

from the side more than once, the SRS

side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deploy

only once on the first impact.

Example: In the case of a double side

impact collision, first with one vehicle and

immediately followed by another from the

same direction, once the SRS side airbag

and SRS curtain airbag are activated on

the first impact, they will not be activated

on the second.

& SRS airbag system monitors

SRS airbag system warning light (type A)

SRS airbag system warning light (type B)

A diagnostic system continually monitors

the readiness of the SRS airbag system

(including front seatbelt pretensioners)

while the vehicle is being driven. The

SRS airbag system warning light will show

normal system operation by illuminating

for approximately 6 seconds when the

ignition switch is turned to the “ON”

position.

The following components are monitored

by the indicator.

. Front sub sensor

– Right-hand side

– Left-hand side

. Airbag control module (including im-

pact sensors [all models] and rollover

sensors [Outback])

. Frontal airbag module

– Driver’s side

– Front passenger’s side

. Center pillar impact sensor

– Right-hand side

– Left-hand side

. Front door impact sensor

– Right-hand side

– Left-hand side

. Side airbag module

– Driver’s side

– Front passenger’s side

. Rear wheel house impact sensor

– Right-hand side

– Left-hand side

. Curtain airbag module

– Right-hand side

– Left-hand side

. Seatbelt pretensioner

– Driver’s side

– Front passenger’s side

. Lap belt pretensioner

– Driver’s side

– Front passenger’s side

. Seatbelt buckle switch (front passen-

ger’s side)

. Front passenger’s occupant detection

system weight sensor

. Front passenger’s occupant detection

control module

. Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON

and OFF indicator

. All related wiring

WARNING

If the warning light exhibits any of

the following conditions, there may

be a malfunction in the seatbelt

pretensioners and/or SRS airbag

system. Immediately take your vehi-

cle to your nearest SUBARU dealer

to have the system checked. Unless

checked and properly repaired, the

seatbelt pretensioners and/or SRS

airbags will operate improperly (e.g.

SRS airbags may inflate in a very

minor collision or not inflate in a

severe collision), whi ch may in-

crease the risk of injury.

. Flashing or flickering of the warn-

ing light

. No illumination of the warning

light when the ignition switch is

first turned to the “ON” position

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-67

– CONTINUED –

1-68 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

. Continuous illumination of the

warning light

. Illumination of the warning light

while driving

& SRS airbag system servicing

WARNING

. When discarding an airbag mod-

ule or scrapping the entire vehi-

cle damaged by a collision, con-

sult your SUBARU dealer.

. The SRS airbag has no user-

serviceable parts. Do not use

electrical test equipment on any

circuit related to the SRS airbag

system. For required servicing of

the SRS airbag, c onsult your

nearest SUBARU dealer. Tamper-

ing with or discon necting the

system’s wiring could result in

accidental inflation of the SRS

airbag or could make the system

inoperative, which may result in

serious injury.

CAUTION

If you need service or repair in areas

indicated in the following list, have

the work performed by an author-

ized SUBARU dealer. The SRS air-

bag control module, impact sensors

and airbag modules are stored in

these areas.

. Under the center console

. Inside each front fender

. Steering wheel and column and

nearby areas

. Top of the dashboard on front

p assenge r’s side and nearby

areas

. Each front seat and nearby area

. Inside each center pillar

. Inside each front door

. In each roof side (from the front

pillar to a point over the rear seat)

. Between the rear seat cushion

and rear wheel house on each

side

. Under the rear center seat

In the event that the SRS airbag is

deployed, replacement of the system

should be performed only by an author-

ized SUBARU dealer. When the compo-

nents of the SRS airbag system are

replaced, use only genuine SUBARU

parts.

NOTE

In the following cases, contact your

SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

. The front part of the vehicle was

involved in an accident in which only

the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or both

driver’s and front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbags did not deploy.

. The pad of the steering wheel, the

cover over the front passenger’s SRS

frontal airbag, or either roof side (from

the front pillar to a point over the rear

seat) is scratched, cracked, or other-

wise damaged.

. The center pillar, front door, rear

wheel house or rear sub frame, or an

area near these parts, was involved in

an accident in which the SRS side

airbag and SRS curtain airbag did not

deploy.

. The fabric or leather of either front

seatback is cut, frayed, or otherwise

damaged.

. The rear part of the vehicle was

involved in an accident.

& Precautions against vehicle

modification

WARNING

To avoid accidental activation of the

system or rendering the system

inoperative, which may result in

serious injury, no modifications

should be made to any components

or wiring of the SRS airbag system.

This includes the following modifi-

cations.

. Installation of custom steering

wheels

. Atta chment of addit ional trim

materials to the dashboard

. Installation of custom seats

. Replacement of seat fabric or

leather

. Installation of additional fabric or

leather on the front seat

. Attachment of a hands-free mi-

crophone or any other accessory

to a front pillar, a center pillar, a

rear pillar, the windshield, a side

window, an assist grip, or any

other cabin surface that would be

near a deploying SRS curtain

airbag

. Installation of additional electri-

cal/electronic equipment such as

a mobile two-way radio on or

near the SRS airbag system

components and/or wiring

. Modifica tions on or inside the

front door panels for the purpose

of a spea ker replacement or

sound insulation

CAUTION

Do not perform any of the following

modifications. Su ch modifications

can interfere with proper operation

of the SRS airbag system.

. Attachment of any equipment

(bush bar, bullbar, winches, snow

plow, skid/sump plate, etc.) other

than genuine SUBARU acces-

sory parts.

. Modification of the suspension

system or front end structure.

. Installation of a tire of different

size and construction from the

tires specified on the vehicle

placard attached to the driver’s

door pillar or specified for indivi-

dual vehicle models in this Own-

er’s Manual.

. A ttachment of any equipment

(side steps or side sill protectors,

etc.) other than genuine SUBARU

accessory parts to the side body.

Always consult your SUBARU dealer if

you want to install any accessory parts on

your vehicle.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-69

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags -> SRS airbag (Type A) for Your Subaru Outback SUV Fourth Generation (2010-2014)

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