Subaru Forester: Front seats

- Never adjust the seat while driving to avoid the possibility of loss of vehicle control and of personal injury.

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 deployment, 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.

Put children aged 12 and under 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 12 years of age and under and 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 seats and those that have outgrown child restraint devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for the child’s age, height and weight. Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward facing child seat) in the REAR seats at all times.

For instructions and precautions concerning child restraint systems, refer to “Child restraint systems”.

Manual seat

Forward and backward adjustment

Forward and backward adjustment

Pull the lever upward and slide the seat to the desired position. Then release the lever and move the seat back and forth to make sure that it is securely locked into place.

Reclining the seatback

Reclining the seatback

Pull the reclining lever up and adjust the seatback to the desired position. Then release the lever and make sure the seatback is securely locked into place.

The seatback placed in a reclined position can spring back upward with force when the lever is pulled. While operating the lever to return the seatback, hold the seatback lightly so that it may be raised back gradually.

To prevent the passenger from sliding under the seatbelt in the event of a collision, always put the seatback in the upright position while the vehicle is in motion. Also, do not place objects such as cushions between the passenger and the seatback. 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.

Seat cushion height adjustment (driver’s seat)

Seat cushion height adjustment (driver’s seat)

1) When the lever is pushed down, the seat is lowered.

2) When the lever is pulled up, the seat rises.

The height of the seat can be adjusted by moving the seat cushion adjustment lever up and down.

Power seat (driver’s seat – if equipped)

1) Seat position forward/backward control switch

To adjust the seat forward or backward, move the control switch forward or backward. During forward/backward adjustment of the seat, you cannot adjust the seat cushion angle or seat cushion height.

2) Seat cushion angle control switch

To adjust the seat cushion angle, pull up or push down the front end of the control switch.

3) Seatback angle (reclining) control switch

To adjust the angle of the seatback, move the control switch.

4) Seat height control switch

To adjust the seat height, pull up or push down the rear end of the control switch.

5) Lumbar support control switch

To increase lumbar support, push the front side of the switch. To decrease lumbar support, push the rear side of the switch.

To prevent the passenger from sliding under the seatbelt in the event of a collision, always put the seatback in the upright position while the vehicle is in motion. Also, do not place objects such as cushions between the passenger and the seatback. 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.

Head restraint adjustment

1) Head restraint
2) Release button

Both the driver’s seat and the front passenger’s seat are equipped with head restraints.

The head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head restraint is closest to the top of the occupant’s ears.

To raise:
Pull the head restraint up.

To lower:
Push the head restraint down while pressing the release button on the top of the seatback.

To remove:
While pressing the release button, pull out the head restraint.

To install:
Install the head restraint into the holes that are located on the top of the seatback until the head restraint locks.

- Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed because they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury in the event that the vehicle is struck from the rear. Therefore, when you remove the head restraints, you must reinstall all head restraints to protect vehicle occupants.

- All occupants, including the driver, should not operate a vehicle or sit in a vehicle’s seat until the head restraints are placed in their proper positions in order to minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a crash.

Active head restraint

The front seats of your vehicle are equipped with active head restraints. They automatically tilt forward slightly in the event the vehicle is struck from the rear, decreasing the amount of rearward head movement and thus reducing the risk of whiplash. For maximum effectiveness, the head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head restraint is closest to the top of the occupant’s ears.

- Each active head restraint is effective only when its height is properly adjusted and driver/passenger sits in the correct position on the seat.

- The active head restraints may be damaged if they are pushed hard from behind or subjected to shock. As a result, they may not function if the vehicle suffers a rear impact.

Seat heater (if equipped)

- There is a possibility that people with delicate skin may suffer slight burns even at low temperatures if they use the seat heater for a long period of time. When using the heater, always be sure to warn the persons concerned.

- Do not put anything on the seat which insulates against heat, such as a blanket, cushion, or similar items. This may cause the seat heater to overheat.

NOTE
Use of the seat heater for a long period of time while the engine is not running can cause battery discharge.

1) HI – Rapid heating
2) LO – Normal heating
3) OFF – Off
A) Left-hand side
B) Right-hand side

The seat heater operates when the ignition switch is either in the “Acc” or “ON” position.

To turn on the seat heater, press the “LO” or “HI” position on the switch, as desired, depending on the temperature.

Selecting the “HI” position will cause the seat to heat up quicker.

To turn off the seat heater, lightly press the opposite side of the current position.

The indicator next to the switch illuminates when the seat heater is in operation.

When the vehicle’s interior is warmed enough or before you leave the vehicle, be sure to turn the switch off.

Exterior

Rear seats