Subaru Forester: Seatbelt warning light and chime / Driver’s and front passenger’s seats

With the ignition switch turned to the “ON” position, this device reminds the driver and front passenger to fasten their seatbelts by illuminating the warning lights in the locations indicated in the following illustration and sounding a chime.

Driver’s seat

Front passenger’s seat

Operation

When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, the driver’s and/or front passenger’s warning light will illuminate, then it will blink for several seconds. If the seatbelt of the driver’s seat is not fastened, the warning chime may make a peep sound.

NOTE

If the driver’s and/or front passenger’s seatbelt(s) are/is not fastened while driving, the seatbelt warning device operates as follows according to the vehicle speed.

• The warning light will illuminate when driving approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) or less.
  • The warning light will blink, and the warning chime will make a peep sound when driving between approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) and 13 mph (20 km/h). The warning chime will stop when the vehicle stops.
  • The warning light will blink, and the warning chime will sound loudly when 15 seconds have elapsed while driving between approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) and 13 mph (20 km/h).
  • The warning light will blink, and the warning chime will sound loudly when driving approximately more than 13 mph (20 km/h).
• The warning light will turn off and the warning chime will stop when the seatbelt is fastened.
• The seatbelt warning system can be cancelled. However, when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position after it is turned to the “OFF” position, the warning device settings will be restored. For details about the warning cancellation, contact a SUBARU dealer.

If there is no passenger on the front passenger’s seat, the seatbelt warning device for the front passenger’s seat will be deactivated. The front passenger’s occupant detection system monitors whether or not there is a passenger on the front passenger’s seat.

CAUTION

• Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may prevent the device from functioning correctly or cause the device to fail.
• 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 occupant to place his/her hands or legs on the front passenger’s seatback, or allow him/her to pull the seatback.
• 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”.

If the seatbelt warning device for the front passenger’s seat does not function correctly (e.g., it is activated even when the front passenger’s seat is empty or it is deactivated even when the front passenger has not fastened his/her seatbelt), take the following actions.

• Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other than a child restraint system and its child occupant, although we strongly recommend that all children sit in the rear seat properly restrained.
• Ensure that there is no article left in the seatback pocket.
• Ensure that the backward-forward position and seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into place securely by moving the seat back and forth.

If still the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s seat does not function correctly after taking relevant corrective actions described above, immediately contact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection.