Subaru Forester 2019-2026 Owners Manual / Driving tips / Trailer towing / Trailer Hitches

Subaru Forester: Trailer towing / Trailer Hitches

WARNING

Never drill the frame or under-body of your vehicle to install a commercial trailer hitch. If you do, dangerous exhaust gas, water or mud may enter the passenger compartment through the drilled hole. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas which is dangerous, or even lethal, if inhaled. Also, drilling the frame or underbody of your vehicle could cause deterioration of strength of your vehicle and cause corrosion around the drilled hole.

CAUTION

Do not modify the vehicle exhaust system, brake system, or other systems when installing a hitch or other trailer towing equipment.
Do not use axle-mounted hitches as they can cause damage to the axle housing, wheel bearings, wheels or tires.

Do not use a trailer hitch other than a genuine SUBARU trailer hitch. A genuine SUBARU trailer hitch is available from your SUBARU dealer.

Tongue load

When you do not tow a trailer

CAUTION The housing should be kept dirt and corrosion-free at the points of contact. The surfaces only require cleaning with a cloth. Grease or other lubricants should never be used...

Other information:

Subaru Forester 2019-2026 Owners Manual: Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS curtain airbag will most likely deploy

The vehicle is involved in a severe side impact near the front seat or the rear seat. The vehicle rolls onto its side or the roof. The angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal or the skidding vehicle’s tires hit a curbstone laterally. An offset frontal collision that is severe enough to deploy the front airbag...

Subaru Forester 2019-2026 Owners Manual: To hook the top tether

CAUTION Remove the head restraint when mounting a child restraint system. Otherwise, the top tether cannot be fastened tightly. Store the head restraint that has been removed in the cargo area. Avoid placing the head restraint in the passenger compartment, as it could be thrown around in the passenger compartment in a sudden stop or a sharp turn...

Windshield wiper and washer switches

The wiper operates only when the ignition switch is in the “ON” or “ACC” position.