Subaru Legacy BN/BS (2015-2019) Owners Manual: SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system, SRS seat cushion airbag, SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag

Your vehicle is equipped with a SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system that complies with the new advanced frontal airbag requirements in the amended Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208.

The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system automatically determines the deployment 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 deployment.

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.

Your vehicle is equipped with a SUBARU SRS curtain airbag system that complies with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 226.

For the locations of the SRS airbags, refer to "Components" .

In a moderate to severe frontal collision, the following components deploy.

•  SRS frontal airbag for driver
•  SRS frontal airbag for front passenger
•  SRS seat cushion airbags
•  SRS curtain airbag*1

*1: When an offset frontal collision that is severe enough to deploy the front airbag occurs.

These components supplement the seatbelts by reducing the impact to the occupant's head and chest.

In a moderate to severe side impact collision, the SRS side airbag on the impacted side 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 side 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 and seatbelt pretensioner are not 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 airbag

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 system sensor located under the seat.

The system has another sensor that monitors the tension of the front passenger's seatbelt. Using the total seat load and seatbelt tension data from the sensors, the occupant detection system determines 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.

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 dealer 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. Do not let anyone use the front passenger's seat while you are driving the vehicle to your SUBARU dealer.

Passenger's frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators

Refer to "Front passenger's frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators" .

Occupant detection system

The occupant detection system sensor is installed under the seat and monitors the total load on the front passenger's seat.

The system has another sensor that monitors the tension of the front passenger's seatbelt. Using the total seat load and seatbelt tension data from the sensors, the occupant detection system determines whether the following airbags should be deployed or not.

•  Front passenger's SRS frontal airbag
•  Front passenger's SRS seat cushion airbag

/ : Front passenger's frontal airbag ON indicator
/ : Front passenger's frontal airbag OFF indicator

If the front passenger's frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators do not work properly even when the front passenger's seat is dry, do not allow anyone to sit on the front passenger's seat and have the occupant detection system checked by your SUBARU dealer.

Conditions in which front passenger'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 an appropriate child restraint system and an infant is restrained in it. (See WARNING that follows.)
•  The front passenger's occupant detection system is malfunctioning.

If the front passenger's frontal airbag 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" , 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 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) If the ON indicator still remains illuminated while the OFF indicator turns off after taking relevant corrective actions described 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. Children should always wear a seatbelt when sitting in the seat irrespective of whether the airbag is deactivated or activated. 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 illuminated 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 immediately 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 who have outgrown a child restraint system should always wear the seatbelt irrespective of whether the airbag is deactivated or activated.

 Conditions in which front passenger'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 conditions is met regarding the front passenger's seat.

•  When the seat is occupied by an adult.
•  When a heavy article is placed on the seat.

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 incorrectly 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-forward 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. Following 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 illuminated while the ON indicator remains off, ask the occupant to move to the rear seat and immediately contact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection.

How to contact the vehicle manufacturer concerning modifications for persons with disabilities that may affect the advanced airbag system

Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, seatbelts, front bumper, front side frame, instrument panel, combination meter, steering wheel, steering column, tire, suspension or floor panel can affect the operation of the SUBARU advanced airbag 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)

<Hawaii>
Subaru Hawaii
2850 Pukoloa Street, Suite 202,
Honolulu, HI 96819-4467
808-839-2273

<Guam>
Shen's Corporation dba Prestige Automobile
491, East Marine Corps Drive, Route 1
Dededo, Guam 96921-6255
671-633-2698

<Puerto Rico>
Trebol Motors
P.O. Box 11204, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00910
787-793-2828

<Canada>
Subaru Canada, Inc.
Consumer Support Department
560 Suffork Court, Mississauga, Ontario
L5R 4J7
1-800-894-4212

There are currently no SUBARU distributors in any other U.S. territories. If you are in such an area, please contact the SUBARU distributor or dealer from which you bought your vehicle.