Seatbelt with shoulder belt and lap belt pretensioners

NOTE

This section is applicable to the front passenger’s side seatbelt.

On the front passenger’s side, the


On the front passenger’s side, the shoulder belt pretensioner is supplemented by a lap belt pretensioner, which is located at the base of the center pillar.

Like the shoulder belt pretensioner, the lap belt pretensioner instantaneously pulls in the belt to eliminate slack if a certain level of frontal or side collision force or a rollover accident is detected. As a result, the seatbelt restrains the front seat occupant more effectively.

When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an operating noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke will be released.

These occurrences are normal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

Once the seatbelt pretensioner has been activated, the seatbelt pretensioner remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.

NOTE

Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to activate in minor impacts.

In cases of rollover accidents, the lap belt pretensioner does not activate; however, as the curtain airbags deploy, the driver’s side seatbelt pretensioner and front passenger’s side shoulder belt pretensioner are activated simultaneously.

In cases of frontal collisions, the following components will operate simultaneously.

– Seatbelt pretensioner for driver – Seatbelt pretensioners for front passenger (shoulder belt pretensioner only)
– SRS frontal airbag for driver – SRS frontal airbag for front passenger* – SRS side airbags (both sides) (if an offset frontal collision occurs) – SRS curtain airbags (both sides) (if an offset frontal collision occurs) *: This does not operate if the occupant detection system deactivates airbag operation.

For details, refer to “Front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag” .

In cases of side collisions, the following components will operate simultaneously.

– SRS curtain airbag (impacted side)
– SRS side airbag (impacted side) (when both the satellite safing sensor and any of the center pillar impact sensors/front door impact sensors sense an impact force) – Seatbelt pretensioner for driver (when both the satellite safing sensor and the driver’s side front door impact sensor sense an impact force)
– Seatbelt pretensioner for front passenger (shoulder belt pretensioner only) (when both the satellite safing sensor and the front passenger’s side front door impact sensor sense an impact force)

Pretensioners are designed to function  on a one-time-only basis. In the event that a pretensioner is activated, both the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt retractor assemblies should be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assemblies, use only genuine SUBARU parts.

If either front seatbelt does not retract or cannot be pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

If the front seatbelt retractor assembly or surrounding area has been damaged, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to explain to the buyer that it has seatbelt pretensioners by alerting the buyer to the contents of this section.

WARNING

To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts” .

Do not modify, remove or strike the front seatbelt retractor assemblies or surrounding area.

This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pretensioners or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in serious injury. Seatbelt pretensioners have no user-serviceable parts. For required servicing of front seatbelt retractors equipped with seatbelt pretensioners, consult your SUBARU dealer.

When discarding front seatbelt retractor assemblies or scrapping the entire vehicle due to collision damage or for other reasons, consult your SUBARU dealer.