Subaru Outback Manuals 2018 Outback Owner's Manual | Page 59

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Front seatbelt pretensioners belt more effectively restrains the driver. 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 retractor remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt cannot be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced. NOTE . Seatbelt pretensioners are not de- signed to activate in minor impacts. . In cases of rollover accidents, as the SRS curtain airbags deploy, the seat- belt pretensioners are activated simul- taneously. . In cases of frontal collisions, the following components will operate si- multaneously. – Seatbelt pretensioner for driver – Seatbelt pretensioner for front passenger – SRS frontal airbag for driver – SRS frontal airbag for front pas- senger* – SRS seat cushion airbag for dri- ver – SRS seat cushion airbag for front passenger* – SRS curtain airbags (both sides) (if an offset frontal collision occurs) *: This does not operate if the occupant detection system deactivates airbag op- eration. For details, refer to “Front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag” F1-52. . In cases of side collisions, the following components will operate si- multaneously. – SRS curtain airbag (impacted side) – SRS side airbag (impacted side) (when any of the center pillar impact sensors/front door impact sensors senses an impact force) – Seatbelt pretensioner for driver (when the driver’s side front door impact sensor senses an impact force) – Seatbelt pretensioner for front passenger (when the front passen- ger’s side front door impact sensor senses an impact force) . Pretensioners are designed to func- tion 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 seat- 1-25 belt 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 pre- tensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. . If the front seatbelt retractor assem- bly or surrounding area has been damaged, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. . When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to inform the buyer that the vehicle is equipped with seatbelt preten- sioners. Also, notify the buyer of the contents of this section. WARNING . To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seat- belts properly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts” F1-16. . Do not modify, remove or strike the front seatbelt retractor as- semblies or surrounding area. This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt preten- sioners or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in serious injury. Seatbelt preten- – CONTINUED –