Subaru FORESTER 5th Generation 2019-2024 Operation Car Owner Manuals

Subaru FORESTER 5th Generation 2019-2024 Operation

Operation

A) Driver’s side
B) Passenger’s side

1. SRS AIRBAGs deploy as soon as a collision occurs.
2. After deployment, SRS AIRBAGs start to deflate immediately so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed.

The SRS airbags function only when the ignition switch is in the “ON” position. The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system determines activation or deactivation of the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag based on the item(s) or person on the front passenger’s seat monitored by the occupant detection system sensor. For this reason, only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag may deploy in certain collisions, which does not indicate a system failure.

If the following sensors detect a predetermined amount of force during a frontal collision, the control module sends signals to the airbag module(s) to inflate the SRS frontal airbag(s):

• Front sub sensors
• Impact sensors in the airbag control module

On the driver’s side, the SRS knee airbag also inflates with the SRS frontal airbag.

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags use dual-stage inflators, triggered sequentially or simultaneously depending on impact severity and, for the front passenger, on the item(s) or person on the seat.

After deployment, the SRS airbag immediately starts to deflate so that the driver’s vision is unobstructed and vehicle control is maintained. The time from detecting impact to deflation is shorter than the blink of an eye.

When SRS airbags deploy, the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt pretensioners operate simultaneously. A sudden inflation noise and minor smoke may occur; these are normal and do not indicate fire.

Design and Limitations

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags are designed to:

• Deploy in moderate to severe frontal collisions
• Function on a one-time-only basis

They are not designed to:

• Deploy in most lesser frontal impacts*1
• Deploy in most side or rear impacts, or most roll-over accidents*2

SRS airbag deployment depends on the force experienced in the passenger compartment, which may differ from visible vehicle damage.

Examples of Deployment

Accidents in which driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags will most likely deploy:

Head-on collision against a thick concrete wall at 12–19 mph (20–30 km/h) or higher, or similar frontal impact.

Accidents in which deployment may occur:

Hard undercarriage impacts, deep ditch plunges, or collisions with road obstacles like curbs.

Accidents in which deployment is unlikely:

1. Striking an object such as a telephone pole or sign pole.
2. Sliding under the load bed of a truck.
3. Oblique offset frontal impacts.
4. Offset frontal collisions.
5. Striking movable or deformable objects like parked vehicles.

Not all collisions require airbag deployment; the system responds to the level of forces involved.