Subaru Forester: Child restraint systems / Installing forward facing child restraint

WARNING

• NEVER INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
• Before installing a child restraint system, be sure to confirm that the seatback is securely locked into place. Otherwise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result.

1. Shake the seatback slightly to confirm that it is securely locked into place.
   • Check the red colored unlocking marker which is attached to the bottom of the lock release knob is not visible. For details, refer to “Folding down the rear seatback”.

   

2. Remove the head restraint of the rear seating position where the child restraint system is to be installed. For details, refer to “Head restraints”.

   CAUTION

   Store the head restraint that has been removed in the cargo area. Avoid placing the head restraint in the passenger compartment to prevent it from being thrown around in the passenger compartment in a sudden stop or a sharp turn.

3. For models with rear seat reclining mechanism, adjust the seatback to the upright position.
4. Place the child restraint system in the rear seating position.

   WARNING

   When you intend to install a child restraint system on the rear center seating position, if the child restraint system does not fit snugly against the contours of the rear center seat cushion, install the child restraint system on the window-side seating position to be safe. For details, refer to “Where to place a child restraint system”.

   

5. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the child restraint system following the instructions provided by its manufacturer.
   • When a child restraint system is installed on the rear center seating position, pass the rear center seatbelt through the belt guide properly. For details, refer to “Rear center seatbelt”.
6. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.

   

7. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
8. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the retractor to change the retractor over from the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function. Then, allow the belt to rewind into the retractor. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indicate the retractor functions as ALR.

   

9. Before having a child sit in the child restraint system, try to move it back and forth and right and left to check if it is firmly secured. Sometimes a child restraint system can be more firmly secured by pushing it down into the seat cushion and then tightening the seatbelt.
10. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt to confirm that it cannot be pulled out (ALR properly functioning).

    

11. Latch the top tether hook onto the tether anchorage that is located behind the rear seat and tighten the top tether firmly. For additional instructions, refer to “Top tether anchorages”.

    

12. To remove the child restraint system, press the release button on the seatbelt buckle and allow the belt to retract completely. The belt will return to the ELR mode.

    Remember that the head restraint is not intended to be used at the lowest position (retracted position). Therefore, when the rear center seat is occupied (including when a child restraint system is installed) next time, be sure to raise the head restraint to the extended position.

    NOTE

    When the child restraint system is no longer in use, remove it and restore the ELR function of the retractor. That function is restored by allowing the seatbelt to retract fully.