Subaru BRZ (2019 year). Manual

102

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

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 use the front passenger’s seat while driving
the vehicle to your SUBARU dealer.

NOTE
The front passenger’s SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag are not con-
trolled by the SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system.

■

Passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators
→P. 131

■

Occupant detection system

The occupant detection system sensor is installed under the seat upholstery
and monitors the physique and posture of the front passenger. Using this
information, the occupant detection system determines whether the front
passenger’s SRS frontal airbag should be deployed or not.
If the front passenger’s seat cushion is wet, this may adversely affect the
ability of the system to determine deployment. If the seat cushion is wet, the
front passenger should stop sitting on the front passenger’s seat. Wipe off
liquid from the seat immediately, let the seat dry naturally and then check the
SRS airbag system warning light as follows.

●

If the SRS airbag system warning light illuminates, keep the seat dry until
the warning light turns off. If the SRS airbag system warning light stays
on even when the seat has dried, do not allow anyone to sit on the front
passenger’s seat and have the system checked by your SUBARU dealer.

●

If the SRS airbag system warning light does not illuminate, check that the
front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF indicators work properly. If
the indicators do not work properly, do not allow anyone to sit on the front
passenger’s seat and have the system checked by your SUBARU dealer.

103

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

Also, if luggage or electronic devices are placed on the front passenger’s
seat, this may adversely affect the ability of the system to determine deploy-
ment. This may prevent the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON and OFF
indicators from working properly. Check that the indicators work properly.
When the OFF indicator turns off and the ON indicator illuminates, the front
passenger’s frontal airbag may deploy during a collision. Remove luggage
and electronic devices from the front passenger’s seat.

NOTE
This device complies with Part 18 of the FCC Rules. This device may cause
interference. If this device causes interference, consult the nearest SUBARU
dealer. Also, for maintenance of the system, consult the nearest SUBARU
dealer.

■

Conditions in which front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is not acti-
vated

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.

●

The occupant changed their posture after the occupant load is judged.

●

The front passenger’s occupant detection system is malfunctioning.

WARNING

When the front passenger’s seat is occupied by an infant in an appropriate
child restraint system, observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may
interfere with the proper operation of the occupant detection system, activating
the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag even though that seat is occupied by
the infant in the child restraint system.

●

Do not place any article (including electronic devices) on the seat other than
the infant in the child restraint system.

●

Do not place more than one infant in the child restraint system.

104

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

■

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)

Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without a keyless
access with push button start system), or turn the push-button ignition switch
off (vehicles with a keyless access with push button start system) 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). Remove the child restraint system from the seat. By
referring to the child restraint manufacturer’s recommendations as well as
the child restraint system installation procedures in “Child restraint systems”
(

→P. 141), correctly install the child restraint system. Turn the ignition switch

to the “ON” position (vehicles without a keyless access with push button start
system), or turn the push-button ignition switch to the “ON” mode (vehicles
with a keyless access with push button start system) 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 the backward-forward position and seatback of front passen-
ger’s seat are locked into place securely by moving the seat back and
forth.

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. The child should always wear
the seatbelt when sitting in the seat irrespective of whether the airbag is
deactivated or activated. If the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is acti-
vated (the ON indicator remains illuminated while the OFF indicator turns
off), take the following actions.

105

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

●

Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other than the occupant.

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 inspec-
tion, 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 are met regarding the front
passenger’s seat.

●

When the seat is occupied by an adult.

●

When a certain item(s) (e.g. jug of water) is placed on the seat.

106

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

■

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. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without a key-
less access with push button start system), or turn the push-button ignition
switch off (vehicles with a keyless access with push button start system).
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, posi-
tion his/her legs out forward, and adjust the seat to the rearmost position.
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position (vehicles without a keyless
access with push button start system), or turn the push-button ignition switch
to the “ON” mode (vehicles with a keyless access with push button start sys-
tem). If the OFF indicator remains illuminated while the ON indicator remains
off, take the following actions.

●

Vehicles without a keyless access with push button start system:
Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK” position.
Vehicles with a keyless access with push button start system:
Turn the push-button ignition switch off.

●

Make sure that the front passenger does not use a blanket, seat cushion,
seat cover, seat heater or massager, etc.

●

If wearing excessive layers of clothing, the front passenger should
remove any unnecessary items before sitting in the front passenger’s
seat, or should sit in a rear seat.

●

Next, 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 illu-
minate 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.

107

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

■

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, rear seat, seatbelts, front
bumper, front side frame, radiator panel, 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 Retailer Services Department
One Subaru Drive
Camden, NJ 08103-8500
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 96921-6225
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 Suffolk 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.

108

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

■

Operation

Driver's side

Passenger’s side

SRS AIRBAGs deploy as soon as a

collision occurs.

After deployment, SRS AIRBAGs start

to deflate immediately so that the
driver’s vision is not obstructed.

SRS AIRBAGs deploy as soon as a

collision occurs.

After deployment, SRS AIRBAGs start

to deflate immediately so that the
driver's vision is not obstructed.

109

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

The SRS airbag can function only when the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position.

The SUBARU advanced frontal airbag system is designed to determine the
activation or deactivation condition of the front passenger’s SRS frontal air-
bag depending on the characteristic of the item(s) or person on the front
passenger’s seat monitored by the front passenger’s occupant detection
system sensor. For this reason, only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag may
deploy in the event of a collision, but this does not mean failure of the sys-
tem.

If the front sub sensors and the impact sensors in the airbag control module
detect a predetermined amount of force during a frontal collision, the control
module sends signals to the airbag module(s) (only driver’s module or both
driver’s and front passenger’s modules) instructing the module(s) to inflate
the SRS frontal airbag(s).

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags use dual stage infla-
tors. The two inflators of each airbag are triggered either sequentially or
simultaneously, depending on the severity of impact, in the case of the
driver’s SRS frontal airbag and depending on the severity of impact and the
characteristic of the item(s) or person on the seat in the case of the front
passenger’s SRS frontal airbag.

After deployment, the SRS airbag immediately starts to deflate so that the
driver’s vision is not obstructed. The time required from detecting impact to
the deflation of the SRS airbag after deployment is shorter than the blink of
an eye.

Both when only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag deploys and the driver’s and
front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags deploy, the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seatbelt pretensioners operate at the same time.

Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS airbag would activate in a non-
accident situation, should it occur, the SRS airbag will deflate quickly, not
obscuring vision and will not interfere with the driver's ability to maintain con-
trol of the vehicle.

When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud inflation noise will be
heard and some smoke will be released. These occurrences are a normal
result of the deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

110

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

The driver’s SRS frontal airbag and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag are
designed to deploy in the event of an accident involving a moderate to
severe frontal collision. They are not designed to deploy in most lesser fron-
tal impacts because the necessary protection can be achieved by the seat-
belt alone. Also, they are not designed to deploy in most side or rear impacts
or in most roll-over accidents because deployment of only the driver’s SRS
frontal airbag or both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags
would not help the occupant in those situations. The driver’s and front pas-
senger’s SRS frontal airbags are designed to function on a one-time-only
basis.

SRS airbag deployment depends on the level of force experienced in the
passenger compartment during a collision. That level differs from one type of
collision to another, and it may have no bearing on the visible damage done
to the vehicle itself.

■

Example of accident in which the driver’s/driver’s and front passen-
ger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will most likely deploy

A head-on collision against a thick concrete wall at a vehicle speeds of 12 to
19 mph (20 to 30 km/h) or higher activates only the driver’s SRS frontal air-
bag or both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags. The airbag(s)
will also be activated when the vehicle is exposed to a frontal impact similar
in fashion and magnitude to the collision described above.

111

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

■

Examples of the types of accidents in which it is possible that the
driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will deploy

■

Examples of the types of accidents in which deployment of the
driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) is unlikely
to occur

There are many types of collisions which might not necessarily require
deployment of driver’s/driver’s and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s).
In the event of accidents like those illustrated, the driver’s/driver’s and front
passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) may not deploy depending on the level of
accident forces involved.

Only the driver’s SRS frontal airbag or
both driver’s and front passenger’s SRS
frontal airbags may be activated when the
vehicle sustains a hard impact in the
undercarriage area from the road surface
(such as when the vehicle plunges into a
deep ditch, is severely impacted or
knocked hard against an obstacle on the
road such as a curb).

The vehicle strikes an object, such as a
telephone pole or sign pole.

113

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

■

Examples of the types of accidents in which the driver’s/driver’s and
front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will basically not deploy

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS
frontal airbags are designed not to deploy
in most cases if the vehicle is struck from
the side or from behind, or if it rolls onto
its side or roof, or if it is involved in a low-
speed frontal collision.

First impact

Second impact

In an accident where the vehicle is
impacted more than once, the driver’s
and/or front passenger’s SRS frontal air-
bag(s) will deploy only once on the first
impact.

Example: In the case of a double colli-
sion, first with another vehicle, then
against a concrete wall in immediate suc-
cession, once either or both of the driver’s
and front passenger’s SRS frontal air-
bags is/are activated on the first impact,
it/they will not be activated on the second
impact.

114

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

WARNING

■

If the SRS airbags deploy

Do not touch the SRS airbag system components around the steering wheel
and dashboard with bare hands right after deployment. Doing so can cause
burns because the components can be very hot as a result of deployment.

■

Child restraint precautions

NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER’S SEAT EVEN IF THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SRS FRON-
TAL AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. Be sure to install it in the REAR seat in a
correct manner. Also, it is strongly recommended that any forward facing
child seat or booster seat be installed in the REAR seat, and that even chil-
dren who have outgrown a child restraint system be also seated in the
REAR seat. This is because children sitting in the front passenger’s seat
may be killed or severely injured should the front passenger’s SRS frontal
airbag deploy. REAR seats are the safest place for children.

115

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag

The SRS side airbag is stored in the door side of each front seat
seatback, which bears an “SRS AIRBAG” label.

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
on the occupant’s chest and waist. The SRS side airbag operates
only for front seat occupants.

The SRS curtain airbag on each side of the cabin is stored in the roof
side (between the front pillar and a point over the rear seat). An “SRS
AIRBAG” mark is located at the top of each front and rear pillar.
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 on the occupant’s head.

If the vehicle is extremely inclined such as when it is involved in a roll-
over accident, the SRS curtain airbags will deploy along with the
driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt pretensioners to help reduce
the impact to the occupants’ heads.

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

116

1-7. Safety information

BRZ_U

■

Operation

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag can function only when the
ignition switch is in the “ON” position.

The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS side airbags and SRS curtain air-
bags deploy independently of each other since each has its own impact sen-
sor. Therefore, they may not both deploy in the same accident. Also, the
SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deploys independently of the
driver’s and front passenger’s SRS front airbags in the steering wheel and
instrument panel.

A rollover sensor is also located inside the airbag control module.

An impact sensor, which senses impact force, is located in each of the left
and right center pillars, doors and rear wheel houses. Another impact sen-
sor, which also senses impact force, is located under the center of the rear
seats.

If the impact sensor that is located under the center of the rear seats and
one of the center pillar impact sensors or door impact sensors together
sense an impact force above a predetermined level in a side collision, the
control module causes both the SRS side airbag and curtain airbag on the
impacted side to inflate regardless of whether the rear wheel house impact
sensor on the same side senses an impact.

If the impact sensor that is located under the center of the rear seats and
one of the rear wheel house impact sensors together sense an impact force
above a predetermined level, the control module causes only the SRS cur-
tain airbag on the impacted side to inflate.

If the rollover sensor detects rollover of the vehicle, the control module
inflates the SRS curtain airbags. At this time, the driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seatbelt pretensioners also operate at the same time.

117

1-7. Safety information

Be
fo

riv

BRZ_U

After the deployment, the SRS side airbag immediately starts to deflate. The
time required from detection of an impact to deflation of an SRS side airbag
after deployment is shorter than the blink of an eye.

The SRS curtain airbag remains inflated for a while following deployment
then slowly deflates.

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deploy even when no one
occupies the seat on the side on which an impact is applied.

When the SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deploy, a sudden, fairly
loud inflation noise will be heard and some smoke will be released. These
occurrences are a normal result of the deployment. This smoke does not
indicate a fire in the vehicle.

The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag are designed to deploy in the
event of an accident involving a moderate to severe side impact collision.
They are not designed to deploy in most lesser side impact. Also, they are
not designed to deploy in most frontal or most rear impacts because SRS
side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deployment would not help the occupant
in those situations.

The SRS curtain airbags are also designed to deploy when the vehicle is in
an extremely inclined state such as during a rollover. They are not designed
to deploy in most lesser inclined state.

Each SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag are designed to function on a
one-time-only basis.

SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deployment depend on the level of
force experienced in the passenger compartment during a side impact colli-
sion. That level differs from one type of collision to another, and it may have
no bearing on the visible damage done to the vehicle itself.

Subaru BRZ (2019 year). Manual - part 7