2009 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 30

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-5 WARNING To prevent the passenger from sliding under the seatbelt in the event of a collision, always put the seatback in the upright position while the vehicle is in motion. Also, do not place objects such as cushions between the passenger and the seatback. If you do so, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death. To lower it, push the head restraint down while pressing the release button on the top of the seatback. The head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head restraint is closest to the top of the occupant's ears. WARNING Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed because they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury in the event that the vehicle is struck from the rear. equipped with active head restraints. They automatically tilt forward slightly in the event the vehicle is struck from the rear, decreasing the amount of rearward head movement and thus reducing the risk of whiplash. For maximum effectiveness, the head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head restraint is closest to the top of the occupant's ears. CAUTION . Each active head restraint is effective only when its height is properly adjusted and driver/passenger sits in the correct position on the seat. . If your vehicle is involved in a rear-end collision, have an authorized SUBARU dealer inspect the active head restraints. . The active head restraints may not operate in the event the vehicle experiences only a slight impact in the rear. . The active head restraints may be damaged if they are pushed hard from behind or subjected to shock. As a result, they may not function if the vehicle suffers a rear impact. & Head restraint adjustment & Active head restraint To raise the head restraint, pull it up. The front seats of your vehicle are