2011 Subaru Outback Owner's Manual - Page 292

Starting and operating 7-35 cause unnecessary wear on the brake linings. Before starting to drive, always make sure that the parking brake has been released and the brake system warning light has turned off. Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic parking brake. You can apply/release the parking brake by operating the parking brake switch. To apply: Depress the brake pedal and press the parking brake switch firmly. To release: Pull the parking brake switch toward you while the ignition switch is in the "ON" position and the brake pedal (all models) and the clutch pedal (MT models) are depressed. When the parking brake is applied while the ignition switch is in the "ON" position, the brake system warning light and the indicator light on the parking brake switch illuminate. Refer to "Brake system warning light" F3-17. without depressing the brake pedal or the clutch pedal, the parking brake is not released. . When the parking brake is being applied or released, noise may be noticed. However, this is not a malfunction. . When the electronic parking brake system has a malfunction or the electronic parking brake operation is prohibited temporarily, if the parking brake switch is operated, a chirp sound is heard and the brake system warning light flashes. . When you cannot release the parking brake due to, for example, a system malfunction, you can release it by using the parking brake release tool. Refer to "Electronic parking brake - if the electronic parking brake cannot be released" F9-16. ! Automatic release function by accelerator pedal The electronic parking brake system has an automatic release function. The parking brake will be automatically released by depressing the accelerator pedal. However, the automatic release function does not operate under the following conditions. . Any door (other than the trunk lid or rear gate) is open. . The driver's seatbelt is not fastened. If the parking brake is automatically released, the brake system warning light and the indicator on the parking brake switch turn off. NOTE Even if you have applied the parking brake by pressing the parking brake switch, the parking brake will be automatically released when the accelerator pedal is depressed. ! Hill Holder function The electronic parking brake system has a Hill Holder function. If the Hill Holder function is activated, the parking brake will be automatically applied when stopping on an uphill slope with the brake pedal depressed. In this case, the brake system warning light and the indicator light on the parking brake switch illuminate. NOTE . The Hill Holder function may not activate on a gentle uphill slope. In this case, manually apply the electronic parking brake. . If you do not depress the brake pedal sufficiently, the Hill Holder function may not operate properly. However, this is not a malfunction. When - CONTINUED - NOTE . If the parking brake switch is pulled with the ignition switch in the "Acc" or "LOCK" position, the parking brake is not released. . If the parking brake switch is pulled