2011 Subaru Outback Owner's Manual - Page 323

In case of emergency 9-13 procedures for safety. longer be seen. & Towing and tie-down hooks The towing hooks should be used only in an emergency (e.g., to free a stuck vehicle from mud, sand or snow). CAUTION . Use only the specified towing hooks and tie-down hooks. Never use suspension parts or other parts of the body for towing or tie-down purposes. . Never use the tie-down hook closest to the muffler under the vehicle for towing purposes. . To prevent deformation to the bumper and the towing hook, do not apply excessive lateral load to the towing hooks. Front towing hook: 1. Take out the towing hook and screwdriver from the on board tool bucket. Take out the jack handle from the trunk (Legacy) or cargo area (Outback). 2. Pry off the cover on the front bumper using a screwdriver, and you will find a threaded hole for attaching the towing hook. 4. Tighten the towing hook securely using the jack handle. After towing, remove the towing hook from the vehicle and stow it in the tool bucket. Fit the towing hook cover on the bumper. WARNING . Do not use the towing hook except when towing your vehicle. . Be sure to remove the towing hook after towing. Leaving the towing hook mounted on the vehicle could interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag system in a frontal collision. - CONTINUED - 3. Screw the towing hook into the threaded hole until the threads can no