Subaru 2016 Forester User manual

2016
Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
Quick Reference Guide
Forester
Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Plaza,
P.O. Box 6000, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000
MSA5B1602A
Issued September 2015
Printed in USA 09/15

Complete U.S. specications and
illustrations may not have been
available at time of publication.
Specications are based on the
latest product information available
at time of publication. Some
images shown are for illustration
purposes only. Some equipment
shown may be optional at extra
cost. Specic options may be
available only in combination
with other options. Specic
combinations of equipment or
features may vary from time
to time and by geographic
area. Certain accessories and
equipment may not be available
at the time of publication.
This Quick Reference Guide
applies to all Forester models.
Therefore, some explanations may
be for equipment not installed on
your vehicle. Subaru of America,
Inc., reserves the right to change
or discontinue at any time,
without notice, prices, colors,
materials, equipment, accessories,
specications, models and
packages without incurring any
obligation to make the same or
similar changes on vehicles
previously sold. Colors shown may
vary due to reproduction process.
For detailed operating and
safety information, please
consult the Owner’s Manual.
Subaru, Outback, Legacy,
Forester, Impreza, WRX, WRX STI,
BOXER, SI-DRIVE, Lineartronic,
Alcantara, EyeSight, HD Radio,
Aha Radio, and SiriusXM are
registered trademarks. SUBARU
STARLINK is a trademark of
Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.
All rights reserved. Contents may
not be reprinted or electronically
reproduced in whole or in part
without prior written approval
of Subaru of America, Inc.
© 2015 Subaru of America, Inc.

Table of Contents
2-5 Getting Started
6-7 Instrument Panel
8-11 Gauges
12-13 Personalize
14-21 Controls
22-23 While Operating
24-25 Safety/In Case of Emergency
26-27 Additional Information

3
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
2
Seating
10-Way Power Driver’s Seat (if equipped)
1. Forward/Backward, Angle
and Height
Move the switch toward the front
or rear to move the seat forward
or backward. Pull the switch up
or push down on the front of the
switch to adjust the angle of the
seat cushion. Pulling the switch
straight up or pushing the switch
straight down will adjust the height
of the entire seat cushion.
2. Seatback
Move the switch in the
corresponding direction to adjust
the angle of the seatback.
3. Lumbar Support
Press the front part of the switch
to increase lumbar support;
press the rear part of the switch
to decrease lumbar support.
Heated Seats (if equipped)
Press the switch in the corresponding direction for the desired seat temperature. To
turn off the seat heater, slightly press in the opposite direction of the current position.
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyless Access with Push-Button
Start System (if equipped)
By simply carrying the access key in your pocket, you can
lock and unlock doors, open the rear gate and start your car
without ever having to take the key fob out of your pocket.
1
2
3
1. Lock/Arm
• Press to lock all doors and the rear gate.
• If any of the doors or the rear gate are
not fully closed, an electronic chirp
will sound and the hazard lights will
ash to alert you that the doors or the
rear gate are not properly closed.
• To activate the vehicle nder function,
press three times (within ve seconds).
If you are within 30 feet of the vehicle,
the horn will sound one time and the
hazard lights will ash three times.
2. Unlock/Disarm
• Press once to unlock the driver’s door.
• Press twice (within ve seconds) to
unlock all doors.
• When the “Unlock/Disarm” button is
pressed, the dome and map lights will
illuminate if the dome light switch is in
the middle position.
3. Unlocking the Rear Gate
• Press the button to unlock the rear gate.
4. Panic Alarm
• Press once and the horn will sound
and the hazard lights will ash.
• Press any button on the remote
to deactivate.
1
2 3
4
1
2
3
4
Getting Started

5
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
4
Seat Controls
1. Forward/Backward
Pull up on the lever below the front of
the driver’s seat to move the seat forward
or backward.
2.Raise/Lower Seat Cushion
To adjust the height of the driver’s seat,
pull up or push down the seat height
adjustment lever, located on the lower left side front of the seat.
3. Recline Seatback
To adjust the seatback to the desired position, pull up on the recline lever, located on the
lower left rear of the driver’s seat or lower right rear of the passenger’s seat. Do not adjust
seats while driving.
1
23
Seating
Folding the Rear Seat
Lower the headrests. Pull up on the release
knob on the seat side that you want to fold
down. To return the seatback to its original
position, raise the seatback until it locks into
place, making sure that it is securely locked.
Getting Started

7
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
6
Instrument Panel
8-11 16-1921
Clock
Press the “+” button to advance time
or the “–” button to reverse the time.
For vehicles with a navigation system,
please refer to the separate “Operating
Instructions for Navigation System.”
1422
PAGE
NUMBER 20
Instrument
Panel

9
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
8
Trip meter A/B
selection and trip
meter reset knob
Information display
selection knob
SpeedometerTrip meter and odometer
Fuel gauge
Forester 2.5i
Forester 2.5i Premium
Tachometer
Gauges
Seatbelt warning
Front passenger
seatbelt warning
SRS airbag system
Security indicator light
Door open
Charge warning
Oil pressure warning
Power steering warning
Brake system
Hot coolant temperature /
Cold coolant temperature
High beam indicator light
AT OIL TEMP
(Automatic Transmission)
ABS warning
Low fuel
All-Wheel Drive
(Automatic Transmission)
Windshield washer
uid warning
Vehicle Dynamics
Control/Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF
CHECK ENGINE /
Malfunction indicator
Tire pressure warning light
Front passenger airbag ON
Front passenger airbag OFF
Incline start assist
Engine oil level warning light
Smart key system
(if equipped)
Turn signals
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)
Headlight indicator light
Cruise control
indicator light
Cruise control set
indicator light
Immediate Attention
Caution
Informational
Gauges

11
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
10
Gauges
Forester 2.5i Limited
Forester 2.5i Touring
Forester 2.0i XT Premium
Forester 2.0i XT Touring
Seatbelt warning
Front passenger
seatbelt warning
SRS airbag system
Security indicator light
Door open
Charge warning
Oil pressure warning
Power steering warning
Brake system
Hot coolant temperature /
Cold coolant temperature
High beam indicator light
AT OIL TEMP
(Automatic Transmission)
ABS warning
Low fuel
All-Wheel Drive
(Automatic Transmission)
Headlight leveler
(if equipped)
Vehicle Dynamics
Control/Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF
CHECK ENGINE /
Malfunction indicator
Tire pressure warning light
Front passenger airbag ON
Front passenger airbag OFF
Incline start assist
Engine oil level warning light
Windshield washer
uid warning
Smart key system
(if equipped)
Turn signals
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)
Headlight indicator light
Cruise control
indicator light
Cruise control set
indicator light
Hill descent control
(if equipped)
Immediate Attention
Caution
Informational
Gauges
Trip meter A/B
selection and trip
meter reset knob
Information display
selection knob
SpeedometerTrip meter and odometer
Fuel gauge
Tachometer

13
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
12
Power Exterior Mirrors
Turn the knob to the “L” side to adjust the left-hand mirror or to the “R” side to adjust the
right-hand mirror. Move the knob in the direction you want to move the mirror. Then return
the knob to the neutral/center position.
Personalize
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
Push the lever down rmly to adjust the height and lengthwise position of the column; rmly
push the lever back up to lock the column in place. Do not adjust while driving.
Power Moonroof (if equipped)
With the moonroof in the fully closed position, press the switch 1to fully open
the moonroof. Press the switch 2to close the moonroof. To stop the moonroof
in a midway position while opening or closing, momentarily press the switch to
the 1side or 2side.
Vehicles equipped with EyeSight and/or
STARLINK Safety and Security System
1
2
Personalize

15
Getting Started
Instrument
Panel Gauges Personalize Controls While
Operating
Safety/In Case
of Emergency
Additional
Information
14
Controls
While the light switch is on, rotate the dial downward to dim the instrument panel illumination.
Rotate the dial upward to make the illumination brighter. When the dial is fully rotated upward,
the instrument panel illumination becomes fully bright.
Windshield Wipers
To turn on the wipers, press the wiper control lever down one level for intermittent,
two levels for low, or three levels for high speed. Return the lever to the “OFF”
position to stop the wipers. For a single wipe, move the lever up. To spray washer
uid, pull and hold the lever toward you.
To operate the rear wiper, rotate the end of the knob upward to the intermittent,
continuous, or wash position. When the rear wiper is off, rotate the knob
downward to wash and wipe the rear window.
Daytime Running Lights
Daytime running lights are standard on your vehicle. Only a reduced brightness
high beam will be automatically turned on when the engine has started, the
parking brake is fully released and the light switch is in the “OFF” or “ ”
position. The brightness of the illumination of the high beam headlights is reduced
by the daytime running light system. You must always switch on your headlights
when it is dark outside by turning the light switch to the “ ” position.
Light Controls
1
2
3
INT.
LOW
HIGH
OFF
AUTO (if equipped): The vehicle’s
lights are automatically turned on or off
depending on the level of the outside light.
Turns on
fog lights
(if equipped).
Turns on instrument panel
lights, tail lights, parking lights
and license plate lights.
Turns on headlights,
instrument panel
illumination, parking
lights, tail lights and
license plate lights.
Push up for right
turn signal.
Push down for
left turn signal.
Controls