2008 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2008 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB
2008 Subaru Impreza 4-DR w/SAB
2008 Subaru Impreza 4-DR Wagon w/SAB
2008 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. w/SAB
2008 Subaru Outback 4-DR Wagon w/SAB
2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca 4-DR. w/SAB

2007 all models Subaru  crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2007 Subaru Outback 4-DR w/SAB						Not rated
2007 Subaru Outback 4-DR Wagon w/SAB
2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca 4-DR. w/SAB
2007 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB
2007 Subaru Impreza 4-DR w/SAB
2007 Subaru Impreza 4-DR Wagon w/SAB
2007 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. w/SAB
2007 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon w/SAB						Not rated

2006 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2006 Subaru Outback 4-DR Wagon w/SAB
2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca 4-DR. w/SAB
2006 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB
2006 Subaru Impreza Wagon 4-DR. w/SAB
2006 Subaru Impreza 4-DR w/SAB
2006 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. w/SAB			Not rated	Not rated		Not rated
2006 Subaru Baja 4-DR	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated		Not rated

2005 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2005 Subaru Outback 4-DR Wagon w/SAB
2005 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB
2005 Subaru Impreza Wagon 4-DR				Not rated
2005 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. w/SAB			Not rated	Not rated		Not rated

2004 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2004 Subaru Forester 4-DR.w/SAB
2004 Subaru Impreza Wagon 4-DR.				Not rated
2004 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.
2004 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon
2004 Subaru Outback 4-DR. Wagon	Not rated	Not rated

2003 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2003 Subaru Forester 4-DR. w/SAB
2003 Subaru Impreza Wagon 4-DR.				Not rated
2003 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.					Not rated
2003 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon					Not rated
2003 Subaru Outback 4-DR. Wagon	Not rated	Not rated

2002 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2002 Subaru Forester 4-DR.
2002 Subaru Impreza Wagon 4-DR.				Not rated
2002 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon					Not rated
2002 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.			Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2002 Subaru Outback 4-DR. Wagon	Not rated	Not rated

2001 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2001 Subaru Forester 4-DR.
2001 Subaru Legacy 4-DR			Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2001 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.Wagon	Not rated	Not rated			Not rated

2000 Subaru, all models  crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
2000 Subaru Forester 4-DR. 4x4			Not rated	Not rated		Not rated
2000 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon					Not rated
2000 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.			Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

1999 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
1999 Subaru Forester 4-DR. 4x4			Not rated	Not rated		Not rated
1999 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.					Not rated

1998 Subaru, all models crash test results from nhtsa.gov	Frontal Star Rating based on risk of head & chest injury		Side Star Rating based on risk of chest injury		Rollover Rating
	Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2 wheel drive	4 wheel drive
1998 Subaru Legacy 4-DR.					Not rated

ACTIVE safety: helps prevent accidents:

All Wheel Drive:
Continuous AWD: Subaru manual transmissions use Continuous AWD, normally 50/50 front-to-back power split and use a mechanical viscous center differential to to vary the power split when there is a loss of traction.
Active AWD: Subaru's automatic transmission use Active AWD, mostly front wheel drive and uses traction sensing computer input to electronically vary the front to rear power split via a hydraulic multi-plate transfer clutch.
VTD AWD (variable torque distribution). New in 2001, VTD transfers powers front to back electronically. The power split is 45/55 front/rear and the rear bias is designed for a nicer, more luxury car feel as opposed to the front bias of the Active AWD system. Usually 45/55 front to back split but that varies according to wheel slippage. In 2003 VTD AWD is used on Outback VDC, GT with Sport Shift automatic transmission and Impreza WRX with automatic transmission

Anti-lock Brakes (ABS): A brake system that prevents wheel lockup in hard braking conditions so the driver can maintain control and not skid. Anti-lock brakes will 'pulse' when activated under firm brake pedal pressure because they are pumping the brakes at a very high rate.

PASSIVE safety

Daytime driving lights: front (only the front) lights are automatically on when the car is moving. These may be less bright than normal headlight beams.

SEAT BELTS
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR): pull the belt all the way out and it locks into place and ratchets back. Easy for adjusting child seats.
Seat belt Pre-tensioners: automatically tightens the seatbelt in the event of an accident reducing the force which the occupant will hit the belt
ELR: Emergency Locking Retractor: allows the seatbelt to move free until rapid deceleration is detected at which time the belt locks.

AIRBAGS (SRS - Supplemental Restraint System): A safety air bag inflates to prevent the driver from colliding with the steering wheel or and the passenger with the front dashboard. Designed to activate in moderate to severe front impacts. The bag deflates within milliseconds. Must be used with seat belts. Most airbags after 1998 are de-powered and deploy with less force than earlier versions so people who sit closer to them may experience less initial contact.
Newer front airbags deploy according driver's position and distance form the steering wheel, the passenger side deplys according to passenger weight

Side Air Bags: air bags that deploy in side impacts to cushion and prevent the occupant from hitting the interior. Subaru's side airbags are seat mounted. Used with seat belts.

Side Curtain Airbags airbags that run above the top of front and/or rear side windows and drop down to protect the occupant's head from hitting the window in a side impact.

Airbag danger: Try to sit app 10" from the airbags. Folks are not hurt by airbags because of height, weight or age. Usually they were too close to the air bag or were not properly belted in and they were thrown forward toward the airbag as it came toward them.
Avoid being too close. Adjust the seat position. Need to sit close? Consider pedal extenders. Infants and children under 12 should always sit in the back seat. Many newer cars detect front occupant position or weight to determine how or if the bag deploys.

On-Off Switches: airbag on-off switches are available only by petitioning for an airbag exception. Requires an unsafe rear seat such as a supercab truck with sidefacing seats, or cars with no back seat, or when someone with a medical condition requires them to sit in the front passenger seat.
See links below for more information.

Tire pressure monitoring US Safety regulations require all new 2008 and newer 4-wheeled vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or less to have with a monitoring system detecting a 25% drop in tire pressure.
TIre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) measures tire pressure using a small sensor inside each wheel. When a tire drops app 25% in pressure a warning light on the dashboard comes on. You then need to check each tire to see which one is low. Cold weather will cause a pressure drop because cold air is less dense than warm so the monitor may come on in seasonally.
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(see links below)
All information subject to change and correction.
LATCH Child Seat System: (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren): consists of lower child seat anchors at the base of the rear seats and a tether attachment in the rear. This allows a child seat to be firmly and securely anchored at the base and top to minimize movement. Requires a newer seat (2002?) with the appropriate attaching straps. Check your child seat for specifics.

The child seat tether holds the child seat upright and prevents it from tipping forward. The headrest in the photo could be removed
All information subject to change and correction.

Required on all vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on or after September 1, 2002.
Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top
tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles).  Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors.  Most forward-facing child
safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle. Together they make up the LATCH system.

     Why? LATCH bars avoid seat belt incompatibility from different types of seat belt retractors, different belt anchor locations (too far forward), plus
     differing vehicle belt routings that people found confusing.

     Where are the anchors: The anchor bars are in the crease of the rear seats. By law, the vehicle LATCH bar spacing is standardized at 11 inches (280mm)
     so that both the flexible (webbing) and rigid (metal) type of LATCH attachments will work in all vehicles.

     How many seats? Very few vehicles could fit three LATCH positions across a back seat. It was decided that at least two are needed in back seats but
     vehicle manufacturers can optionally add more if they fit. In limited cases, it's possible to use the inboard LATCH bars to put a seat in the center position, but
     for this to be safe, this method must be specifically allowed by the child restraint manufacturer for that model restraint. There are limits as to how wide and
     narrow is safe for use by a child seat. Use the vehicle seat belts in the center rear unless the child restraint model instructions specifically say the center
     inboard bars are ok.

     Retrofit? Yes, there may be a kit, contact your seat manufacturer to see if they make a retrofit kit for your child seat. Do not use a kit from anothe
     rcompany, the design of the system and angles of attachment could be different enough to cause crash loads that would break the system. Don't mix parts
     from different manufacturers no matter how similar they might look.
 

List of child seat manufacturers All information subject to change and correction.
Baby Trend, 800-328-7363, www.babytrend.com	Dorel, Cosco, Safety1st, Eddie Bauer, 800.544.1108, www.djgusa.com	IMMI, 900.465.579, www.safeguardseat.com
Britax, 888.427.4829, www.britaxusa.com	EvenFlo, 800.233.5921, www.evenflo.com	LaRoche, 978.632.8638,
Chicco USA, 877.424.4226, www.chiccousa.com	E-Z On, 800.543.4532, www.ezonpro.com	Nania, 877.912.1313, www.team-tex.com
Combi, 800.992.6624, www.combi-int.com	Fisher Price, 866.204.1665, www.fisher-price.com	orbit, 877.orb.baby, www.orbitbaby.com
Compass, 888.899.2229, www.compassbaby.com	Graco, 800.345.4109, www.gracobaby.com	Pegperego, 800.671.1701 www.pegperego.com
Recaro, 800.8RE.CARO, www.recaro-nao.com	Safe Traffic Systems, 847.329.8111,  www.safetrafficsystems.com	Safety Engel, 888.743.3798, www.safetyangel.com
Sunshine Kids, 888.336.7909, www.sunshinekidsjp.com	Tripleplay Products, 800.829.1625, www.tripleplayproducts.com

My Links page is a whole page of links
here are some safety related links
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Airbag
National Highway Transportation Safety Board for information on disabling the airbag, how to appy etc
Airbags and On/Off Switchs The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety information about who is at risk and who is safer with them working.
Kids & Airbags http://www.hwysafety.org/safety_facts/airbags/kids_airbags.htm
Air Bag Safety - Oklahoma police website  http://www.ou.edu/oupd/kidseat.htm
http://childsafetyalerts.com
Seatbelt.com http://www.seatbelt.com/safety.html, about airbags on-off switches

Child safety
The Safety Restraint Coalition, Washington's Child Passenger Safety Program, http://www.800bucklup.org/
Car seat safety: How to choose and use a car seat (Ages 2 to 4) http://www.parentcenter.com/refcap/39413.html
Child Seat Mfrs child seat companies http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/csr2001/csrhtml/csManufacturers.html
Check your child seat for LATCH, recalls etc http://www.seatcheck.org/ call 866-seatcheck
Child seats, from NHTSA.gov
Child seat ratings, from NHTSA.gov
Child seat inspections in the Seattle area http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/People/Injury/Childps/CPSFitting/FindFitting.cfm
Boost America, educational site http://www.boostamerica.org/index.htm
Child Safety by Parent's Helper, http://www.childsafety.com/
Seatbelt.com http://www.seatbelt.com/air_bags.html
National Safety Belt Coalition, Why Child Safety Seats?

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All information subject to change and correction.

Crash Tests Results, front- side impacts, roll-over etc
National Highway Safety crash test results (star ratings)  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/ncap.cfm?search=yes&vehdesc=search
highwaysafety.org http://www.highwaysafety.org/default.htm

11/18/07  Crash test: 2008 Impreza gets top pick front, side, and rear tests and optional electronic stability control from IIHS, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more
10/21/07 Crash test, 08 Impreza gets Good in the frontal offset crash test from IIHS. 'Dummy movement was well controlled. After the dummy moved forward into the airbag, it rebounded into the seat without its head coming close to any stiff structure that could cause injury. Injury measures — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity..'  more
May 16, 2007 The 2008 Tribeca gets 5 Star crash rating from NHTSA.gov on front and rear driver and passenger crash tests, plus a 'no-tip'   inb the rollover test!  see the full report
June 1, 2007  New child seat safety law in Washington State. Effective June 1, 2007 children will have to stay in the safety seats until they are at least 8 years old and 4 feet, 9 inches tall. The new law also requires children to use booster seats until they are 16 years old if a vehicle's seat belt does not properly fit the child. Also children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat whenever possible, they're allowed to ride in the front only if the vehicle has no lap-and-shoulder belts in the back seat. Read the law
2/15/2007 Crash test results Safety crash test Legacy and Outback: NHTSA the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that 24 2007 passenger vehicles, including the Subaru Legacy and Outback, received five stars in front and side crash tests, the highest government rating under the agency’s New Car Assessment Program. the full report
11/20/2006 Tribeca, Forester XT Sports, Legacy GT sedan with Navigation are on the list of only 13 cars that earned the top rating from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.IIHS.org).
"The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. The first requirement for a vehicle to become a TOP SAFETY PICK is to earn good ratings in all three Institute tests. A new requirement for 2007 is that the winning vehicles must offer ESC Ielectronic stability control). This addition is based on Institute research indicating that ESC significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers."
Only 13 2007 models earned the top rating. They are Large car: Audi A6 manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later; Midsize cars: Audi A4, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control; Minivans: Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona Luxury SUV: Mercedes M class, Volvo XC90; Midsize SUV: Acura RDX, Honda Pilot, Subaru B9 Tribeca; Small SUV:Honda CR-V,  Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control.
ALSO-RANS Rear protection isn't good. These vehicles earned good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have electronic stability control, standard or optional. They would have won 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK awards if their seat/head restraints also had earned good ratings. Instead rear crash protection is rated acceptable, marginal, or poor (Honda reports that the seat/head restraints in the only Civic model with electronic stability control wouldn’t be rated good).
Acceptable rear protection: Audi A3, BMW 3-series 4dr, Lexus IS 250/350; Marginal rear protection: Acura TL, Honda Odyssey, Lexus ES 350, Lexus GS 350, Toyota Camry, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4; Poor rear protection:Honda Accord 4dr, Infiniti M35, Nissan Quest, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Sienna"

6/27/2006  Subaru Forester has ranked highest in independent Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) announced in Australia.  The 2006 UCSR studied more than 1.7 million crashes of 305 different vehicle models over a 17-year period.  For the first time in the study’s history, a ‘standout’ car was identified, with Subaru’s Forester (1997-2002) rating as top performer. The UCSR is the world’s largest study of vehicle crashes and is conducted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre and supported by the RACV, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), and VicRoads, as well as other state and federal road authorities and motoring clubs from Australia and New Zealand. from car.co.nz
March 2006  Subaru Impreza is a 'gold standard among small cars' and a  Top Safety Pick from IIHS.org
Jan 9, 2006 Forester rated good protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end crashes by iihs.org. Only 6 of 44 tested earned the good rating, including Ford Freestyle, Volvo XC, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover LR3
December 5, 2005 Crash test results: 2006 Legacy is a 'Top Safety Pick' Gold Award winner from Insurance Institiute for Highway Safety. iihs.org. 'Top Safety Pick' winners reflect an elite fraction of the car market.
November 20,2005 Crash test results 2006 Legacy is a double 'best pick' in both front and side Crash Tests from the IIHS.org
Sept 12, 2005 Crash Test Results the Tribeca get 5 stars from nhtsa.gov
2000 Subaru Legacy  Institute for Highway Safety crash test results
1995-99 Subaru Legacy Institute for Highway Safety crash test results
1999-2000 Subaru Forester  Institute for Highway Safety crash test results
Crash-Test Results, http://www.crashtest.com

Recalls http://www.alldata.com/recalls/index.html