2008 FORD FREESTYLE tow

Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
Adjusting the front power seat (if equipped)
Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is
moving.
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to reduce the risk of
injury in a collision or sudden stop.
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the
decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or
death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your
feet on the floor.
To reduce the risk of possible serious injury: Do not hang objects
off seat back or stow objects in map pocket (if equipped) when
a child is in the front passenger seat. Do not place objects underneath
the front passenger seat or between the seat and the center console (if
equipped). Check the “passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off”
indicator lamp for proper airbag status. Refer toFront passenger
sensing systemsection for additional details. Failure to follow these
instructions may interfere with the front passenger seat sensing
system.
The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
155
ProCarManuals.com

Adjusting second row seats (if equipped)
Lift the control to adjust the seat
forward or backward.
Accessing the third row seats
Fold and tumble the second row seat to access the third row. Remove
items from the second row seat and ensure that no bulky objects such as
purses or briefcases are on the floor in front of the second row seats
before tumbling them.
Note:You may have to move the front row seat forward to allow the 2nd
row seat to be fully tumbled. Stow the head restraint by pushing the
head restraint release button while sliding the head restraint fully down.
Lift the handle located on the side
of the seat.
The seatback will fold flat.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
159
ProCarManuals.com

Lift the handle all the way up until
the seat releases from the floor.
Rotate the seat forward to allow
access to the third row.
To return the seatback to the floor
from tumbled position, rotate the
seat down until you hear it latching
to the floor.
To return the seatback to the
upright position
•Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle, and
•Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the
upright position.
Note:The seatback will not raise if
the rear latch hooks are not
properly engaged to the floor
striker.
•Pull the head restraint back up to its normal adjusted position.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
160
ProCarManuals.com

Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
2nd row power fold and tumble seat
Ensure that the seat is unoccupied when folding it down.
Folding the seat while occupied could result in occupant injury
or damage to the seat.
Note:The power feature is operational when the vehicle is in park and
the lifgate has been open for less than 10 minutes.
Press the control one time to fold
the seat back down and tumble the
seat forward for access to the 3rd
row.
Exiting the third row seat
Stow the head restraint by pushing the head restraint release button
while sliding the head restraint fully down.
Pull on the strap located on the
back of the second row seat. This
will fold the seatback forward. Pull
the strap a second time to tumble
the seat forward, allowing easy exit
from the 3rd row seat.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
161
ProCarManuals.com

To return the seatback to the floor
from tumbled position, rotate the
seat down until you hear it latching
to the floor.
To return the seatback to the
upright position
•Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle, and
•Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the
upright position.
Note:The seatback will not raise if
the rear latch hooks are not
properly engaged to the floor
striker.
•Pull the head restraint back up to its normal adjusted position.
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
162
ProCarManuals.com

Stowing the third row bench or split bench seat (if equipped)
1. Stow the head restraints by
pushing the head restraint release
buttons while sliding the head
restraints fully down. Remove all
objects from the seat and stowage
tub.
2. From the rear of the vehicle, fold seatback by pulling and holding the
number 1 strap while pushing the seatback forward. Release strap once
seatback starts rotating forward.
3. Release the cushion latches by pulling the number 2 strap while
pulling on the strap located at the top of the seatback to tumble the seat
all the way into the tub in the floor.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
164
ProCarManuals.com

Do not use the seat anchors as cargo tie downs.
Note:Do not use the third row seatback as a load floor when the
seatback is folded.
Unstowing the third row seat
Note:Ensure that there are no objects such as books, purses or brief
cases on the load floor before unstowing the seat. Failure to remove all
objects from the top of the load floor prior to unstowing it may cause
damage to the seat.
Note:Ensure the area under the load floor is free of objects before
unstowing it.
1. Unlatch and lift the seat out of the tub in the floor by squeezing and
pulling up on the handle. Once the seat is at a vertical position, push the
seat over, letting it fall onto the latches.
2. To return the seatback to upright
position, pull the number 1 strap,
then while holding the number 1
strap, pull the long strap located on
the seatback to raise the seatback.
3. Pull the head restraints up to
their normal adjusted positions.
Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by pushing/pulling on seat.
If not latched, the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
165
ProCarManuals.com

•Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your authorized
dealer.
Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle
(including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow
hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system, increasing the
risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
Children and airbags
Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics
suggest that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front
seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Airbags can kill or injure a
child in a child seat.
NEVERplace a rear-facing child
seat in front of an active airbag. If
you must use a forward-facing
child seat in the front seat, move
the seat all the way back.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
182
ProCarManuals.com