11.Recirculated air:Press to activate/deactivate air recirculation
in the vehicle. Recirculated air may reduce the amount of time needed to
cool down the interior of the vehicle, may reduce the energy needed to
keep the interior of the vehicle cool, and may also help reduce undesired
outside odors from reaching the interior of the vehicle. Recirculated air
is controlled automatically when AUTO is selected or can be engaged
manually in any airflow mode except
(defrost). Recirculated air
may turn off automatically in some airflow modes to reduce window
fogging potential. When the ignition switch is turned off and back on, the
climate system will return to the recirculated air mode only if the A/C
button LED is illuminated and the air distribution selection is either
AUTO,
(panel) or(panel/floor).
12.MAX A/C:Activates air conditioning and distributes recirculated,
conditioned air through the instrument panel vents to provide maximum
cooling performance. Maximum cooling performance, however, may
decrease fuel efficiency in order to fully maintain interior cabin comfort.
13.A/C:Press to activate/deactivate air conditioning. Use with
recirculated air to improve cooling performance and efficiency. Engages
automatically in AUTO,
(defrost) and(floor/defrost).
14.
Driver heated seat control (if equipped):Press to
activate/deactivate the driver heated seat. SeeHeated seatsin the
Seating and Safety Restraintschapter.
Outside temperature:The outside temperature will appear in the
display and is labeled EXT TEMP.
Temperature conversion:To switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius,
refer toMessage centerin theDriver Controlschapter.
Operating tips
•To reduce fog build-up on the windshield during humid weather,
select
(defrost) or(floor/defrost).
•To reduce humidity build-up inside the vehicle, do not drive with the
system OFF or with
(recirculated air) engaged and A/C off.
•Do not put objects under the front seats that will interfere with the
airflow to the back seats.
•Remove any snow, ice or leaves from the air intake area at the base of
the windshield.
Climate Controls
56
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Properly adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head restraint is
even with the top of your head and positioned as close as possible to the
back of your head. For occupants of extremely tall stature, adjust the
head restraint to its full up position.
WARNING:To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a
crash, head restraints must be installed properly.
Folding down second row seats
1. Remove the second row head restraint. SeeSecond row adjustable
head restraintsin this chapter.
Note:Place the head restraint underneath the back of the front seat
for storage.
2. Pull the seat release strap.
Note:Make sure the floor is clear of all objects before folding the seat.
3. Flip seat forward.
Seating and Safety Restraints
126
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Returning the second row seats to upright position
1. Pull seatback up and into upright
position making sure seatback locks
into place and the red seat
unlatched indicator on release
paddle is not visible.
2. Rotate seat cushion down into the
seating position making sure that
the seat cushion is locked into place
and that the safety belt buckles are
exposed.
WARNING:Make sure
safety belt buckle heads are
through elastic holders on seat
backs. Safety belt buckles may
break if they are trapped
underneath the seatback as the
seatback is rotated down.
WARNING: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, reinstall the head restraints, and 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.
3. Unsnap the safety belt webbing from the quarter trim panel.
4. Remove the second row head restraint from underneath the front seat
and reinstall. SeeSecond row adjustable head restraintsin this
chapter.
Seating and Safety Restraints
128
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
WARNING:Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle
that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a
small child. Check seat covers and buckles before you place a child
anywhere near them.
WARNING:Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant
women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an
accident.
Combination lap and shoulder belts
1. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) until you hear a snap and feel
it latch. Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
2. To unfasten, press the release
button and remove the tongue from
the buckle.
Seating and Safety Restraints
134
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
In addition, the retractor is designed to lock if the webbing is pulled out
too quickly. If this occurs, let the belt retract slightly and pull webbing
out again in a slow and controlled manner.
Automatic locking mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
When to use the automatic locking mode
This mode should be usedany timea child safety seat, except a
booster, is installed in passenger front or rear seating positions. Children
12 years old and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating
position whenever possible. Refer toSafety restraints for childrenor
Safety seats for childrenlater in this chapter.
How to use the automatic locking mode
1. Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.
2. Grasp the shoulder portion and
pull downward until the entire belt
is pulled out.
•Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking
sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking
mode.
How to disengage the automatic locking mode
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.
WARNING:After any vehicle collision, the safety belt system at
all passenger seating positions must be checked by an authorized
dealer to verify that the “automatic locking retractor” feature for child
seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all safety belts should be
checked for proper function.
Seating and Safety Restraints
136
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Installing child safety seats with combination lap and shoulder
belts
The rear seat head restraints must be removed when using a child
seat that utilizes the top tether anchor.
Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.
Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating
position whenever possible. If all children cannot be seated and
restrained properly in a rear seating position, properly restrain the
largest child in the front seat.
When installing a child safety seat with combination lap/shoulder belts:
•Use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position.
•Insert the belt tongue into the proper buckle until you hear a snap
and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the
buckle.
•Keep the buckle release button pointing up and away from the safety
seat, with the tongue between the child seat and the release button,
to help prevent accidental unbuckling.
•Place vehicle seat back in upright position.
•Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer to step 5
below. This vehicle does not require the use of a locking clip.
WARNING:Depending on where you secure a child restraint,
and depending on the child restraint design, you may block
access to certain safety belt buckle assemblies and/or LATCH lower
anchors, rendering those features potentially unusable. To avoid risk of
injury, occupants should only use seating positions where they are able
to be properly restrained.
Perform the following steps when installing the child seat with
combination lap/shoulder belts:
Note:Although the child seat illustrated is a forward facing child seat,
the steps are the same for installing a rear facing child seat.
Seating and Safety Restraints
164
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Attaching child safety seats with tether straps
Many forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which
extends from the back of the child safety seat and hooks to an anchoring
point called the top tether anchor. Tether straps are available as an
accessory for many older safety seats. Contact the manufacturer of your
child seat for information about ordering a tether strap, or to obtain a
longer tether strap if the tether strap on your safety seat does not reach
the appropriate top tether anchor in the vehicle.
The rear seating positions of your vehicle are equipped with built-in
tether strap anchors located behind the seats on the roof panel in the
cargo area.
The tether strap anchors in your
vehicle are in the following positions
(shown from top view):
Attach the tether strap only to the appropriate tether anchor as shown.
The tether strap may not work properly if attached somewhere other
than the correct tether anchor.
Once the child safety seat has been installed, using either the safety belt
or the lower anchors of the LATCH system, you can attach the top tether
strap.
If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten
the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion
when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without
lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.
Perform the following steps to install a child safety seat with tether
anchors:
1. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat.
For vehicles with adjustable head restraints, remove the head restraint
first, place under the front seat for storage, and then route the tether
strap over the top of the seatback.
Seating and Safety Restraints
170
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Types of booster seats
There are generally two types of belt-positioning booster seats: backless
and high back. Always use booster seats in conjunction with the vehicle
lap/shoulder belt.
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the
shield. If a vehicle seating position
has a low seat back or no head
restraint, a backless booster seat
may place your child’s head (as
measured at the tops of the ears)
above the top of the seat. In this
case, move the backless booster
to another seating position with a
higher seat back or head restraint and lap/shoulder belts, or consider
using a high back booster seat.
•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat,
you cannot find a seating position
that adequately supports your
child’s head, a high back booster
seat would be a better choice.
Seating and Safety Restraints
174
2012 Escape Hybrid(ehv)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)