limitations regarding 911 Assist and Traffic, directions and
Information privacy below). However, parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement,
that have such special equipment, can read the information if
they have access to the vehicle or the EDR. Ford Motor Company
and Ford of Canada do not access event data recorder
information without obtaining consent, unless pursuant to court
order or where required by law enforcement, other government
authorities or other third parties acting with lawful authority.
Other parties may seek to access the information independently
of Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada.
Note: Including to the extent that any law pertaining to Event
Data Recorders applies to SYNCor its features, please note the
following: Once 911 Assist (if equipped) is enabled (set ON), 911
Assist may, through any paired and connected cell phone, disclose
to emergency services that the vehicle has been in a crash
involving the deployment of an airbag or, in certain vehicles, the
activation of the fuel pump shut-off. Certain versions or updates
to 911 Assist may also be capable of being used to electronically
or verbally provide to 911 operators the vehicle location (such as
latitude and longitude), and/or other details about the vehicle or
crash or personal information about the occupants to assist 911
operators to provide the most appropriate emergency services. If
you do not want to disclose this information, do not activate the
911 Assist feature. See your SYNCsupplement for more
information.
Additionally, when you connect to Traffic, Directions and
Information (if equipped, U.S. only) the service uses GPS
technology and advanced vehicle sensors to collect the vehicle’s
current location, travel direction, and speed (“vehicle travel
information”) only to help provide you with the directions, traffic
reports, or business searches your request. If you do not want
Ford or its vendors to receive this information, do not activate
the service. Ford Motor Company and the vendors it uses to
provide you with this information do not store your vehicle travel
information. For more information, see Traffic, Directions and
Information, Terms and Conditions. See your SYNCsupplement
for more information.
Introduction
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TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT— Displayed when a tire pressure
sensor is malfunctioning, or your spare tire is in use. For more
information on how the system operates under these conditions, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)in theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT— The power steering system
has disabled power steering assist due to a system error; service is
required.
SERVICE POWER STEERING— The power steering system has
detected a condition that requires service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW— The power steering system
has detected a condition that requires service immediately.
TRUNK AJAR— Displayed when the trunk is not completely closed.
REMOVE OBJECTS NEAR PASS SEAT— Displayed when objects
are by the passenger seat. After the objects are moved away from the
seat, if the warning stays on or continues to come on contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
AWD OFF (if equipped)— Displayed when the AWD system has been
automatically disabled to protect itself. This is caused by operating the
vehicle with the compact spare tire installed or if the system is
overheating. The AWD system will resume normal function and clear this
message after driving a short distance with the road tire re-installed or
after the system is allowed to cool.
CHECK AWD (if equipped)— Displayed in conjunction with the
Throttle Control/Transmission/AWD
light when the AWD system is
not operating properly. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
ADVANCETRAC OFF— Displayed briefly when the system has been
disabled.
ADVANCETRAC ON— Displayed briefly when the system has been
enabled.
TRACTION CONTROL ON— Displayed briefly when the system has
been enabled.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF— Displayed briefly when the system has
been disabled.
ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON— Displayed when the engine oil life
remaining is 5% to 1%.
Instrument Cluster
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OIL CHANGE REQUIRED— Displayed when the oil life left reaches
0%.
BLIND SPOT SYSTEM FAULT (if equipped)— Displayed when a
fault with the blind spot information system has occurred. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CROSS TRAFFIC SYSTEM FAULT (if equipped)— Displayed when
a fault with the cross traffic alert system has occurred. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
BLIND SPOT NOT AVAILABLE (if equipped)— Displayed when
blind spot information system is not available. SeeBlind Spot
Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alertin theDriving
chapter.
CROSS TRAFFIC NOT AVAILABLE (if equipped)— Displayed
when cross traffic alert is not available. SeeBlind Spot Information
System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alertin theDrivingchapter.
SENSOR BLOCKED SEE MANUAL (if equipped)— Displayed when
the blind spot information system/cross traffic alert system sensors are
blocked. SeeBlind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross
Traffic Alertin theDrivingchapter.
VEHICLE COMING FROM LEFT (if equipped)— Displayed when
the blind spot information system with cross traffic alert (CTA) system is
operating and senses a vehicle. SeeBlind Spot Information System
(BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alertin theDrivingchapter.
VEHICLE COMING FROM RIGHT (if equipped)— Displayed when
the blind spot information system with cross traffic alert (CTA) system is
operating and senses a vehicle. SeeBlind Spot Information System
(BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alertin theDrivingchapter.
INTKEY COULD NOT PROGRAM— Displayed when an attempt is
made to program a fifth integrated key to the remote key entry system.
For more information on integrated key, refer to theLocks and Security
chapter in this manual.
CRUISE ON RADAR READY (if equipped)— Displayed when the
driver pressed the cruise On/Off control and ACC was off.
CRUISE OFF (if equipped)— Displayed when the driver pressed the
Cruise On/Off control and ACC was on.
SET XXX MPH GAP ACC GAP (if equipped)— Displayed when
ACC is active and driver has selected a GAP setting using the steering
wheel control <---> button.
Instrument Cluster
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CRUISE OVERRIDE (if equipped)— Displayed when the accelerator
pedal is being pressed while ACC is active.
CRUISE NOT AVAILABLE (if equipped)— Displayed when a system
malfunction is preventing ACC from engaging.
CRUISE MALFUNCTION (if equipped)— Displayed when a radar
malfunction is preventing the ACC from engaging.
CRUISE NOT AVAILABLE SENSOR BLOCKED SEE MANUAL (if
equipped)— Displayed when the radar is blocked because of poor
radar visibility due to bad weather or ice/mud/water in front of radar.
Driver can typically clean the sensor to resolve.
COLLISION WARN MALFUNCTION (if equipped)— Displayed
when there is a system malfunction with the collision warning system.
The system will be disabled.
COLLISION WARN NOT AVAILABLE (if equipped)— Displayed
when there is a system malfunction with the collision warning system.
The system will be disabled.
COLLISION WARN NOT AVAILABLE SENSOR BLOCKED SEE
MANUAL (if equipped)— Displayed when the collision warning
system radar is blocked because of poor radar visibility due to bad
weather or ice/mud/water in front of the radar. Driver can typically clean
the sensor to resolve.
PRESS BRAKE TO START (if equipped)— Displayed when the
start/stop button is pressed without the brake pedal being applied. This
is a reminder that the brake pedal must be applied when the start/stop
button is pressed in order to start the engine.
SHIFT TO PARK (if equipped)— Displayed when the start/stop
button is pressed to shut off the engine with the shift select lever in any
position other than P (Park). Refer toFast restart featureinPush
button start systemin theDrivingchapter for more information.
NO KEY DETECTED (if equipped)— Displayed if the Intelligent
Access Key is not detected by the system in the following three
scenarios:
•When the start/stop button is pressed in an attempt to either start the
engine or cycle through the ignition states.
•When the engine is running and a door is opened then closed.
•When the vehicle’s speed exceeds 10 mph (16 km/h) for the first time
after starting. Refer toPush button start systemin theDrivingchapter
for more information.
Instrument Cluster
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For significant blockages (e.g. bird dropping, bug splatter, snow, or ice),
the automatic high beam system uses a blocked sensor computer
program. If a blockage is detected and no changes are observed, the
system will go into low beam mode until the blockage is cleared. If
blockages are repeatedly detected, the system will stay in low beam
mode for the remainder of the ignition cycle unless the system is able to
begin detecting other vehicles again.
If it appears that automatic control of the high beams is not functioning
properly, check the windshield in front of the camera for blockage.
Flash-to-pass
Pull and release to activate.
Daytime running lamps (DRL) (if equipped)
Turns the headlamps on with a reduced output.
To activate:
•the ignition must be in the on position,
•the headlamp control is in the off, autolamps or parking lamp position
and
•the transmission must be out of the P (Park) position.
WARNING:Always remember to turn on your headlamps at
dusk or during inclement weather. The Daytime Running Lamp
(DRL) system does not activate the tail lamps and generally may not
provide adequate lighting during these conditions. Failure to activate
your headlamps under these conditions may result in a collision.
Lights
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MULTI-FUNCTION LEVER
Windshield wiper:Rotate the end
of the control away from you to
increase the speed of the wipers;
rotate toward you to decrease the
speed of the wipers.
Rain-sensing wipers (if
equipped):The rain-sensing wipers
will automatically activate when
moisture is present on the
windshield and the multi-function
switch is set to one of five
auto/interval moisture sensitivity settings. Rotate the end of the control
toward the windshield to increase the sensitivity. The speed of the
rain-sensitive wipers will vary based on the amount of moisture detected
on the windshield and the auto/interval setting. There are no interval
(intermittent wipe) settings on vehicles with rain-sensing wipers. The
wipers will continue to wipe as long as the presence of moisture is
detected on the windshield. More or less wiping may occur depending on
humidity, mist or light rain, or road spray.
Keep the outside of the windshield clean, especially the area around the
rear view mirror where the sensor is located or rain sensor performance
may be affected.
Note:During winter driving conditions with ice, snow or a salty road
mist, inconsistent or unexpected wiping or smearing may occur. In these
conditions, you can lower the sensitivity to reduce the amount of
smearing or override the feature by selecting low- or high-speed wiping
or turning the wiper system off.
Note:The wipers must be turned off before entering a car wash.
Windshield washer:Press the end
of the stalk:
•briefly: causes a single swipe of
the wipers without washer fluid.
•a quick press and hold: the
wipers will swipe three times with
washer fluid.
•a long press and hold: the wipers
and washer fluid will be activated
for up to ten seconds.
Driver Controls
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INTERIOR MIRROR
The interior rearview mirror has two pivot points on the support arm
which lets you adjust the mirror up or down and from side to side.
WARNING:Do not adjust the mirror while the vehicle is in
motion.
Automatic dimming interior rear view mirror (if equipped)
The interior rear view mirror has an auto-dimming function (optional on
the driver’s side exterior mirror). The electronic day/night mirror will
change from the normal (high reflective) state to the non-glare
(darkened) state when bright lights (glare) reach the interior mirror.
When the interior mirror detects bright light from behind the vehicle, the
interior rear view mirror and the driver’s side exterior mirror (if
equipped) will automatically adjust (darken) to minimize glare.
The mirrors will automatically return to the normal state whenever the
vehicle is placed in R (Reverse) to ensure a bright clear view when
backing up.
Do not block the sensors on the front and back of the interior
rear view mirror since this may impair proper mirror
performance.
Note:A rear center passenger and/or raised rear center headrest (if
equipped) may also block the light from reaching the sensor.
Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror with harsh
abrasives, fuel or other petroleum-based cleaning products.
Note:If equipped with a rearview camera system, a video image will
display in the mirror or the navigation system display (if equipped) when
the vehicle is put in R (Reverse). As you shift into any other gear from R
(Reverse), the image will remain for a few seconds and then turn off.
Refer toRearview camera systemin theDrivingchapter.
Driver Controls
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If the ACC system predicts that its
maximum braking level will not be
sufficient, an audible warning will
sound while the ACC continues to
brake. This is accompanied by the
heads-up display; a red warning bar
illuminating on the windshield. The driver should takeimmediateaction.
Note:The brakes may emit a sound when they are being modulated by
the adaptive cruise control system.
WARNING:Adaptive cruise control only warns of vehicles
detected by the radar sensor. In some cases there may be no
warning or the warning may be delayed. The driver should always
apply the brakes when necessary. Failing to do so may result in a
collision, serious injury or death.
Setting the gap distance
The distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you can
be decreased or increased by
pressing<--->control. GAP <--->
will be displayed in the message
center. Three gap distance settings
are available:
Message
center displayFollowing
distanceFollowing
distance at
60 mph
(100 km/h)Dynamic
behavior
GAP <-> 1 second 29 yards (28 m) Sporty
GAP <---> 1.5 seconds 44 yards (42 m) Normal
GAP <-----> 2.3 seconds 66 yards (64 m) Comfort
Each time the vehicle is restarted, the last chosen gap will be
automatically selected.
Note:It is the driver’s responsibility to select a gap appropriate to the
driving conditions.
Driver Controls
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