2013 FORD ESCAPE Owners Manual

CHILD RESTRAINT AND
SAFETY BELT MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child
safety seat systems periodically to make
sure they work properly and are not
damaged. Inspect the vehicle and child
seat safety belts to make sure there are no
nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary.
All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies
(slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt
height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder
belt guide on seatback (if equipped), child
safety seat LATCH and tether anchors, and
attaching hardware, should be inspected
after a collision. Read the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions for additional
inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor
Company recommends that all safety belt
assemblies in use in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the
collision was minor and an authorized
dealer finds that the belts do not show
damage and continue to operate properly,
they do not need to be replaced. Safety
belt assemblies not in use during a collision
should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is
noted.
Properly care for safety belts. See Vehicle
Care (page 236).33
Safety Belts

The Personal Safety System provides an
improved overall level of frontal crash
protection to front seat occupants and is
designed to help further reduce the risk of
airbag-related injuries. The system is able
to analyze different occupant conditions
and crash severity before activating the
appropriate safety devices to help better
protect a range of occupants in a variety
of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle's Personal Safety System
consists of:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag
supplemental restraints.
• Front outboard safety belts with
pretensioners, energy management
retractors (first row only), and safety
belt usage sensors.
• Driver ’s seat position sensor.
• Front passenger sensing system.
• Passenger airbag off and on indicator
lamp.
• Front crash severity sensors.
• Restraints Control Module with impact
and safing sensors.
• Restraint system warning light and
backup tone.
• The electrical wiring for the airbags,
crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage
sensors, driver seat position sensor,
front passenger sensing system, and
indicator lights. How Does the Personal Safety
System Work?
The Personal Safety System can adapt the
deployment strategy of your vehicle
’s
safety devices according to crash severity
and occupant conditions. A collection of
crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints Control
Module. During a crash, the Restraints
Control Module may activate the safety
belt pretensioners and may activate either
one or both stages of the dual-stage airbag
supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
34
Personal Safety System
™

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly or
gently, and the risk of injury from a
deploying airbag is the greatest close
to the trim covering the airbag module.
All occupants of the vehicle,
including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even
when an airbag supplemental restraint
system is provided.
Always transport children 12 years
old and under in the back seat and
always properly use appropriate
child restraints.
Never place your arm over the airbag
module as a deploying airbag can
result in serious arm fractures or
other injuries.
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child seat. NEVER place 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.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the airbag supplemental
restraint systems or its fuses.
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
Several airbag system components
get hot after inflation. Do not touch
them after inflation.
If the airbag has deployed, the airbag
will not function again and must be
replaced immediately. If the airbag
is not replaced, the unrepaired area will
increase the risk of injury in a collision.
All occupants of the vehicle,
including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even
when an air bag supplemental restraint
system is provided.
The airbags are a supplemental restraint
system and are designed to work with the
safety belts to help protect the driver and
right front passenger from certain upper
body injuries. Airbags DO NOT inflate
slowly; there is a risk of injury from a
deploying airbag.
Note: You will hear a loud bang and see a
cloud of harmless powdery residue if an
airbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly
upon activation. After airbag deployment,
it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery
residue or smell the burnt propellant. This
may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder
(to lubricate the bag) or sodium
compounds (e.g., baking soda) that result
from the combustion process that inflates
the airbag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which may
irritate the skin and eyes, but none of the
residue is toxic. While the system is
designed to help reduce serious injuries,
contact with a deploying airbag may also
cause abrasions or swelling. Temporary
hearing loss is also a possibility as a result
of the noise associated with a deploying
airbag. Because airbags must inflate
rapidly and with considerable force, there
is the risk of death or serious injuries such
as fractures, facial and eye injuries or
internal injuries, particularly to occupants
who are not properly restrained or are
otherwise out of position at the time of
airbag deployment. Thus, it is extremely
important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the airbag
module as possible while maintaining
vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is not
required.
35
Supplementary Restraints System

SOS POST-CRASH ALERT
SYSTEM
The system flashes the turn signal lamps
and sounds the horn (intermittently) in the
event of a serious impact that deploys an
airbag (front, side, side curtain or Safety
Canopy) or the safety belt pretensioners.
The horn and lamps will turn off when:
•the hazard control button is pressed
• the panic button is pressed on the
remote entry transmitter, or
• the vehicle runs out of power.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER
AIRBAGS
WARNINGS
Never place your arm or any objects
over an airbag module. Placing your
arm over a deploying airbag can
result in serious arm fractures or other
injuries. Objects placed on or over the
airbag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the airbag into
your face and torso causing serious injury.
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child seat. Never place 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.
The driver and front passenger airbags will
deploy during significant frontal and near
frontal collisions.
The driver and passenger front airbag
system consists of:
• Driver and passenger airbag modules.
• Front passenger sensing system.
•Crash sensors and monitoring system
with readiness indicator. See Crash
Sensors and Airbag Indicator (page
42).
Proper Driver and Front Passenger
Seating Adjustment
WARNING
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance
of at least 10 in. (25 cm) between an
occupant’ s chest and the driver airbag
module.
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Supplementary Restraints System
E74302

To properly position yourself away from
the airbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as you
can while still reaching the pedals
comfortably.
• Recline the seat slightly (one or two
degrees) from the upright position.
After all occupants have adjusted their
seats and put on safety belts, it’ s very
important that they continue to sit
properly. A properly seated occupant sits
upright, leaning against the seat back, and
centered on the seat cushion, with their
feet comfortably extended on the floor.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance
of injury in a crash event. For example, if
an occupant slouches, lies down, turns
sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
Children and Airbags
WARNING
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child seat. NEVER place 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.
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.
KNEE AIRBAG
The driver's side knee airbag is located
under the instrument panel. The system
works along with the driver's front airbag
to help reduce injury to the legs. When the
driver's airbag activates in a collision, the
knee airbag deploys from under the
instrument panel. As with front and side
airbags, it is important to be properly
seated and restrained to reduce the risk of
death or serious injury.
Make sure the knee airbag is
operating properly. See Crash
Sensors and Airbag Indicator
(page 42).
FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM
WARNINGS
Even with Advanced Restraints
Systems, children 12 and under
should be properly restrained in a
rear seating position.
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 front
passenger sensing system, resulting in
serious injury or death in a crash
Always sit upright against your seat
back, with your feet on the floor.
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Supplementary Restraints System
E142846

WARNINGS
Any alteration or modification to the
front passenger seat may affect the
performance of the front passenger
sensing system.
This system works with sensors that are
part of the front passenger ’s seat and
safety belt to detect the presence of a
properly –seated occupant and determine
if the front passenger ’s frontal airbag
should be enabled (may inflate) or not.
The front passenger sensing system uses
a passenger airbag off indicator which will
illuminate and stay lit to remind you that
the front passenger frontal airbag is
disabled. The indicator lamp is located in
the center stack of the instrument panel.
Note: The passenger airbag off light will
illuminate for a short period of time when
the ignition is first turned on to confirm it is
functional.
The front passenger sensing system is
designed to disable (will not inflate) the
front passenger ’s frontal airbag when the
front passenger seat is unoccupied, or a
rear facing infant seat, a forward-facing
child restraint, or a booster seat is
detected. •
When the front passenger sensing
system disables (will not inflate) the
front passenger frontal airbag, the
passenger airbag status indicator will
illuminate and stay lit to remind you
that the front passenger frontal airbag
is disabled.
• If the child restraint has been installed
and the passenger airbag status
indicator illuminates, then turn the
vehicle off, remove the child restraint
from the vehicle and reinstall the
restraint following the child restraint
manufacturer ’s instructions.
The front passenger sensing system is
designed to enable (may inflate) the front
passenger ’s frontal airbag anytime the
system senses that a person of adult size
is sitting properly in the front passenger
seat.
• When the front passenger sensing
system enables the front passenger
frontal airbag (may inflate), the
passenger airbag status indicator will
not illuminate.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the front
passenger's seat, but the passenger airbag
status indicator lamp is lit, it is possible
that the person isn't sitting properly in the
seat. If this happens:
• Turn the vehicle off and ask the person
to place the seat back in the full upright
position.
• Have the person sit upright in the seat,
centered on the seat cushion, with the
person's legs comfortably extended.
• Restart the vehicle and have the person
remain in this position for about two
minutes. This will allow the system to
detect that person and enable the
passenger ’s frontal airbag.
• If the passenger airbag status indicator
lamp remains lit even after this, the
person should be advised to ride in the
rear seat.
38
Supplementary Restraints System
E145987

Passenger Airbag
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
Occupant
Disabled
Unlit
Empty
Disabled
Lit
Child
Enabled
Unlit
Adult
Note: When the passenger airbag status
indicator lamp is illuminated, the passenger
side airbag (seat mounted) may be disabled
to avoid the risk of airbag deployment
injuries.
After all occupants have adjusted their
seats and put on safety belts, it’ s very
important that they continue to sit
properly. A properly seated occupant sits
upright, leaning against the seat back, and
centered on the seat cushion, with their
feet comfortably extended on the floor.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance
of injury in a crash event. For example, if
an occupant slouches, lies down, turns
sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
If you think that the status of the passenger
airbag off indicator lamp is incorrect, check
for the following:
• Objects lodged underneath the seat
• Objects between the seat cushion and
the center console (if equipped)
• Objects hanging off the seat back
• Objects stowed in the seat back map
pocket (if equipped)
• Objects placed on the occupant's lap
• Cargo interference with the seat
• Other passengers pushing or pulling on
the seat
• Rear passenger feet and knees resting
or pushing on the seat The conditions listed above may cause the
weight of a properly seated occupant to
be incorrectly interpreted by the passenger
sensing system. The person in the front
passenger seat may appear heavier or
lighter due to the conditions described in
the list above.
To know if the front passenger
sensing system is operating
properly, See Crash Sensors
and Airbag Indicator (page 42).
If the airbag readiness lamp is lit, do
the following:
The driver or adult passengers should
check for any objects that may be lodged
underneath the front passenger seat or
cargo interfering with the seat.
If objects are lodged or cargo is interfering
with the seat; please take the following
steps to remove the obstruction:
• Pull the vehicle over.
• Turn the vehicle off.
• Driver or adult passengers should
check for any objects lodged
underneath the front passenger seat
or cargo interfering with the seat.
• Remove the obstruction(s) (if found).
• Restart the vehicle.
39
Supplementary Restraints System

•Wait at least two minutes and verify
that the airbag readiness lamp is no
longer illuminated.
• If the airbag readiness lamp remains
illuminated, this may or may not be a
problem due to the front passenger
sensing system.
DO NOT attempt to repair or service the
system; take your vehicle immediately to
an authorized dealer.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced
front airbag system to accommodate a
person with disabilities, contact your
authorized dealer.
SIDE AIRBAGS
WARNINGS
Do not place objects or mount
equipment on or near the airbag
cover, on the side of the seatbacks
(of the front seats), or in front seat areas
that may come into contact with a
deploying airbag. Failure to follow these
instructions may increase the risk of
personal injury in the event of a collision.
Do not use accessory seat covers.
The use of accessory seat covers
may prevent the deployment of the
side airbags and increase the risk of injury
in an accident.
Do not lean your head on the door.
The side airbag could injure you as it
deploys from the side of the
seatback.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the airbag, its fuses or the
seat cover on a seat containing an
airbag. Contact your authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
WARNINGS
If the side airbag has deployed, the
airbag will not function again. The
side airbag system (including the
seat) must be inspected and serviced by
an authorized dealer. If the airbag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase
the risk of injury in a collision.
The side airbags are fitted on the outboard
side of the seatbacks of the front seats. In
certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the
side affected by the collision will be
inflated. The airbag was designed to inflate
between the door panel and occupant to
further enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact collisions.
The system consists of the following:
• A label or embossed side panel
indicating that side airbags are fitted
to your vehicle.
• Side airbags located inside the
seatback of the driver and front
passenger seatbacks.
• Front passenger sensing system
Crash sensors and monitoring
system with readiness indicator.
See Crash Sensors and Airbag
Indicator (page 42).
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Supplementary Restraints System
E142848