2014 FORD ESCAPE weight

Transmission
Automatic Transmission............................136
Hill Start Assist..............................................138
Four-Wheel Drive
Principle of Operation................................140
Using Four-Wheel Drive............................140
Brakes
General Information....................................145
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock
Brakes...........................................................145
Parking Brake.................................................146
Hill Start Assist..............................................146
Traction Control
Principle of Operation.................................147
Using Traction Control................................147
Stability Control
Principle of Operation................................148
Using Stability Control...............................149
Parking Aids
Parking Aid......................................................150
Active Park Assist.........................................152
Rear View Camera.......................................156
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation.................................159
Using Cruise Control....................................159
Driving Aids
Blind Spot Monitor......................................160
Eco Mode.........................................................164
Steering............................................................164
Load Carrying
Rear Under Floor Storage.........................166Luggage Covers.............................................166
Roof Racks and Load Carriers..................167
Load Limit.......................................................168
Towing
Towing a Trailer..............................................176
Trailer Sway Control.....................................177
Recommended Towing Weights.............177
Essential Towing Checks...........................179
Towing Points.................................................181
Transporting the Vehicle.............................181
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels......182
Driving Hints
Breaking-In......................................................183
Economical Driving......................................183
Driving Through Water...............................184
Floor Mats.......................................................184
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance..................................186
Hazard Warning Flashers...........................187
Fuel Shutoff....................................................187
Jump-Starting the Vehicle........................187
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need...............190
In California (U.S. Only)..............................191
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto
Line Program (U.S. Only)......................192
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration
Program (Canada Only)........................192
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and
Canada.........................................................193
Ordering Additional Owner's
Literature.....................................................194
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S.
Only).............................................................194
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada
Only).............................................................195
3
Table of Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION
See the following sections for directions
on how to properly use safety restraints
for children.
WARNINGS
Always make sure your child is
secured properly in a device that is
appropriate for their height, age and
weight. Child safety restraints must be
bought separately from your vehicle.
Failure to follow these instructions and
guidelines may result in an increased risk
of serious injury or death to your child.
All children are shaped differently.
The recommendations for safety
restraints are based on probable
child height, age and weight thresholds
from National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and other safety
organizations, or are the minimum
WARNINGS
requirements of law. Ford recommends
checking with a NHTSA Certified Child
Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and
consult your pediatrician to make sure your
child seat is appropriate for your child, and
is compatible with and properly installed
in your vehicle. To locate a child seat fitting
station and CPST, contact the NHTSA toll
free at 1-888-327-4236 or go to
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. In Canada,
check with your local St. John Ambulance
office for referral to a CPST or for further
information, contact your provincial
ministry of transportation, locate your local
St. John Ambulance office by searching for
St. John Ambulance on the internet, or
Transport Canada at 1-800-333-0371
(http://www.tc.gc.ca). Failure to properly
restrain children in safety seats made
especially for their height, age, and weight
may result in an increased risk of serious
injury or death to your child.
14
Child Safety

Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children
Recommended restraint
type Child size, height, weight, or age Child
Use a child safety seat
(sometimes called an
infant carrier, convertible
seat, or toddler seat). Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less
(generally age four or younger). Infants or
toddlers
Use a belt-positioning
booster seat. Children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a child safety seat (gener-
ally children who are less than 4 ft. 9 in.
(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age four
and less than age 12, and between 40 lb
(18 kg) and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to
100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by your
child restraint manufacturer). Small children
Use a vehicle safety belt
having the lap belt snug
and low across the hips,
shoulder belt centered
across the shoulder and
chest, and seat back
upright. Children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a belt-positioning booster
seat (generally children who are at least
4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m) tall or greater than 80
lb (36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) if recom-
mended by child restraint manufacturer). Larger children
• You are required by law to properly use
safety seats for infants and toddlers in
the United States and Canada.
• Many states and provinces require that
small children use approved booster
seats until they reach age eight, a
height of 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters)
tall, or 80 pounds (36 kilograms).
Check your local and state or provincial
laws for specific requirements about
the safety of children in your vehicle.
• When possible, always properly
restrain children 12 years of age and
under in a rear seating position of your
vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions
than in a front seating position. See
Front Passenger Sensing System
(page 37).
CHILD SEAT POSITIONING
WARNINGS
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 vehicle seat
upon which the child seat is installed all
the way back. When possible, all children
age 12 and under should be properly
restrained in a rear seating position. If all
children cannot be seated and restrained
properly in a rear seating position, properly
restrain the largest child in the front seat.
15
Child Safety

WARNINGS
Always carefully follow the
instructions and warnings provided
by the manufacturer of any child
restraint to determine if the restraint device
is appropriate for your child's size, height,
weight, or age. Follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions and warnings
provided for installation and use in
conjunction with the instructions and
warnings provided by your vehicle
manufacturer. A safety seat that is
improperly installed or utilized, is
inappropriate for your child's height, age,
or weight or does not properly fit the child
may increase the risk of serious injury or
death.
Never let a passenger hold a child on
his or her lap while your vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a crash,
which may result in serious injury or death.
WARNINGS
Never use pillows, books, or towels
to boost a child. They can slide
around and increase the likelihood
of injury or death in a crash.
Always restrain an unoccupied child
seat or booster seat. These objects
may become projectiles in a crash or
sudden stop, which may increase the risk
of serious injury.
Never place, or allow a child to place,
the shoulder belt under a child's arm
or behind the back because it
reduces the protection for the upper part
of the body and may increase the risk of
injury or death in a crash.
To avoid risk of injury, do not leave
children or pets unattended in your
vehicle.
Use any attachment method as indicated below by X Combined
weight of
child and
child
restraint
seat Restraint
type
Safety belt
only Safety belt
and LATCH
(lower
anchors
and top
tether
anchor) Safety belt
and top
tether
anchor LATCH
(lower
anchors
only) LATCH
(lower
anchors
and top
tether
anchor)
X X Up to 65 lb
(29.5 kg) Rear facing
child seat
X Over 65 lb
(29.5 kg) Rear facing
child seat
X X X Up to 65 lb
(29.5 kg) Forward
facing
child seat
X X Over 65 lb
(29.5 kg) Forward
facing
child seat
16
Child Safety

4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming from)
for that seating position until you hear
a snap and feel the latch engage. Make
sure the tongue is latched securely by
pulling on it.
E142875
5. To put the retractor in the automatic
locking mode, grasp the shoulder
portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is pulled out.
Note:The automatic locking mode is
available on the front passenger and rear
seats.
6. Allow the belt to retract to remove
slack. The belt will click as it retracts
to indicate it is in the automatic locking
mode.
7. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor
to make sure the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode (you should
not be able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle the
belt and repeat Steps 5 and 6.
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8. Remove remaining slack from the belt.
Force the seat down with extra weight,
for example, by pressing down or
kneeling on the child restraint while
pulling up on the shoulder belt in order
to force slack from the belt. This is
necessary to remove the remaining
slack that will exist once the extra
weight of the child is added to the child
restraint. It also helps to achieve the
proper snugness of the child seat to
your vehicle. Sometimes, a slight lean
toward the buckle will additionally help
to remove remaining slack from the
belt.
9. Attach the tether strap (if the child seat
is equipped).
E142534
21
Child Safety

After all occupants have adjusted their
seats and put on safety belts, it is 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 upon which
the child seat is installed all the way back.
E142846
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 crash.
KNEE AIRBAG
A driver's knee airbag is located under the
instrument panel. During a crash, the
restraints control module may activate the
driver's knee airbag based on crash severity
and occupant conditions. Under certain
crash and occupant conditions, the driver’s
knee airbag may deploy but the driver’s
front airbag may not activate. 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. Failure to follow this
could seriously increase the risk of injury or
death.
Sitting improperly out of position or
with the seatback 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.
Any alteration or modification to the
front passenger seat may affect the
performance of the front passenger
sensing system which could seriously
increase the risk of injury or death.
37
Supplementary Restraints System

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 is very
important that they continue to sit
properly. A properly seated occupant sits
upright, leaning against the seatback, 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
• Objects hanging off the seatback
• Objects stowed in the seatback map
pocket
• 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 seatThe 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.
Make sure 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 objects that lodged underneath
the front passenger seat, or cargo
interfering with the seat.
If there are lodged objects, or cargo is
interfering with the seat, 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

Note:Cycling the ignition while the liftgate
is power closing and is near the latch may
cause the liftgate to reverse to full open
position. Make sure that you close the
liftgate before operating or moving the
vehicle, especially in an enclosure, like a
garage or a parking structure. You could
damage the liftgate or its components.
Note:Do not hang anything, for example a
bike rack, from the spoiler, glass or liftgate.
This could damage the liftgate and its
components.
If the vehicle is running, the liftgate will only
operate with the transmission in P.
Three warning tones will sound once as
the liftgate begins to power close. Five
short chimes indicate a problem with the
open or close request, caused by:
• the ignition is on and the transmission
is not in P;
• or the battery voltage is below the
minimum operating voltage;
• or the vehicle speed is at or above 3
mph (5 km/h).
If the liftgate falls to the closed direction
after the liftgate has stopped in the open
position, four short warning chimes
indicate excessive weight on the gate or a
possible gas strut failure. Have the system
checked by an authorized dealer if you still
have the issue after you remove the load.
Opening and Closing the Liftgate
WARNING
Make sure all persons are clear of the
power liftgate area before using the
power liftgate control.
Note:Be careful when opening or closing
the liftgate in a garage or other enclosed
area to avoid damaging the liftgate.Note:Do not leave the liftgate open while
driving. This could damage the liftgate and
its components.
Note:You can stop the liftgate movement
direction with a second press of the
instrument panel button or the control
button on the liftgate, a second double
press of the transmitter button, or by using
a kicking motion with your foot for
hands-free liftgates.
From the Instrument Panel
E138633
Press the instrument panel
button.
With the Remote Control
E138630
Press the remote control button
twice within three seconds.
Hands-Free Feature (If Equipped)
Make sure you have an intelligent access
transmitter within 3 feet (1 meter) of the
liftgate.
E161602
2
1
1. Move your foot under and away from
the rear bumper similar to a kicking
motion. Do not move your foot
sideways or the sensors may not detect
the motion.
60
Locks