Introduction 9
Child Safety 17
Child seat positioning...................................19
Booster seats.........................................21
Installing child seats....................................24
Child safety locks......................................36
Safety Belts 37
Fastening the safety belts................................39
Safety belt height adjustment.............................42
Safetybeltwarninglightandindicatorchime..................42
Safety belt-minder.....................................43
Rear inflatable safety belt................................46
Child restraint and safety belt maintenance...................48
Personal Safety System 49
Supplementary Restraints System 50
Driver and passenger airbags.............................52
Front passenger sensing system...........................53
Side airbags..........................................57
Safety canopy curtain airbags.............................59
Crash sensors and airbag indicator.........................61
Airbag disposal........................................62
Keys and Remote Control 63
General information on radio frequencies.....................63
Remote control.......................................64
Keys...............................................64
Replacing a lost key or remote control.......................70
Table of Contents1
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
MyKey 71
Settings, MyKey.......................................71
Creating.............................................72
Clearing.............................................73
System status.........................................73
Remote start, MyKey...................................73
Troubleshooting, MyKey.................................74
Locks 75
Locking and unlocking..................................75
SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad.........................82
Security 86
SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system.......................86
Anti-theft alarm.......................................89
Steering Wheel 91
Adjusting the steering wheel..............................91
Steering wheel controls.................................93
Pedals 96
Adjustable pedals......................................96
Wipers and Washers 97
Windshield wipers.....................................97
Rain-sensing wipers....................................97
Windshield washers....................................98
Rear-window wiper and washer............................98
2Table of Contents
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
Seats 145
Sitting in the correct position............................145
Head restraints.......................................146
Manual seats........................................148
Power seats.........................................150
Memory function.....................................151
Heated seats........................................153
Heated and ventilated seats..............................155
Rear seats..........................................157
Universal Garage Door Opener (If Equipped) 167
HomeLink® wireless control system.......................167
Auxiliary Power Points 172
Storage Compartments 175
Center console.......................................175
Overhead console.....................................177
Starting and Stopping the Engine 178
Ignition switch.......................................179
Engine block heater...................................184
Fuel and Refueling 186
Fuel quality.........................................187
Running out of fuel....................................188
Refueling...........................................189
Fuel consumption.....................................191
Transmission 195
Automatic transmission.................................195
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped) 200
All wheel drive.......................................200
Brakes 207
Brakes.............................................207
4Table of Contents
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
Hints on driving with anti-lock brakes......................208
Parking brake........................................208
Traction Control 209
TractionControl™ ....................................209
Stability Control 210
AdvanceTrac®.......................................211
Parking Aids 212
Sensing system.......................................212
Active park assist.....................................213
Rear-view camera system...............................218
Cruise Control 223
Using cruise control...................................223
Using Adaptive Cruise Control............................224
Driving Aids 232
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert
(CTA) .............................................232
Collision warning system................................237
Steering............................................240
Load Carrying 242
Cargo net...........................................242
Roof racks and load carriers.............................242
Vehicle loading.......................................243
Towing 251
Trailertowing........................................251
Wrecker towing......................................258
Recreational towing...................................259
Driving Hints 261
Economical driving....................................261
Driving through water..................................262
Floormats..........................................263
Table of Contents5
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
SYMBOL GLOSSARY
WARNING:You risk death or serious injury to yourself and
others if you do not follow the instruction highlighted by the
warning symbol.
These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.
Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Safety alertSee Owner’s
ManualAnti-lock
braking
system
Avoid
smoking,
flames, or
sparksBatteryBattery acid
Brake fluid –
non
petroleum
baseBrake systemCabin air
filter
Check fuel
capChild Safety
Door Lock
and UnlockChild seat
lower anchor
Child seat
tether anchorCruise
controlDo not open
when hot
Engine air
filterEngine
coolantEngine
coolant
temperature
Engine oilExplosive gasFan warning
Fasten safety
beltFront airbagFront fog
lamps
10Introduction
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Fuel pump
resetFuse
compartmentHazard
warning
flasher
Heated rear
windowInterior
luggage
compartment
releaseJack
Lighting
controlLow tire
pressure
warningMaintain
correct fluid
level
Panic alarmParking aid
systemParking
brake system
Power
steering fluidPower
windows
front and
rearPower
window
lockout
Service
engine soonSide airbagStability
control
Windshield
defrost and
demistWindshield
washer and
wiper
DATA RECORDING
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and
storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially
includes information about the performance or status of various systems
and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford
Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may
access or share among them vehicle diagnostic information received
through a direct connection to your vehicle when diagnosing or servicing
your vehicle. Additionally, when your vehicle is in for service or repair,
Ford Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities
Introduction11
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
INSTALLING CHILD SEATS
Child Seats
Use a child safety seat (sometimes
called an infant carrier, convertible
seat, or toddler seat) for infants,
toddlers or children weighing
40 pounds (18 kilograms) or less
(generally age four or younger).
Using Lap and Shoulder Belts
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.
WARNING:Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat.
Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the rear
seat whenever possible.
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 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.
When installing a child safety seat with combination lap and 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.
24Child Safety
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)
•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 prevent accidental unbuckling.
•Place the vehicle seat upon which the child seat will be installed in
the upright position.
•For second-row seating positions, the recliner may be adjusted slightly
to improve child seat fit. If needed, the head restraints may be
removed.
•For third-row seating positions, the head restraints may be stowed to
improve child seat fit. See theSeatschapter for information on folding
the head restraints.
•Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. See Step 5 below.
This vehicle does not require the use of a locking clip.
Perform the following steps when installing the child seat with
combination lap and 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.
Note:The lock-off device on some child restraints may not
accommodate the shoulder portion of the inflatable safety belt. Follow all
instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint
regarding the necessary and proper use of the lock-off device. In some
instances these devices have been provided only for use in vehicles with
safety belt systems that would otherwise require a locking clip.
1. Position the child safety seat in a
seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.
Child Safety25
2014 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, April 2013
USA(fus)