
WARNINGS
If the parking brake is fully
released, but the brake warning
lamp remains illuminated, the brakes
may not be working properly. See your
authorized dealer.
Note: See your authorized dealer as
soon as possible if this procedure is
used.
Note: For some markets this feature
is disabled.
Note: This feature will only function if
your 12-volt battery has power.
Use the brake-shift interlock override
to move your transmission from the
park position in the event of an
electrical malfunction or if your
vehicle has a dead battery.
1. Apply the parking brake and turn your ignition off before performing
this procedure.
E152215
2. Locate your brake-shift interlockaccess slot. The slot is located
below the media hub, in your
center console storage bin. The
access slot does not have a label. Note:
Make sure that you correctly
identify the access hole as not to
damage the media hub.
3. Using a tool, press and hold the brake shift interlock switch. The
shift buttons on the instrument
panel will flash when your vehicle
is in override mode.
4. With the override switch still held, press the N (Neutral button) to
shift from park.
5. Release the override button.
6. Your vehicle will remain in Stay in Neutral mode for wrecker towing
purposes or can be shifted to the
desired gear and driven (if
possible).
7. Release the parking brake.
Automatic Transmission
Adaptive Learning
This feature increases durability and
provides consistent shift feel over the
life of your vehicle. A new vehicle or
transmission may have firm or soft
shifts. This operation will not affect
function or durability of your
transmission and is normal. Over time,
the adaptive learning process will fully
update transmission operation.
Additionally, the strategy must be
relearned whenever the battery is
disconnected or a new battery is
installed.
171
Transmission

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
All-wheel drive uses all four wheels
to power the vehicle. This increases
traction, enabling you to drive over
terrain and road conditions that a
conventional two-wheel drive vehicle
cannot. The AWD system is active all
the time and requires no input from
the operator.
Note:Your AWD vehicle is not
intended for off-road use. The AWD
feature gives your vehicle some limited
off-road capabilities in which driving
surfaces are relatively level,
obstruction-free and otherwise similar
to normal on-road driving conditions.
Operating your vehicle under other than
those conditions could subject the
vehicle to excessive stress which might
result in damage which is not covered
under your warranty.
Note: A warning message will be
displayed in the information display
when an AWD system fault is present
See Information Messages (page 106).
An AWD system fault will cause the
AWD system to default to front-wheel
drive only mode. When this warning
message is displayed, have your vehicle
serviced at an authorized dealer Note:
A warning message will be
displayed in the information display if
the AWD system has overheated See
Information Messages (page 106).
This condition may occur if the vehicle
was operated in extreme conditions
with excessive wheel slip, such as deep
sand. To resume normal AWD function
as soon as possible, stop the vehicle in
a safe location and stop the engine for
at least 10 minutes. After the engine
has been restarted and the AWD
system has adequately cooled, the
warning message will turn off and
normal AWD function will return.
Do not use a spare tire of a different
size other than the tire provided. If the
mini-spare tire is installed, the AWD
system may disable automatically
and enter front-wheel drive only mode
to protect driveline components. This
condition will be indicated by a
warning in the information display
See Information Messages (page
106). If there is a warning message in
the information display from using the
spare tire, this indicator should turn
off after reinstalling the repaired or
replaced normal road tire and cycling
the ignition off and on. It is
recommended to reinstall the repaired
or replaced road tire as soon as
possible. Major dissimilar tire sizes
between the front and rear axles
could cause the AWD system to stop
functioning and default to front-wheel
drive or damage the AWD system.
173
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Driving In Special Conditions
With All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped for driving
on sand, snow, mud and rough roads
and have operating characteristics
that are somewhat different from
conventional vehicles, both on and off
the highway.
Under severe operating conditions,
the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in
special conditions
• Drive slower in strong crosswindswhich can affect the normal
steering characteristics of your
vehicle.
• Be extremely careful when driving on pavement made slippery by
loose sand, water, gravel, snow or
ice. If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of
the Pavement
• If your vehicle goes off the edge of
the pavement, slow down, but
avoid severe brake application,
ease the vehicle back onto the
pavement only after reducing your
speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning
to the road surface.
• It may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and
slow down gradually before
returning to the pavement. You
may lose control if you do not slow
down or if you turn the steering
wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It often may be less risky to strike small objects, such as highway
reflectors, with minor damage to
your vehicle rather than attempt a
sudden return to the pavement
which could cause the vehicle to
slide sideways out of control or
rollover. Remember, your safety
and the safety of others should be
your primary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake
fully and make sure the
transmission is in P (Park). Turn the
ignition to the lock position or turn the
vehicle off using the start/stop button
and remove the key whenever you
leave your vehicle.
174
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Under severe operating conditions,
the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Avoid excessive speed because
vehicle momentum can work against
you and cause the vehicle to become
stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle.
Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed
with caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water,
drive slowly. Traction or brake
capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the wheel
rims (for cars) or the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and
proceed slowly. If the ignition system
gets wet, the vehicle may stall.
E142667
Once through water, always try the
brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes.
Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying
light pressure on the brake pedal.Be cautious of sudden changes in
vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even AWD vehicles
can lose traction in slick mud. As when
you are driving over sand, apply the
accelerator slowly and avoid spinning
your wheels. If the vehicle does slide,
steer in the direction of the slide until
you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off
residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires
and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive
components.
Note:
Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission.
If the front or rear axle is submerged
in water, the axle lubricant and AWD
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) lubricant
should be checked and changed if
necessary.
E143950
“Tread Lightly” is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service
and the Bureau of Land Management
in encouraging you to help preserve
our national forest and other public
and private lands by “treading lightly.”
176
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:Occasional brake noise is
normal. If a metal-to-metal,
continuous grinding or continuous
squeal sound is present, the brake
linings may be worn-out. Have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer. If your vehicle has continuous
vibration or shudder in the steering
wheel while braking, have it checked
by an authorized dealer.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on
the wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as
the brakes wear and does not
contribute to brake noise. See
Cleaning the Alloy Wheels (page 293).
E144522
See Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 96).
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake
pedal a few times when driving from
a car wash or standing water to dry
the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal
becomes stuck or entrapped, apply
steady and firm pressure to the brake
pedal to slow the vehicle and reduce
engine power. If you experience this
condition, apply the brakes and bring
your vehicle to a safe stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to position P,
switch the engine off and apply the
parking brake. Inspect the accelerator
pedal for any interference. If none are
found and the condition persists, have
your vehicle towed to the nearest
authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake
rapidly by measuring the rate at which
you press the brake pedal. It provides
maximum braking efficiency as long
as you press the pedal, and can
reduce stopping distances in critical
situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain
steering control during emergency
stops by keeping the brakes from
locking.
This lamp momentarily
illuminates when you turn
the ignition on. If the light
does not illuminate during start up,
remains on or flashes, the system may
be disabled. Have the system checked
by an authorized dealer.
E144522
If the system is disabled,
normal braking is still
effective. If the brake
warning lamp illuminates when you
release the parking brake, have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer.
179
Brakes

HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note:When the system is operating,
the brake pedal will pulse and may
travel further. Maintain pressure on the
brake pedal. You may also hear a noise
from the system. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will not
eliminate the risks when:
• you drive too closely to the vehicle in front of you
• your vehicle is hydroplaning
• you take corners too fast
• the road surface is poor.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
The electric parking brake replaces
the conventional handbrake. The
operating switch is located on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
WARNING
Always set the parking brake and
leave your vehicle with the
transmission selector lever in position
P.
Note: When you apply the electric
parking brake in certain conditions, for
example on a steep hill, the electric
parking brake may reapply the brakes
within three to ten minutes.
Note: You may notice various noises
when you apply and release the electric
parking brake. This is normal and no
cause for concern.
Applying the electric parking
brake
WARNING
If the brake system warning lamp
does not illuminate or flashes,
there could be a problem with your
electric parking brake. Have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
Note: The brake system warning lamp
will illuminate for ten seconds if you
have turned the ignition off after the
electric parking brake has been applied,
or the electric parking brake has been
applied after the ignition has been
turned off.
Note: The electric parking brake will
not automatically apply. You must
apply the electric parking brake using
the electric parking brake switch.
E169085
Pull the switch to apply the electric
parking brake.
The brake system warning lamp will
illuminate to confirm that the electric
parking brake has been applied. See
Information Displays (page 101).
180
Brakes

Applying the electric parking
brake when the vehicle is
moving
WARNINGS
Applying the electric parking
brake while moving will result in
use of the anti-lock braking system.
Do not use the electric parking brake
system when the vehicle is moving
unless the normal brake system is
unable to stop the vehicle.
With the exception of emergency
conditions (for example, the
brake pedal does not work or is
blocked), do not apply the electric
parking brake while the vehicle is
moving. On bends, or poor road
surfaces or weather conditions,
emergency braking can cause the
vehicle to skid out of control or off the
road.
If you apply the electric parking brake
when your vehicle is moving, the brake
system warning lamp will illuminate
and a warning chime will sound. See
Information Displays (page 101).
If your vehicle speed is above 4 mph
(6 km/h), the braking force is applied
as long as the switch is applied.
Release or press the switch or press
the accelerator pedal to stop the
braking force.
Releasing the electric parking
brake
E169086
You can release the electric parking
brake either manually by pressing the
bottom of the switch or automatically.
Manual release
WARNING
If the brake system warning light
remains illuminated or flashes
after you have released the parking
brake, there could be a problem with
you braking system. Have the system
checked by an authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
You can manually release the electric
parking brake by turning the ignition
on, pressing the brake pedal and then
pressing the electric parking brake
switch down.
When the electric parking brake is
released, the brake system warning
lamp will turn off.
181
Brakes

PARKING AID (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNINGS
To help avoid personal injury,
please read and understand the
limitations of the system as contained
in this section. Sensing is only an aid
for some (generally large and fixed)
objects when moving in reverse on a
flat surface at parking speeds. Traffic
control systems, inclement weather,
air brakes, and external motors and
fans may also affect the function of
the sensing system; this may include
reduced performance or a false
activation.
To help avoid personal injury,
always use caution when in R
(Reverse) and when using the sensing
system.
This system is not designed to
prevent contact with small or
moving objects. The system is
designed to provide a warning to
assist the driver in detecting large
stationary objects to avoid damaging
the vehicle. The system may not
detect smaller objects, particularly
those close to the ground.
Certain add-on devices such as
large trailer hitches, bike or
surfboard racks and any device that
may block the normal detection zone
of the system, may create false beeps.
Note: Keep the sensors, located on the
bumper or fascia, free from snow, ice
and large accumulations of dirt. If the
sensors are covered, the system’s
accuracy can be affected. Do not clean
the sensors with sharp objects.
Note: If your vehicle sustains damage
to the bumper or fascia, leaving it
misaligned or bent, the sensing zone
may be altered causing inaccurate
measurement of obstacles or false
alarms.
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with
MyKey®, it is possible to prevent
turning the sensing system off. See
MyKey™ (page 57).
The sensing system warns the driver
of obstacles within a certain range of
the bumper area. The system turns on
automatically whenever the ignition
is switched on.
When receiving a detection warning,
the radio volume is reduced to a
predetermined level. After the warning
goes away, the radio volume returns
to the previous level.
The system can be switched off
through the information display menu
or from the pop-up message that
appears once the transmission is
shifted into R. See General
Information (page 101).
If a fault is present in the system, a
warning message appears in the
information display and does not
allow the driver to switch the faulted
system on. See Information
Messages (page 106).
187
Parking Aids