•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 Safety21
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
•Second row bench seats and
third-row passenger side
Perform the following steps to install a child safety seat with tether anchors:
Note:If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not
tighten the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off your vehicle seat
cushion when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug
without lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just
touching your vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.
1. Route the tether strap.
•Second-row outboard seat positions: Route the child safety seat tether
strap over the seat back, under the head restraint and between the
head restraint posts. If needed, remove the head restraint to improve
the fit of the child safety seat or tether strap.
•Second-row center seat positions: Route the child safety seat tether
strap over the top of the head restraint. If needed, remove the head
restraint to improve the fit of the child safety seat or tether strap. See
Rear Seatsin this chapter for head restraint information.
•Third-row seat position: Route the child safety seat tether strap over
the seat back, under the head restraint and between the head
restraint posts. If needed, fold the head restraint down to improve the
fit of the child safety seat or tether strap. SeeRear seatsin theSeats
chapter for head restraint information.
Child Safety29
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
Stowing the Rear Inflatable Safety Belt
The rear inflatable safety belt has a snap retainer for stowing the safety
belt against the quarter trim panel when it is not in use. This will
prevent the safety belt tongue from rattling against the side of the seat
and keep it out of the way when folding or tumbling the second row
seats.
Press the retainer on the safety belt
onto the mating snap to stow. To
use the safety belt, pull it away
from the quarter trim panel.
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), rear inflatable
safety belts (if equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors,
and attaching hardware, should be inspected after a crash. See 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 crash be replaced. However, if the crash 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 crash should also be inspected
and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, seeInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
48Safety Belts
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
Power-Folding Mirrors (If Equipped)
Note:Using the mirrors 10 or more times within one minute, or
repeated folding and unfolding of the mirrors while holding the control
down during full travel, may disable the system to protect motors from
overheating. Wait approximately three minutes with your vehicle running,
and up to 10 minutes with your vehicle off, for the system to reset and
for function to return to normal.
Pull the control back to fold the
mirrors.
Loose Mirror
If your power-folding mirrors are manually folded, they may not work
properly, even after you reposition them. You need to reset them if:
•The mirrors vibrate when you drive.
•The mirrors feel loose.
•The mirrors do not stay in the folded or unfolded position.
•One of the mirrors is not in its normal driving position.
To reset the power-fold feature, use the power-folding mirror control to
fold and unfold the mirrors. You may hear a loud noise as you reset the
power-folding mirrors. This sound is normal. Repeat this process as
needed each time the mirrors are manually folded.
Memory Mirrors (If Equipped)
You can save and recall the mirror positions through the memory
function. SeeMemory functionin theSeatschapter.
Windows and Mirrors107
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
Second row outboard seat head
restraints
The outboard head restraints are
non-adjustable, but they can be
removed.
The non-adjustable head restraints
consists of:
A. Energy absorbing head restraint.
B. Steel stems.
C. Guide sleeve unlock and remove buttons.
To reinstall the non-adjustable head restraint, do the following:
•Remove: Pull up the head restraint until it reaches the highest
adjustment position. Then press and hold the guide sleeve unlock and
remove buttons, and pull up on the head restraint.
•Reinstall: Align the steel stems into the guide sleeves and push the
head restraint down until it locks.
Third row head restraints (if
equipped)
The head restraints consist of:
A. Energy absorbing head restraint.
B. Steel stems.
C. Fold strap.
Fold: Pull the fold strap (C). Pull the head restraint back up to reset.
Note:Press the stow or fold button on the power folding seats to
automatically fold the head restraint.
AB
C
152Seats
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
REAR SEATS
Second Row Seats
Recline Adjustment
WARNING:Always drive and ride with your seatback upright
and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING:Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to
slide under the seat safety belt, resulting in severe personal
injuries in the event of a crash.
Note:For the bench seat only, make sure the center safety belt is
unbuckled before folding the seatback.
Lift the handle to adjust the
seatback rearward or forward. You
can also fold the seatback forward
until it is flat.
Moving the Seats Backward and Forward
(Six-Passenger Vehicles Only)
Lift the control to adjust the seat
forward or backward.
Seats161
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
Power Fold and Tumble Seat
WARNING:Make sure that the seat is unoccupied when folding
it down. Folding the seat while occupied could result in occupant
injury or damage to the seat.
This feature is available for the right-hand seat on seven-passenger
vehicles and on both sides for six-passenger vehicles.
Press the control located at the
back of the rear door opening one
time to fold the seatback down and
tumble the seat forward for access
to the third row.
Note:When the ignition is turned off, the power fold feature will work
until the battery saver turns it off after 10 minutes. You can reactivate
the power seats by pressing the unlock button on the remote entry key
fob or by using the unlock procedure on the keyless entry keypad. See
theLockschapter. Keep the key in the accessory or run position to
prevent the feature from timing out.
Third Row Seats
Accessing the Seat
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original position,
make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the
seatback. After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on
the seatback to make sure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat
may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or crash.
WARNING:Do not adjust or release the seat floor latch while
vehicle is in motion. Do not operate the vehicle with seats in
tumbled position. Always latch the vehicle seat to the floor, whether the
seat is occupied or empty. If not latched or if the seat is tumbled, the
seat may cause injury during a sudden stop.
Note:You may have to move the front row seat forward to allow the
second row seat to be fully tumbled.
162Seats
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)
Fold and tumble the second row seat to access the third row. Remove
items from the second row seat. Make sure that no bulky objects such as
purses or briefcases are on the floor in front of the second row seats
before tumbling them. For second row bench seats, make sure the center
safety belt is unbuckled before folding the seat back.
1. Lift the handle located on the
side of the seat.
The seatback will fold flat.
2. Lift the handle all the way up
until the seat releases from the
floor. Rotate the seat forward,
grabbing the bottom of the seatback
as indicated, to allow access to the
third row seat.
Note:The seatback must be folded flat in order to release the floor
latches. Make sure that there are no objects on the seat cushion that
may restrict the seatback from folding flat.
Seats163
2015 Flex(471)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, October 2014
USA(fus)