
The design and development of the side
curtain airbags included recommended
testing procedures that were developed by
a group of automotive safety experts known
as the Side Airbag Technical Working Group.
These recommended testing procedures
help reduce the risk of injuries related to the
deployment of side curtain airbags.
CRASH SENSORS AND AIRBAG
INDICATOR
WARNING
Modifying or adding equipment to the
front end of the vehicle (including
frame, bumper, front end body structure and
tow hooks) may affect the performance of
the airbag system, increasing the risk of
injury. Do not modify the front end of the
vehicle. Your vehicle has a collection of crash and
occupant sensors which provide information
to the restraints control module. The
restraints control module deploys (activates)
the front safety belt pretensioners, driver
airbag, passenger airbag, knee airbag(s), seat
mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags
and optional rear inflatable safety belts.
Based on the type of crash (frontal impact or
side impact), the restraints control module
will deploy the appropriate safety devices.
The restraints control module also monitors
the readiness of the above safety devices
plus the crash and occupant sensors. The
readiness of the safety system is indicated
by a warning indicator light in the instrument
cluster or by a backup tone if the warning
light is not working. Routine maintenance of
the airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by
one or more of the following:
The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.•
The readiness light will either flash or
stay lit.
• A series of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically until
the problem, the light or both are
repaired.
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the
system may not function properly in the
event of a crash.
The safety belt pretensioners and the front
airbag supplemental restraint system are
designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains frontal deceleration sufficient to
cause the restraints control module to deploy
a safety device.
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Supplementary Restraints System

The fact that the safety belt pretensioners or
front airbags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a crash does not mean
that something is wrong with the system.
Rather, it means the restraints control module
determined the accident conditions (crash
severity, belt usage) were not appropriate to
activate these safety devices.
•
The design of the front airbags is to
activate only in frontal and near-frontal
crashes (not rollovers, side impacts or
rear impacts) unless the crash causes
sufficient frontal deceleration.
• The safety belt pretensioners and
optional rear inflatable safety belts are
designed to activate in frontal,
near-frontal and side crashes.
• The knee airbag(s) may deploy based on
crash severity and occupant conditions.
• The design of the side airbags and side
curtain airbags is to inflate in certain side
impact crashes. Side airbags and side
curtain airbags may activate in other
types of crashes if the vehicle
experiences sufficient sideways motion
or deformation. AIRBAG DISPOSAL
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Airbags must be disposed of by
qualified personnel.
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Supplementary Restraints System

Type 2 - Configurable
Note:
If this type is equipped, you are able
to switch the daytime running lamps on or
off using the information display controls.
See Information Displays (page 109).
When the daytime running lamps are
switched on in the information display and
you switch the ignition to the on position with
the lighting control in the autolamps position,
the daytime running lamps turn on whenever
the headlamps are off.
The other lighting control switch positions
do not activate the daytime running lamps
and can be used to temporarily override
autolamp control.
When switched off in the information display,
the daytime running lamps are off in all
lighting control switch positions. AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM
CONTROL
(If Equipped)
The system will automatically turn on your
high beams if it is dark enough and no other
traffic is present. When it detects the
headlights of an approaching vehicle, the tail
lamps of the preceding vehicle or street
lighting, the system will turn off the high
beams before they distract other drivers. The
low beams remain on.
Note: If it appears that automatic control of
the high beams is not functioning properly,
check the windshield in front of the camera
for a blockage. A clear view of the road is
required for proper system operation. Have
any windshield damage in the area of the
camera ’s field-of-view repaired.
Note: If the system detects a blockage such
as bird droppings, bug splatter, snow or ice,
and you do not observe changes, the system
will go into low beam mode until you clear
the blockage. A message may also appear
in the instrument cluster display noting the
front camera is blocked. Note:
Typical road dust, dirt and water spots
will not affect the performance of the
automatic high beam system . However, in
cold or inclement weather conditions, you
will notice a decrease in the availability of
the high beam system, especially at start up.
If you want to change the beam state
independently of the system, you may switch
the high beams on or off using the
multifunction switch. Automatic control will
resume when conditions are correct.
Note: Modification of the vehicle ride height
such as using much larger tires, may
degrade feature performance.
A camera sensor, centrally mounted behind
the windshield of your vehicle, continuously
monitors conditions to decide when to switch
the high beams off and on.
Once the system is active, the high beams
will switch on if:
• the ambient light level is low enough
• there is no traffic in front of the vehicle
• the vehicle speed is greater than 25 mph
(40 km/h)
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Lighting

Door Ajar
Lights when the ignition is on and
any door is not completely closed.
Electric Park Brake Lights or flashes when the electric
parking brake malfunctions.
Engine or Motor Coolant Temperature Lights when the engine or motor
cooling system is overheating.
Stop your vehicle in a safe place
and have an authorized dealer check the
system.
Engine Oil If it lights with the engine running
or when you are driving, this
indicates a malfunction. Stop your
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so and
switch the engine off. Check the engine oil
level. See Engine Oil Check (page 288). Note:
Do not resume your trip if it lights, even
if the oil level is correct. Have an authorized
dealer check the system immediately.
Fasten Safety Belt Lights and a chime sounds to
remind you to fasten your safety
belt. See Safety Belt Minder (page
38
).
Front Airbag Lights when you start your vehicle.
If it continues to flash or remains
on, it indicates a malfunction. Have
an authorized dealer check the system.
Grade Assist
(If Equipped) Lights when you switch on the
grade assist function.Heads Up Display
(If Equipped) A red beam of lights appears on
the windshield in certain instances
when using adaptive cruise control
and/or the collision warning system. To make
sure the display works, it will also appear
momentarily when you start your vehicle .
High Beam Lights when you switch on the
high-beam headlamps. Flashes
when you use the headlamp
flasher.
Hood Ajar Lights when the ignition is on and
the hood is not completely closed.
Lane Keeping Aid
(If Equipped) Lights when you activate the lane
keeping system.
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Instrument Cluster E146190 E144523 E156133 E159324 E144813

Action
Message
Displayed when the adaptive cruise has reinstated controls to the driver\
.
Adaptive Cruise - Driver Resume Control
Displays when the vehicle speed is too slow to activate the adaptive cru\
ise.
Adaptive Cruise Speed Too Low to
Activate
Displays when the vehicle speed is getting too low for adaptive cruise.
Adaptive Cruise Shift Down
AdvanceTrac ™ Action
Message
Displays when the system detects a malfunction due to a blocked sensor.
Service AdvanceTrac
Displayed when the traction control has been disabled or enabled by the \
driver.
AdvanceTrac Off On
Airbag Action
Message
Displays when the system detects a malfunction due to a blocked sensor.
Occupant Sensor BLOCKED Remove
Objects Near Passenger Seat
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Information Displays

AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
Note:
You can switch temperature units
between Fahrenheit and Celsius. See
Settings (page 372). Driver temperature controls:
Press + or - to increase or decrease the air temperature for the driver side of the \
vehicle. This control
also adjusts the passenger side temperature when not in dual zone mode.
A
Fan speed control:
Press on either side of the fan icon to increase or decrease the volume\
of air circulated in the vehicle.
B
Passenger temperature controls:
Press + or - to increase or decrease the air temperature on the passenger side of th\
e vehicle.
This turns on dual zone mode.
C
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Climate ControlE146320

Power: Press the button to turn the system on and off. Switching off the climate control system prevents outside air from enteri\
ng
the vehicle.
D
Recirculated air:
Press the button to switch between outside air and recirculated air. When you select recirculated air, the air
currently in the passenger compartment recirculates. This may reduce the\
time needed to cool the interior (when used with A/C
and may reduce unwanted odors from entering your vehicle.
E
Note:
Recirculated air may turn off automatically (or be prevented from turnin\
g on) in all airflow modes except MAX A/C to reduce
the risk of fogging. Recirculation may also turn on and off automatically in Panel or Panel and Floor airflow modes during hot weather
in order to improve cooling efficiency.
A/C:
Press the button to turn air conditioning compressor on or off. Use air conditioning with recirculated air to improve cooling
performance and efficiency.
F
MAX A/C:
Press the button to maximize cooling. Recirculated air flows through the instrument panel vents, air conditioni\
ng
automatically turns on, and the fan automatically adjusts to the highest\
speed.
G
AUTO:
Press the button to turn on automatic operation. Select the desired tem\
perature using the temperature control. The system
adjusts fan speed, air distribution, air conditioning operation, and sel\
ects outside air or recirculated air to heat or cool the vehicle
in order to maintain the desired temperature. You can also use the
AUTO button to turn off dual zone operation by pressing and
holding the button for more than two seconds.
H
Heated rear window:
Turns the heated rear window on and off. See Heated Windows and Mirrors (page 142).
I
Defrost:
Press the button to distribute air to the windshield vents and de-miste\
r. Air distribution to instrument panel and footwell
vents turn off. You can use this setting to defog and clear the windshield of a thin cove\
ring of ice.
J
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Climate Control

HINTS ON CONTROLLING THE
INTERIOR CLIMATE
General Hints
Note:
Prolonged use of recirculated air may
cause the windows to fog up.
Note: You may feel a small amount of air
from the footwell air vents regardless of the
air distribution setting.
Note: To reduce humidity build-up inside
your vehicle, do not drive with the system
switched off or with recirculated air always
switched on.
Note: Do not place objects under the front
seats as this may interfere with the airflow
to the rear seats.
Note: Remove any snow, ice or leaves from
the air intake area at the base of the
windshield.
Note: To improve the time to reach comfort
in hot weather, drive with the windows
slightly open for 2-3 minutes after start-up
or until your vehicle airs out. Automatic Climate Control
Note:
Adjusting the settings when your
vehicle interior is extremely hot or cold is not
necessary. The system automatically adjusts
to heat or cool the cabin to your selected
temperature as quickly as possible. For the
system to function efficiently, the instrument
panel and side air vents should be fully
open.
Note: If you select AUTO during cold outside
temperatures, the system directs airflow to
the windshield and side window vents. In
addition, the fan may run at a slower speed
until the engine warms up.
Note: If you select AUTO during hot outside
temperatures, or when the inside of the
vehicle is hot, the system automatically uses
recirculated air to maximize interior cooling.
When the interior reaches the selected
temperature, the system automatically
switches to using outside air.
Heating the Interior Quickly
1. Press the
AUTO button. 2. Adjust the temperature control to the
desired setting.
Recommended Settings for Heating
1. Press the
AUTO button.
2. Adjust the temperature control to the desired setting. Use 72°F (22°C) as a
starting point, then adjust the setting as
necessary.
Cooling the Interior Quickly
Press the
MAX A/C button.
Recommended Settings for Cooling
1. Press the
AUTO button.
2. Adjust the temperature control to the desired setting. Use 72°F (22°C) as a
starting point, then adjust the setting as
necessary.
Side Window Defogging in Cold
Weather
1. Press the defrost button.
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MKZ Hybrid (), enUSA Climate Control