
If the system detects a degradedperformance condition, a message warningof a blocked sensor will appear in theinformation display. Also the BLIS alertindicators will remain ON and BLIS will nolonger provide any vehicle warnings. Youcan clear the information display warningbut the alert indicators will remainilluminated.
A "blocked" condition can be cleared intwo ways:
•After the blockage in front of thesensors is removed or therainfall/snowfall rate decreases orstops, drive for a few minutes in trafficto allow the sensors to detect passingvehicles.
•By cycling the ignition from ON to OFFand then back ON.
Note:If your vehicle has a tow bar with afactory equipped trailer tow module and itis towing a trailer, the sensors willautomatically turn the Blind SpotInformation System off. If your vehicle hasa tow bar but no factory equipped trailertow module, it is recommended to turn theBlind Spot Information System offmanually. Operating the Blind SpotInformation System with a trailer attachedwill cause poor system performance.
System Errors
If the system senses a problem with theleft or right sensor, the telltale willilluminate and a message will appear inthe information display. See InformationMessages (page 103).
Switching the System Off and On
You can temporarily switch the Blind SpotInformation System off in the informationdisplay. See General Information (page92). When the Blind Spot InformationSystem switches off, you will not receivealerts and the information display showsa system off message. The telltale in thecluster also illuminates. When you switchthe Blind Spot Information System on oroff, the alert indicators flash twice.
Note:The Blind Spot Information Systemremembers the last selected on or offsetting.
You can also have the Blind SpotInformation System switched offpermanently at an authorized dealer. Onceswitched off permanently, the system canonly be switched back on at an authorizeddealer.
CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT
WARNING
To help avoid personal injury, NEVERuse the Cross Traffic Alert system asa replacement for using the interiorand exterior mirrors and looking over yourshoulder before backing out of a parkingspace. Cross Traffic Alert is not areplacement for careful driving.
Cross Traffic Alert is designed to warn youof vehicles approaching from the sideswhen the transmission is in reverse (R).
Using the System
Cross Traffic Alert turns on when you startthe engine and you shift into reverse (R).Once shifted out of reverse (R), CrossTraffic Alert turns off.
Note:Cross Traffic Alert only functionswhile your transmission is in reverse (R).
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The following are other situations that maylimit the Cross Traffic Alert performance:
•Adjacently parked vehicles or objectsobstructing the sensors.
•Approaching vehicles passing atspeeds greater than 37 mph(60 km/h).
•Driving in reverse faster than 7 mph(12 km/h).
•Backing out of an angled parking spot.
False Alerts
Note:If your vehicle has a tow bar with afactory equipped trailer tow module and itis towing a trailer, the sensors willautomatically turn the Cross Traffic Alertoff. If your vehicle has a tow bar but nofactory equipped trailer tow module, it isrecommended to turn the Cross Traffic Alertoff manually. Operating Cross Traffic Alertwith a trailer attached will cause poor CrossTraffic Alert performance.
There may be certain instances when thereis a false alert by the Cross Traffic Alertsystem that illuminates the alert indicatorwith no vehicle in the coverage zone. Someamount of false alerts are normal; they aretemporary and self-correct.
System Errors
If Cross Traffic Alert senses a problem withthe left or right sensor a message willappear in the information display. SeeInformation Messages (page 103).
Switching the System Off and On
You can temporarily switch Cross TrafficAlert off in the information display. SeeGeneral Information (page 92). Whenyou switch Cross Traffic Alert off, you willnot receive alerts and the informationdisplay will display a system off message.
Note:The Cross Traffic Alert switches onwhenever the ignition is switched on andready to provide appropriate alerts whenthe transmission is in reverse (R). CrossTraffic Alert will not remember the lastselected on or off setting.
You can also have Cross Traffic Alertswitched off permanently at an authorizeddealer. Once switched off permanently,the system can only be switched back onat an authorized dealer.
STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNINGS
The electric power steering systemhas diagnostic checks thatcontinuously monitor the system. Ifa fault is detected, a message displays inthe information display. Stop your vehicleas soon as it is safe to do so. Switch theignition off. After at least 10 seconds,switch the ignition on and watch theinformation display for a steering systemwarning message. If a steering systemwarning message returns, have the systemchecked by an authorized dealer.
If the system detects an error, youmay not feel a difference in thesteering, however a serious conditionmay exist. Obtain immediate service froman authorized dealer, failure to do so mayresult in loss of steering control.
Your vehicle has an electric power steeringsystem. There is no fluid reservoir. Nomaintenance is required.
If your vehicle loses electrical power whileyou are driving, electric power steeringassistance is lost. The steering system stilloperates and you can steer your vehiclemanually. Manually steering your vehiclerequires more effort.
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Modes:
•Comfort – Provides a more relaxeddriving experience, maximizing comfort.Your steering effort decreases and thesuspension movement is more fluid.Comfort mode is ideal when you desireenhanced traveling comfort.
•Normal – Delivers a balancedcombination of comfortable, controlledride and confident handling. This modeprovides an engaging drive experienceand a direct connection to the roadwithout sacrificing any of thecomposure demanded from yourvehicle.
•Sport – Provides a sportier drivingexperience. The suspension stiffens,with an emphasis on handling andcontrol. The engine responds moredirectly to your inputs. Sport mode isideal for use during more spiriteddriving.
Adaptive Steering
You can configure which of the modes areactive from the main menu on theinformation display. See GeneralInformation (page 92).
Modes:
•Normal – Default factory setting.
•Sport – Slightly higher effort requiredfor steering with more road force feltthrough the steering wheel.
Note:The Drive Control has diagnosticchecks that continuously monitor thesystem to ensure proper operation. Certaintypes of system errors will gray out themode selections within the informationdisplay, preventing you from changing stateswhen the gear position is changed. Othertypes of errors will produce a temporarymessage that states a malfunction. If eithercondition persists for multiple key cycles,have your vehicle checked by an authorizeddealer.
SELF-LEVELING SUSPENSION
The self-leveling suspension system isdesigned to improve ride, handling andgeneral vehicle performance during:
•Certain road conditions
•Steering maneuvers
•Braking
•Acceleration
•Towing
This system keeps the rear of your vehicleat a constant level through a hydraulicpump inside each rear shock. Dependingon the payload or road surface conditionsit will take approximately 2 mi (3.2 km) forthe leveling to complete.
If the loaded vehicle is not moved forapproximately 12 hours, the leveling systemmay bleed down to a lower height. Thiscan be especially apparent if a trailer is leftattached to the parked vehicle for longperiods of time. You must drive your vehiclein order to re-level the suspension.
If a self-equalizing hitch is used, yourvehicle should be driven approximately2 mi (3.2 km) with the trailer prior toadjusting (leveling) the hitch.
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Cargo Weight - includes allweight added to the Base CurbWeight, including cargo andoptional equipment. When towing,trailer tongue load or king pinweight is also part of cargo weight.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) - isthe total weight placed on eachaxle (front and rear) includingvehicle curb weight and allpayload.
GAWR (Gross Axle WeightRating) - is the maximumallowable weight that can becarried by a single axle (front orrear). These numbers are shownon the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. The label shallbe affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver seatingposition.The total load on eachaxle must never exceed itsGross Axle Weight Rating.
Note: For trailer towinginformation refer to the RV andTrailer Towing Guide available atan authorized dealer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) -is the Vehicle Curb Weight, pluscargo, plus passengers.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle WeightRating) - is the maximumallowable weight of the fullyloaded vehicle (including alloptions, equipment, passengersand cargo). It is shown on the
Safety Compliance CertificationLabel. The label shall be affixedto either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post,next to the driver seating position.The Gross Vehicle Weight mustnever exceed the Gross VehicleWeight Rating.
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Load CarryingE143818GVW

GCW (Gross Combined Weight)- is the Gross Vehicle Weight plusthe weight of the fully loadedtrailer.
GCWR (Gross CombinedWeight Rating) - is the maximumallowable weight of the vehicleand the loaded trailer, includingall cargo and passengers, that thevehicle can handle without riskingdamage. (Important: The towingvehicle’s braking system is ratedfor operation at Gross VehicleWeight Rating, not at GrossCombined Weight Rating.)Separate functional brakes shouldbe used for safe control of towedvehicles and for trailers where theGross Combined Weight of thetowing vehicle plus the trailerexceed the Gross Vehicle WeightRating of the towing vehicle.TheGross Combined Weight mustnever exceed the GrossCombined Weight Rating.
Maximum Loaded TrailerWeight - is the highest possibleweight of a fully loaded trailer thevehicle can tow. It assumes avehicle with mandatory options,driver and front passenger weight(150 pounds [68 kilograms]each), no cargo weight (internalor external) and a tongue load of10–15% (conventional trailer) orking pin weight of 15–25% (fifthwheel trailer). Consult anauthorized dealer (or the RV andTrailer Towing Guide available at
an authorized dealer) for moredetailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth WheelKing Pin Weight - refers to theamount of the weight that a trailerpushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples: For a 5000 pound(2268 kilogram) conventionaltrailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and0.15 to obtain a proper tongueload range of 500 to 750 pounds(227 to 340 kilograms). For an11500 pound (5216 kilogram) fifthwheel trailer, multiply by 0.15 and0.25 to obtain a proper king pinload range of 1725 to 2875 pounds(782 to 1304 kilograms).
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR orthe GAWR specified on theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel.
Do not use replacement tireswith lower load carryingcapacities than the original tiresbecause they may lower thevehicle’s GVWR and GAWRlimitations. Replacement tireswith a higher limit than the originaltires do not increase the GVWRand GAWR limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weightrating limitation could resultin serious damage to the vehicleand/or personal injury.
Steps for determining thecorrect load limit:
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1. Locate the statement "Thecombined weight of occupantsand cargo should never exceedXXX kg or XXX lb." on yourvehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combinedweight of the driver andpassengers that will be ridingin your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weightof the driver and passengersfrom XXX kg or XXX lb.
4.The resulting figure equals theavailable amount of cargo andluggage load capacity. Forexample, if the “XXX” amountequals 1,400 lb. and there willbe five 150 lb. passengers inyour vehicle, the amount ofavailable cargo and luggageload capacity is 650 lb.(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lb.).
5.Determine the combinedweight of luggage and cargobeing loaded on the vehicle.That weight may not safelyexceed the available cargo andluggage load capacitycalculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing atrailer, load from your trailerwill be transferred to yourvehicle. Consult this manual todetermine how this reduces theavailable cargo and luggageload capacity of your vehicle.
The following gives you a fewexamples on how to calculate the
available amount of cargo andluggage load capacity:
*Suppose your vehicle has a1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargoand luggage capacity. You decideto go golfing. Is there enough loadcapacity to carry you, four of yourfriends and all the golf bags? Youand four friends average 220pounds (99 kilograms) each andthe golf bags weigh approximately30 pounds (13.5 kilograms) each.The calculation would be: 1400 -(5 x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400 - 1100- 150 = 150 pounds. Yes, you haveenough load capacity in yourvehicle to transport four friendsand your golf bags. In metric units,the calculation would be: 635kilograms - (5 x 99 kilograms) -(5 x 13.5 kilograms) = 635 - 495 -67.5 = 72.5 kilograms.
*Suppose your vehicle has a1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargoand luggage capacity. You andone of your friends decide to pickup cement from the local homeimprovement store to finish thatpatio you have been planning forthe past two years. Measuring theinside of the vehicle with the rearseat folded down, you have roomfor twelve 100-pound(45-kilogram) bags of cement. Doyou have enough load capacity totransport the cement to yourhome? If you and your friend eachweigh 220 pounds (99 kilograms),the calculation would be: 1400 -(2 x 220) - (12 x 100) = 1400 - 440- 1200 = - 240 pounds. No, you donot have enough cargo capacity
to carry that much weight. Inmetric units, the calculation would
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR orthe GAWR specified on thecertification label.
Towing trailers beyond themaximum recommendedgross trailer weight exceeds thelimit of the vehicle and couldresult in engine damage,transmission damage, structuraldamage, loss of vehicle control,vehicle rollover and personalinjury.
Your vehicle may have electricalitems, such as fuses or relays,related to towing. See the Fuseschapter.
Your vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extraload on your vehicle's engine,transmission, axle, brakes, tiresand suspension. Inspect thesecomponents periodically during,and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects your vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest itemscentered between the left andright side trailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to goabove or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a tow bar with thecorrect rise or drop. When boththe loaded vehicle and trailerare connected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward yourvehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibrationor shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in another chapter of thismanual. See Load Limit (page198).
You can also find information inthe RV & Trailer Towing Guideavailable at your authorizeddealer, or online.
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RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/Website
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL
WARNING
Turning off trailer sway controlincreases the risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, serious injury or death. Forddoes not recommend disabling this featureexcept in situations where speed reductionmay be detrimental (such as hill climbing),the driver has significant trailer towingexperience, and can control trailer swayand maintain safe operation.
Note:This feature does not prevent trailersway, but reduces it once it begins.
Note:This feature cannot stop all trailersfrom swaying.
Note:In some cases, if vehicle speed is toohigh, the system may activate multipletimes, gradually reducing vehicle speed.
This feature applies your vehicle brakes atindividual wheels and, if necessary, reducesengine power. If the trailer begins to sway,the stability control light flashes and themessage TRAILER SWAY REDUCESPEED appears in the information display.The first thing to do is slow your vehicledown, then pull safely to the side of theroad and check for proper tongue load andtrailer load distribution. See LoadCarrying (page 196).
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note:Do not exceed the trailer weight foryour vehicle configuration listed in the chartbelow.
Note:Make sure to take into considerationtrailer frontal area. Do not exceed 36.5 feet²(3.39 meters²) if your vehicle is equippedwith the standard towing package, or 60feet² (5.57 meters²) if your vehicle isequipped with the optional heavy dutypackage.
Note:Exceeding this limitation maysignificantly reduce the performance of yourtowing vehicle. Selecting a trailer with a lowaerodynamic drag and rounded front designhelps optimize performance and fueleconomy.
Note:For high altitude operation, reducethe gross combined weight by 2% per 1000feet (300 meters) starting at the 1000 foot(300 meter) elevation point.
Note:Certain states require electric trailerbrakes for trailers over a specified weight.Be sure to check state regulations for thisspecified weight. The maximum trailerweights listed may be limited to thisspecified weight, as the vehicle’s electricalsystem may not include the wiringconnector needed to activate electric trailerbrakes.
Your vehicle may tow a trailer provided themaximum trailer weight is less than orequal to the maximum trailer weight listedfor your vehicle configuration on thefollowing chart.
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