
5. Tighten the child safety seat tetherstrap according to the manufacturer'sinstructions.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly,the risk of a child being injured in a crashgreatly increases.
If your child restraint system has a tetherstrap, and the child restraint manufacturerrecommends its use, we also recommendits use.
BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING
Never place, or allow a child to place,the shoulder belt under a child's armor behind the back because itreduces the protection for the upper partof the body and may increase the risk ofinjury or death in a crash.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child safety seat (generallychildren who are less than 4 feet 9 inches(1.45 meters) tall, are greater than age four(4) and less than age twelve (12), andbetween 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and80 pounds (36 kilograms) and upward to100 pounds (45 kilograms) ifrecommended by your child restraintmanufacturer). Many state and provinciallaws require that children use approvedbooster seats until they reach age eight, aheight of 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall,or 80 pounds (36 kilograms).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer YES to ALL of these questionswhen seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way backagainst their vehicle seat back withknees bent comfortably at the edge ofthe seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across thehips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on theshoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this forthe whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunctionwith your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Types of Booster Seats
•Backless booster seats
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If your backless booster seat has aremovable shield, remove the shield. If avehicle seating position has a low seatback or no head restraint, a backlessbooster seat may place your child's head(as measured at the tops of the ears)above the top of the seat. In this case,move the backless booster to anotherseating position with a higher seat back orhead restraint and lap and shoulder belts,or consider using a high back booster seat.
•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannotfind a seating position that adequatelysupports your child's head, a high backbooster seat would be a better choice.
Children and booster seats vary in size andshape. Choose a booster that keeps thelap belt low and snug across the hips,never up across the stomach, and lets youadjust the shoulder belt to cross the chestand rest snugly near the center of theshoulder. The following drawings comparethe ideal fit (center) to a shoulder beltuncomfortably close to the neck and ashoulder belt that could slip off theshoulder. The drawings also show how thelap belt should be low and snug across thechild's hips.
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WARNINGS
To avoid risk of injury, do not leave
WARNINGS
children or pets unattended in your vehicle.
Recommendations for attaching child safety restraints for children
Use any attachment method as indicated below by X
Combinedweight ofchild andchild seat
RestraintType
Safety beltonlySafety beltand LATCH(loweranchorsand toptetheranchor)
Safety beltand toptetheranchor
LATCH(loweranchorsonly)
LATCH(loweranchorsand toptetheranchor)
XXUp to 65 lb(29.5 kg)Rear facingchild seat
XOver 65 lb(29.5 kg)Rear facingchild seat
XXXUp to 65 lb(29.5 kg)
Forwardfacingchild seat
XXOver 65 lb(29.5 kg)
Forwardfacingchild seat
Note:The child seat must rest tightlyagainst the vehicle seat upon which it isinstalled. It may be necessary to lift orremove the head restraint. See Seats (page119).
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS
When these locks are set, the rear doorscannot be opened from the inside.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Always drive and ride with yourseatback upright and the lap beltsnug and low across the hips.
To reduce the risk of injury, makesure children sit where they can beproperly restrained.
Never let a passenger hold a child onhis or her lap while your vehicle ismoving. The passenger cannotprotect the child from injury in a crash.
All occupants of your vehicle,including the driver, should alwaysproperly wear their seatbelts, evenwhen an airbag supplemental restraintsystem is provided. Failure to properly wearyour seatbelt could seriously increase therisk of injury or death.
It is extremely dangerous to ride in acargo area, inside or outside of avehicle. In a crash, people riding inthese areas are more likely to be seriouslyinjured or killed. Do not allow people to ridein any area of your vehicle that is notequipped with seats and seatbelts. Be sureeveryone in your vehicle is in a seat andusing a seatbelt properly.
In a rollover crash, an unbeltedperson is significantly more likely todie than a person wearing a seatbelt.
Each seating position in your vehiclehas a specific seatbelt assemblywhich is made up of one buckle andone tongue that are designed to be usedas a pair. 1) Use the shoulder belt on theoutside shoulder only. Never wear theshoulder belt under the arm. 2) Neverswing the seatbelt around your neck overthe inside shoulder. 3) Never use a singlebelt for more than one person.
WARNINGS
When possible, all children 12 yearsold and under should be properlyrestrained in a rear seating position.Failure to follow this could seriouslyincrease the risk of injury or death.
Seatbelts and seats can become hotin a vehicle that has been closed upin sunny weather; they could burn asmall child. Check seat covers and bucklesbefore you place a child anywhere nearthem.
Front and rear seat occupants,including pregnant women, shouldwear seatbelts for optimumprotection in an accident.
All seating positions in your vehicle havelap and shoulder seatbelts. All occupantsof the vehicle should always properly weartheir seatbelts, even when an airbagsupplemental restraint system is provided.
The seatbelt system consists of:
•Lap and shoulder seatbelts.
•Shoulder seatbelt with automaticlocking mode, (except driver seatbelt).
•Height adjuster at the front outboardseating positions.
•Seatbelt pretensioner at the frontoutboard seating positions.
•Belt tension sensor at the frontoutboard passenger seating position.
· Seatbelt warning light andchime.
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with readiness indicator.
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DRIVER AND PASSENGER
AIRBAGS
WARNINGS
Never place your arm or any objectsover an airbag module. Placing yourarm over a deploying airbag canresult in serious arm fractures or otherinjuries. Objects placed on or over theairbag inflation area may cause thoseobjects to be propelled by the airbag intoyour face and torso causing serious injury.
Airbags can kill or injure a child in achild seat. Never place a rear-facingchild seat in front of an active airbag.If you must use a forward-facing child seatin the front seat, move the seat upon whichthe child seat is installed all the way back.
The driver and front passenger airbags willdeploy during significant frontal and nearfrontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbagsystem consists of:
•Driver and passenger airbag modules.
•Front passenger sensing system.
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with readiness indicator.See Crash Sensors and AirbagIndicator (page 44).
Proper Driver and Front PassengerSeating Adjustment
WARNING
National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA)recommends a minimum distanceof at least 10 inches (25 centimeters)between an occupant’s chest and thedriver airbag module.
To properly position yourself away fromthe airbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as youcan while still reaching the pedalscomfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly (one or twodegrees) from the upright position.
After all occupants have adjusted theirseats and put on safety belts, it is veryimportant that they continue to sitproperly. A properly seated occupant sitsupright, leaning against the seat back, andcentered on the seat cushion, with theirfeet comfortably extended on the floor.Sitting improperly can increase the chanceof injury in a crash event. For example, ifan occupant slouches, lies down, turnssideways, sits forward, leans forward orsideways, or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash is greatlyincreased.
Children and Airbags
WARNING
Airbags can kill or injure a child in achild seat. Never place a rear-facingchild seat in front of an active airbag.If you must use a forward-facing child seatin the front seat, move the seat upon whichthe child seat is installed all the way back.
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•When the front passenger sensingsystem disables (will not inflate) thefront passenger frontal airbag, thepassenger airbag status indicator willilluminate the OFF lamp and stay lit toremind you that the front passengerfrontal airbag is disabled.
•If the child restraint has been installedand the passenger airbag statusindicator illuminates the ON lamp, thenturn the vehicle off, remove the childrestraint from the vehicle and reinstallthe restraint following the childrestraint manufacturer's instructions.
The front passenger sensing system isdesigned to enable (may inflate) the frontpassenger frontal airbag anytime thesystem senses that a person of adult sizeis sitting properly in the front passengerseat.
•When the front passenger sensingsystem enables the front passengerfrontal airbag (may inflate), thepassenger airbag status indicator willilluminate the ON lamp and remainilluminated.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the frontpassenger seat, but the airbag off indicatorlamp is lit, it is possible that the person isnot sitting properly in the seat. If thishappens:
•Turn the vehicle off and ask the personto place the seatback in the full uprightposition.
•Have the person sit upright in the seat,centered on the seat cushion, with theperson’s legs comfortably extended.
•Restart the vehicle and have the personremain in this position for about twominutes. This will allow the system todetect that person and enable thepassenger’s frontal airbag.
•If the indicator OFF lamp remains liteven after this, the person should beadvised to ride in the rear seat.
Passenger airbagPassenger airbag statusindicatorOccupant
DisabledOFF: LitEmpty
ON: Unlit
DisabledOFF: LitChild
ON: Unlit
EnabledOFF: UnlitAdult
ON: Lit
Note:When the passenger airbag statusindicator OFF light is illuminated, thepassenger (seat mounted) side airbag maybe disabled to avoid the risk of airbagdeployment injuries.
After all occupants have adjusted theirseats and put on safety belts, it is veryimportant that they continue to sitproperly. A properly seated occupant sitsupright, leaning against the seatback, andcentered on the seat cushion, with their
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feet comfortably extended on the floor.Sitting improperly can increase the chanceof injury in a crash event. For example, ifan occupant slouches, lies down, turnssideways, sits forward, leans forward orsideways, or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash is greatlyincreased.
Make sure the front passenger sensingsystem is operating properly. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator (page 44).
Do not attempt to repair or service thesystem. Take your vehicle immediately toan authorized dealer.
If it is necessary to modify an advancedfront airbag system to accommodate aperson with disabilities, contact the FordCustomer Relationship Center. SeeGetting the Services You Need (page219).
SIDE AIRBAGS
WARNINGS
Do not place objects or mountequipment on or near the airbagcover, on the side of the seatbacks(of the front seats), or in front seat areasthat may come into contact with adeploying airbag. Failure to follow theseinstructions may increase the risk ofpersonal injury in the event of a crash.
Do not use accessory seat covers.The use of accessory seat coversmay prevent the deployment of theside airbags and increase the risk of injuryin an accident.
Do not lean your head on the door.The side airbag could injure you as itdeploys from the side of theseatback.
WARNINGS
Do not attempt to service, repair, ormodify the airbag, its fuses or theseat cover on a seat containing anairbag as you could be seriously injured orkilled. Contact your authorized dealer assoon as possible.
If the side airbag has deployed, theairbag will not function again. Theside airbag system (including theseat) must be inspected and serviced byan authorized dealer. If the airbag is notreplaced, the unrepaired area will increasethe risk of injury in a crash.
The side airbags are located on theoutboard side of the seatbacks of the frontseats. In certain sideways crashes, theairbag on the side affected by the crashwill be inflated. The airbag was designedto inflate between the door panel andoccupant to further enhance the protectionprovided occupants in side impact crashes.
The system consists of the following:
•A label or embossed side panelindicating that side airbags are fittedto your vehicle.
•Side airbags located inside the driverand front passenger seatbacks.
•Front passenger sensing system.
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•Crash sensors and monitoring systemwith readiness indicator. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator (page44).
Note:The passenger sensing system willdeactivate the passenger seat-mountedside airbag if it detects an empty passengerseat.
The design and development of the sideairbag system included recommendedtesting procedures that were developedby a group of automotive safety expertsknown as the Side Airbag TechnicalWorking Group. These recommendedtesting procedures help reduce the risk ofinjuries related to the deployment of sideairbags.
SAFETY CANOPY™
WARNINGS
Do not place objects or mountequipment on or near the headlinerat the siderail that may come intocontact with a deploying curtain airbag.Failure to follow these instructions mayincrease the risk of personal injury in theevent of a crash.
Do not lean your head on the door.The curtain airbag could injure youas it deploys from the headliner.
Do not attempt to service, repair, ormodify the curtain airbagsupplemental restraint system, itsfuses, the A, B, or C pillar trim, or theheadliner on a vehicle containing curtainairbags as you could be seriously injuredor killed. Contact your authorized dealeras soon as possible.
WARNINGS
All occupants of your vehicle,including the driver, should alwaysproperly wear their seatbelts, evenwhen an airbag supplemental restraintsystem is provided. Failure to properly wearyour seatbelt could seriously increase therisk of injury or death.
To reduce risk of injury, do notobstruct or place objects in thedeployment path of the airbag.
If the curtain airbags have deployed,the curtain airbags will not functionagain. The curtain airbags (includingthe A, B and C pillar trim and headliner)must be inspected and serviced as soonas possible. If the curtain airbag is notreplaced, the unrepaired area will increasethe risk of injury in a crash.
The Safety Canopy deploys duringsignificant side crashes or when a certainlikelihood of a rollover event is detectedby the rollover sensor. The Safety Canopyis mounted to the roof side-rail sheetmetal, behind the headliner, above eachrow of seats. In certain sideways crashesor rollover events, the Safety Canopy willbe activated, regardless of which seats areoccupied. The Safety Canopy is designedto inflate between the side window areaand occupants to further enhanceprotection provided in side impact crashesand rollover events.
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