2017 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Airbags do not inflate slowly orgently, and the risk of injury from adeploying airbag is the greatest closeto the trim covering the airbag module.
All occupants of your vehicle,including the driver, should alwaysproperly wear their safety belts, evenwhen an airbag supplemental restraintsystem is provided. Failure to properly wearyour safety belt could seriously increasethe risk of injury or death.
Always transport children 12 yearsold and under in the back seat andalways properly use appropriatechild restraints. Failure to follow this couldseriously increase the risk of injury or death.
Never place your arm over the airbagmodule as a deploying airbag canresult in serious arm fractures orother injuries.
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.
Do not attempt to service, repair, ormodify the airbag supplementalrestraint systems or its fuses as youcould be seriously injured or killed. Contactyour authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Several airbag system componentsget hot after inflation. To reduce therisk of injury, do not touch them afterinflation.
If the airbag has deployed, the airbagwill not function again and must bereplaced immediately. If the airbagis not replaced, the unrepaired area willincrease the risk of injury in a crash.
The airbags are a supplemental restraintsystem and are designed to work with thesafety belts to help protect the driver andright front passenger from certain upperbody injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;there is a risk of injury from a deployingairbag.
Note:You will hear a loud bang and see acloud of harmless powdery residue if anairbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidlyupon activation. After airbag deployment,it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powderyresidue or smell the burnt propellant. Thismay consist of cornstarch, talcum powder(to lubricate the bag) or sodiumcompounds (for example, baking soda)that result from the combustion processthat inflates the airbag. Small amounts ofsodium hydroxide may be present whichmay irritate the skin and eyes, but none ofthe residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to helpreduce serious injuries, contact with adeploying airbag may also cause abrasionsor swelling. Temporary hearing loss is alsoa possibility as a result of the noiseassociated with a deploying airbag.Because airbags must inflate rapidly andwith considerable force, there is the risk ofdeath or serious injuries such as fractures,facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,particularly to occupants who are notproperly restrained or are otherwise out ofposition at the time of airbag deployment.Thus, it is extremely important thatoccupants be properly restrained as faraway from the airbag module as possiblewhile maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is notrequired.
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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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Children must always be properlyrestrained. Accident statistics suggest thatchildren are safer when properly restrainedin the rear seating positions than in thefront seating position. Failure to followthese instructions may increase the risk ofinjury in a crash.
FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM
WARNINGS
Even with Advanced RestraintsSystems, children 12 and undershould be properly restrained in arear seating position. Failure to follow thiscould seriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
Sitting improperly out of position orwith the seatback reclined too farcan take off weight from the seatcushion and affect the decision of the frontpassenger sensing system, resulting inserious injury or death in a crash. Alwayssit upright against your seatback, with yourfeet on the floor.
Any alteration or modification to thefront passenger seat may affect theperformance of the front passengersensing system which could seriouslyincrease the risk of injury or death.
This system works with sensors that arepart of the front passenger seat and safetybelt to detect the presence of aproperly-seated occupant and determineif the front passenger frontal airbag shouldbe enabled (may inflate) or not.
The front passenger sensing system usesa passenger airbag status indicator thatwill illuminate indicating that the frontpassenger frontal airbag is either ON(enabled) or OFF (disabled).
The indicator lamp is located in the centerstack of the instrument panel.
Note:The passenger airbag status indicatorOFF and ON indicator lamps will illuminatefor a short period of time when the ignitionis first turned on to confirm it is functional.
The front passenger sensing system isdesigned to disable (will not inflate) thefront passenger frontal airbag when thefront passenger seat is unoccupied, or arear facing infant seat, a forward-facingchild restraint, or a booster seat isdetected. Even with this technology,parents are strongly encouraged toalways properly restrain children in the rearseat. The sensor also turns off thepassenger front airbag and seat-mountedside airbag when the passenger seat isempty.
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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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The system consists of the following:
•Safety Canopy curtain airbags locatedabove the trim panels over the frontand rear side windows identified by alabel or wording on the headliner orroof-pillar trim.
•A flexible headliner which opens abovethe side doors to allow air curtaindeployment
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with a readinessindicator. See Crash Sensorsand Airbag Indicator (page 44).
Properly restrain children 12 years old andunder in the rear seats. The Safety Canopywill not interfere with children restrainedusing a properly installed child or boosterseat because it is designed to inflatedownward from the headliner above thedoors along the side window opening.
The design and development of the SafetyCanopy included recommended testingprocedures that were developed by agroup of automotive safety experts knownas the Side Airbag Technical WorkingGroup. These recommended testingprocedures help reduce the risk of injuriesrelated to the deployment of side airbags(including the Safety Canopy).
CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR
WARNING
Modifying or adding equipment tothe front end of the vehicle (includingframe, bumper, front end bodystructure and tow hooks) may affect theperformance of the airbag system,increasing the risk of injury. Do not modifythe front end of the vehicle.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash andoccupant sensors which provideinformation to the restraints controlmodule. The restraints control moduledeploys (activates) the front seatbeltpretensioners, driver airbag, passengerairbag, seat mounted side airbags and theSafety Canopy. Based on the type of crash,the restraints control module will deploythe appropriate safety devices.
The restraints control module alsomonitors the readiness of the above safetydevices plus the crash and occupantsensors. The readiness of the safetysystem is indicated by a warning indicatorlight in the instrument cluster or by abackup tone if the warning light is notworking. Routine maintenance of theairbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated byone or more of the following:
The readiness light will notilluminate immediately after theignition is turned on.
•The readiness light will either flash orstay lit.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. Thetone pattern will repeat periodicallyuntil the problem, the light or both arerepaired.
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If any of these things happen, evenintermittently, have the supplementalrestraint system serviced at an authorizeddealer immediately. Unless serviced, thesystem may not function properly in theevent of a crash.
The seatbelt pretensioners and the frontairbag supplemental restraint system aredesigned to activate when the vehiclesustains frontal deceleration sufficient tocause the restraints control module todeploy a safety device.
The fact that the seatbelt pretensionersor front airbags did not activate for bothfront seat occupants in a crash does notmean that something is wrong with thesystem. Rather, it means the restraintscontrol module determined the accidentconditions (crash severity, belt usage)were not appropriate to activate thesesafety devices.
•The design of the front airbags is toactivate only in frontal and near-frontalcrashes (not rollovers, side impacts orrear impacts) unless the crash causessufficient frontal deceleration.
•The design of the seatbeltpretensioners is to activate in frontal,near-frontal and side crashes and inrollovers.
•The design of the side airbags is toinflate in certain side impact crashes.Side airbags may activate in othertypes of crashes if the vehicleexperiences sufficient sideways motionor deformation.
•The design of the Safety Canopy is toinflate in certain side impact crashesor rollover events. The Safety Canopymay activate in other types of crashesif the vehicle experiences sufficientsideways motion or deformation, or acertain likelihood of rollover.
AIRBAG DISPOSAL
Contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible. Airbags must be disposed of byqualified personnel.
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