Page 201 of 561
Note:
The Stop/Start system (if equipped)
may stop the engine when you press the
brake pedal. If this occurs, it will restart once
you press the accelerator pedal. Auto Hold
still holds your vehicle at a standstill with the
engine off.
198
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Brakes
Page 202 of 561

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps avoid drive
wheel spin and loss of traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the system
applies the brakes to individual wheels and,
when needed, reduces engine power at the
same time. If the wheels spin when
accelerating on slippery or loose surfaces,
the system reduces engine power in order
to increase traction.
USING TRACTION CONTROL
WARNING: The stability and traction
control light illuminates steadily if the
system detects a failure. Make sure you
did not manually disable the traction
control system using the information
display controls or the switch. If the stability
control and traction control light is still illuminating steadily, have the system
serviced by an authorized dealer
immediately. Operating your vehicle with
the traction control disabled could lead to
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
The system automatically turns on each time
you switch the ignition on.
If your vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,
switching traction control off may be
beneficial as this allows the wheels to spin.
Note: When you switch traction control off,
stability control remains fully active.
Switching the System Off
When you switch the system off or on, a
message appears in the information display
showing system status.
You can switch the system off by either using
the information display controls or the switch. Using the Information Display Controls
You can switch this feature off or on in the
information display. See General Information
(page
109).
Using a Switch
(If Equipped)
Use the traction control switch on the
instrument panel to switch the system off or
on.
System Indicator Lights and Messages The stability and traction control
light:
• Temporarily illuminates on engine
start-up.
• Flashes when a driving condition
activates either of the systems.
• Illuminates if a problem occurs in either
of the systems. The stability and traction control
off light temporarily illuminates on
engine start-up and stays on when
you switch the traction control system off.
199
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Traction ControlE138639 E130458
Page 203 of 561

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Vehicle modifications
involving braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system, tire
construction and wheel and tire size may
change the handling characteristics of your
vehicle and may adversely affect the
performance of the electronic stability
control system. In addition, installing any
stereo loudspeakers may interfere with
and adversely affect the electronic stability
control system. Install any aftermarket
stereo loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel, and
the front seats in order to minimize the risk
of interfering with the electronic stability
control sensors. Reducing the
effectiveness of the electronic stability
control system could lead to an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. WARNING:
Remember that even
advanced technology cannot defy the laws
of physics. It’ s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause
you to lose control of your vehicle
increasing the risk of personal injury or
property damage. Activation of the
electronic stability control system is an
indication that at least some of the tires
have exceeded their ability to grip the
road; this could reduce the operator’ s
ability to control the vehicle potentially
resulting in a loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. If your
electronic stability control system activates,
SLOW DOWN.
The system automatically turns on each time
you switch the ignition on.
If a fault occurs in either the stability control
or the traction control system, you may
experience the following conditions: •
The stability and traction control light
illuminates steadily.
• The stability control and traction control
systems do not enhance your vehicle's
ability to maintain traction of the wheels.
If a driving condition activates either the
stability control or the traction control system
you may experience the following conditions:
• The stability and traction control light
flashes.
• Your vehicle slows down.
• Reduced engine power.
• A vibration in the brake pedal.
• The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
• If the driving condition is severe and your
foot is not on the brake, the brake pedal
may move as the system applies higher
brake force.
The stability control system has several
features built into it to help you maintain
control of your vehicle:
200
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Stability Control
Page 204 of 561

Electronic Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle
’s ability
to prevent skids or lateral slides by applying
brakes to one or more of the wheels
individually and, if necessary, reducing
engine power.
Traction Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to maintain traction of the wheels by
detecting and controlling wheel spin. See
Using Traction Control (page 199). Vehicle without stability control
skidding off its intended route.
A
Vehicle with stability control
maintaining control on a slippery
surface.
B USING STABILITY CONTROL
The system automatically turns on each time
you switch the ignition on.
The electronic stability control portion of the
system disables when the transmission is in
reverse (R) or, on some models, if you press
and hold the stability control button for more
than five seconds when you apply the brakes
and the vehicle is at a stop.
You can switch the traction control system
off or on independently.
201
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Stability ControlE72903A
AA
B
BB
B
Page 205 of 561

Stability Control and Traction Control Features
Collision Warning
with Brake Support
Traction Control
System
Electronic Stability
Control
Stability Control Off
Light
Mode
Button Functions
Enabled
Enabled
Enabled
On during bulb check
Stability and traction
control fully enabled
Default at start-up
Enabled
Disabled
Enabled
On
Traction control off
Button pressed
momentarily
Disabled
Enabled with higher
threshold target
Enabled with higher
threshold target
On
Sport mode (if
equipped)
Button pressed twice
rapidly
Disabled
Disabled
Disabled
On
Stability and traction
control fully disabled
Button pressed and
held more than five seconds
Enabled
Enabled
Enabled
Off
Stability and traction
control fully enabled
Button pressed again
after deactivation
Note: Stability control fully off can only occur
when you put the Active Suspension System
(CCD) in sport mode. If you are not in sport
mode or change from sport mode to another
mode, the stability control enables.
Note: Do not use Sport mode on public
roadways. Your vehicle, if equipped with sport mode
allows you to reduce normal stability and
traction control system intervention and
provide a more spirited driving experience.
To enter sport mode, press the stability
control button twice rapidly. A message
appears in the information display that the
system is now in sport mode.
202
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Stability Control
Page 206 of 561

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: To help avoid personal
injury, always use caution when in reverse
(R) and when using the sensing system. WARNING:
The system may not
detect objects with surfaces that absorb
reflection. Always drive with due care and
attention. Failure to take care may result
in a crash. WARNING:
Traffic control systems,
inclement weather, air brakes, external
motors and fans may affect the correct
operation of the sensing system.This may
cause reduced performance or false alerts. WARNING:
The system may not
detect small or moving objects, particularly
those close to the ground.
Note: If your vehicle has MyKey™, the sensing
system cannot be switched off when a
MyKey™ is present.
See Principle of
Operation (page 62). Note:
Keep the sensors on the bumper or
fascia free from snow, ice and large
accumulations of dirt. If the sensors are
covered, the system’ s accuracy can be
affected. Do not clean the sensors with sharp
objects.
Note: If your vehicle sustains damage to the
bumper or fascia, leaving it misaligned or
bent, the sensing zone may be altered
causing inaccurate measurement of
obstacles or false alerts.
Note: Certain add-on devices installed
around the bumper or fascia may create
false alerts. For example, large trailer
hitches, bike or surfboard racks, license plate
brackets, bumper covers or any other device
that may block the normal detection zone
of the system. Remove the add-on device to
prevent false alerts.
Note: When you connect a trailer to your
vehicle, the rear parking aid may detect the
trailer and therefore provide an alert. Disable
the rear parking aid when you connect a
trailer to prevent the alert. The sensing system warns the driver of
obstacles within a certain range of your
vehicle. The system turns on automatically
whenever you switch the ignition on.
You can switch the system off through the
information display menu or from the pop-up
message that appears once you shift the
transmission into reverse (R).
See General
Information (page 109). If your vehicle has a
parking aid button, you can switch the
system off by pressing the button.
If a fault is present in the system, a warning
message appears in the information display.
See
Information Messages (page 115).
REAR PARKING AID WARNING:
The system may not
detect objects with surfaces that absorb
reflection. Always drive with due care and
attention. Failure to take care may result
in a crash.
203
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Parking Aids
Page 207 of 561

WARNING: The system may not
detect small or moving objects, particularly
those close to the ground. WARNING:
To help avoid personal
injury, always use caution when in reverse
(R) and when using the sensing system. WARNING:
The parking aid system
can only assist you to detect objects when
your vehicle is moving at parking speeds.
To help avoid personal injury you must
take care when using the parking aid
system.
Note: Keep the sensors free from snow, ice
and large accumulations of dirt.
Note: Do not cover up the sensors.
Note: Do not clean the sensors with sharp
objects.
Note: If your vehicle sustains damage
leaving the sensors misaligned, this may
cause inaccurate measurements or false
alerts. Note:
Some accessories, for example large
trailer hitches or bike or surfboard racks can
cause reduced performance or false alerts.
The sensors are on the rear bumper.
The sensors are active when the
transmission is in reverse (R) and the vehicle
speed is less than 3 mph (5 km/h). When the
parking aid system sounds a tone, the audio
system may reduce the set volume.
A warning tone sounds when your vehicle
approaches an object. As your vehicle
moves closer to an object, the rate of the
tone increases. The warning tone
continuously sounds when an object is 12 in
(30 cm)
or less from the center of the rear
bumper.
Note: There is a decreased coverage area
at the outer corners. The sensor coverage area is up to 70 in
(180 cm) from the rear bumper.
If the system detects a fault, a warning
message appears in the information display.
204
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Parking AidsE130178
Page 208 of 561

The system detects large objects when you
shift into reverse (R) and any of the following
occur:
•
Your vehicle is moving backward at low
speed.
• Your vehicle is stationary but an object
is approaching the rear of your vehicle
at low speed.
• Your vehicle is moving backward at low
speed and an object is moving toward
your vehicle, for example another vehicle
at low speed.
If your vehicle remains stationary for two
seconds the audible warning turns off. If your
vehicle moves backward the tone sounds
again.
Note: If the detected object is 12 in (30 cm)
or less from the rear bumper, the audible
warning does not turn off. Object Distance Indicator
(If Equipped)
The system provides object distance
indication through the information display.
•
As the distance to the object decreases,
the indicator blocks illuminate and move
toward the vehicle icon.
• If the system does not detect an object,
the distance indicator blocks are gray. When you shift into reverse (R), the system
provides audible warnings and visual
indication when your vehicle is moving and
the detected object is moving toward your
vehicle. When you stop your vehicle, the
audible warnings stop after two seconds.
Visual indication remains on when the
transmission is in reverse (R).
FRONT PARKING AID
(IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:
The system may not
detect objects with surfaces that absorb
reflection. Always drive with due care and
attention. Failure to take care may result
in a crash. WARNING:
The system may not
detect small or moving objects, particularly
those close to the ground. WARNING:
To help avoid personal
injury, always use caution when in reverse
(R) and when using the sensing system.
205
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201905, Second-Printing Parking AidsE190459