2023 FORD BRONCO SPORT Owners Manual

Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children
Recommended RestraintTypeChild Size, Height, Weight, or AgeChild
Use a child restraint(sometimes called aninfant carrier, convertibleseat, or toddler seat).
Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less(generally age four or younger).Infants ortoddlers
Use a belt-positioningbooster seat.
Children who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child restraint (generallychildren who are less than 57 in (1.45 m)tall, are greater than age four and lessthan age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb(45 kg) if recommended by your childrestraint manufacturer).
Small children
Use a vehicle seatbelthaving the lap belt snugand low across the hips,shoulder belt centeredacross the shoulder andchest, and seat backrestupright.
Children who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a belt-positioning boosterseat (generally children who are at least57 in (1.45 m) tall or greater than 80 lb(36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) if recommendedby child restraint manufacturer).
Larger children
•You are required by law to properly usechild restraints for infants and toddlersin the United States, Canada andMexico.
•Many states and provinces require thatsmall children use approved boosterseats until they reach age eight, aheight of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or 80 lb(36 kg). Check your local and state orprovincial laws for specificrequirements about the safety ofchildren in your vehicle.
•When possible, properly restrainchildren 12 years of age and under in arear seating position of your vehicle.Accident statistics suggest thatchildren are safer when properlyrestrained in the rear seating positionsthan in a front seating position. SeeFront Passenger Sensing System(page 51).
•When installing a rear facing childrestraint, adjust the vehicle seats toavoid interference between the childrestraint and the vehicle seat in frontof the child restraint.
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INSTALLING CHILD
RESTRAINTS
Child Restraints
Use a child restraint (sometimes called aninfant carrier, convertible seat, or toddlerseat) for infants, toddlers, or childrenweighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less (generallyage four or younger).
Using Lap and Shoulder Belts
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Properly securechildren 12 years old and under in a rearseating position whenever possible. Ifyou are unable to properly secure allchildren in a rear seating position,properly secure the largest child on thefront seat. If you must use a forwardfacing child restraint on the front seat,move the seat as far back as possible.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Depending on whereyou secure a child restraint, anddepending on the child restraint design,you may block access to certain seatbeltbuckle assemblies and LATCH loweranchors, rendering those featurespotentially unusable. To avoid risk ofinjury, make sure occupants only useseating positions where they are able tobe properly restrained.
When installing a child restraint withcombination lap and shoulder belts:
•Use the correct seatbelt buckle for thatseating position.
•Insert the belt tongue into the properbuckle until you hear a snap and feel itlatch. Make sure the tongue is securelyfastened in the buckle.
•Keep the buckle release buttonpointing up and away from the childrestraint , with the tongue between thechild restraint and the release button,to prevent accidental unbuckling.
•Place the vehicle seat in the uprightposition before you install the childrestraint.
•Put the seatbelt in the automaticlocking mode. See Step 5. This vehicledoes not require the use of a lockingclip.
Perform the following steps wheninstalling the child restraint withcombination lap and shoulder belts:
Note:Although the child restraintillustrated is a forward facing child restraint,the steps are the same for installing a rearfacing child restraint.
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1.Position the child restraint in a seatwith a combination lap and shoulderbelt.
2.Pull down on the shoulder belt andthen grasp the shoulder belt and lapbelt together.
3.While holding the shoulder and lap beltportions together, route the tonguethrough the child restraint accordingto the child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions. Make sure you did nottwist the belt webbing.
4.Insert the belt tongue into the properbuckle (the buckle closest to thedirection the tongue is coming from)for that seating position until you heara snap and feel the latch engage. Makesure the tongue is latched securely bypulling on it.
5.To put the retractor in the automaticlocking mode, grasp the shoulderportion of the belt and pull downwarduntil you pull all of the belt out.
Note:The automatic locking mode isavailable on the front passenger and rearseats.
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6.Allow the belt to retract to removeslack. The belt clicks as it retracts toindicate it is in the automatic lockingmode.
7.Try to pull the belt out of the retractorto make sure the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode. You shouldnot be able to pull more belt out. If theretractor is not locked, unbuckle thebelt and repeat Steps 5 and 6.
8.Remove remaining slack from the belt.Force the seat down with extra weight,for example, by pressing down orkneeling on the child restraint whilepulling up on the shoulder belt in orderto force slack from the belt. This isnecessary to remove the remainingslack that exists once you add the extraweight of the child to the child restraint.It also helps to achieve the propersnugness of the child restraint to yourvehicle. Sometimes, a slight leantoward the buckle will additionally helpto remove remaining slack from thebelt.
9.If the child restraint has a tether strap,attach it.
10.Before placing the child in the seat,forcibly move the seat forward andback to make sure the seat is securelyheld in place. To check this, grab theseat at the belt path and attempt tomove it side to side and forward andback. There should be no more than1 in (2.5 cm) of movement for properinstallation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSACertified Child Passenger SafetyTechnician to make certain the childrestraint is properly installed. In Canada,check with Transport Canada for referralto a Child Car Seat Clinic.
Using Lower Anchors and Tethersfor CHildren (LATCH)
WARNING: Do not attach two childsafety restraints to the same anchor. Ina crash, one anchor may not be strongenough to hold two child safety restraintattachments and may break, causingserious injury or death.
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WARNING: Depending on whereyou secure a child restraint, anddepending on the child restraint design,you may block access to certain seatbeltbuckle assemblies and LATCH loweranchors, rendering those featurespotentially unusable. To avoid risk ofinjury, make sure occupants only useseating positions where they are able tobe properly restrained.
The LATCH system has three vehicleanchor points: two lower anchors wherethe seat backrest and seat cushion meet(called the seat bight) and one top tetheranchor behind that seating position.
LATCH compatible child restraints havetwo rigid or webbing mountedattachments that connect to the two loweranchors at the LATCH equipped seatingpositions in your vehicle. This type ofattachment method eliminates the needto use seatbelts to attach the childrestraint. However, you can still use theseatbelt to attach the child restraint. Forforward-facing child restraints, you mustattach the top tether strap to the propertop tether anchor, if a top tether strap hasbeen provided with your child restraint.
Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors forchild restraint installation at the seatingpositions marked with the child restraintsymbol.
The LATCH anchors are at the rear sectionof the rear seat between the cushion andseat backrest below the symbols asshown. Follow the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions to properlyinstall a child restraint with LATCHattachments.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of thechild restraint only to the anchors shown.
Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from theOutermost Seating Positions (CenterSeating Use)
WARNING: The standardizedspacing for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in(280 mm) center to center. Do not useLATCH lower anchors for the centerseating position unless the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions permit andspecify using anchors spaced at least asfar apart as those in this vehicle.
The lower anchors at the center of thesecond row rear seat are spaced 18 in(46 cm) apart. You cannot install a childrestraint with rigid LATCH attachments atthe center seating position. LATCHcompatible child restraints (with
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attachments on belt webbing) can only beused at this seating position provided thatthe child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions permit use with the anchorspacing stated. Do not attach a childrestraint to any lower anchor if an adjacentchild restraint is attached to that anchor.
Each time you use the child restraint, checkthat the seat is properly attached to thelower anchors and tether anchor, ifapplicable. Tug the child restraint from sideto side and forward and back where it issecured to your vehicle. The seat shouldmove less than 1 in (2.5 cm) when you dothis for a proper installation.
If you did not properly anchor the childrestraint, the risk of a child being injured ina crash greatly increases.
Combining Seatbelt and LATCH LowerAnchors for Attaching Child Restraints
When used in combination, you may attacheither the seatbelt or the LATCH loweranchors first, provided a proper installationis achieved. Attach the tether strapafterward, if included with the childrestraint.
Using Tether Straps
Many forward-facing childrestraints include a tether strapwhich extends from the back ofthe child restraint and hooks to ananchoring point called the top tetheranchor. Tether straps are available as anaccessory for many older child restraints.
Contact the manufacturer of your childrestraint for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tetherstrap if the tether strap on your childrestraint does not reach the appropriatetop tether anchor in your vehicle.
Once you install the child restraint usingeither the seatbelt, the lower anchors ofthe LATCH system, or both, you can attachthe top tether strap.
The tether strap anchors in your vehicleare in the following positions (shown fromtop view):
Perform the following steps to install achild restraint with tether anchors:
Note:If you install a child restraint with rigidLATCH attachments, do not tighten thetether strap enough to lift the child restraintoff your vehicle seat cushion when the childis seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snugwithout lifting the front of the child restraint.Keeping the child restraint just touching yourvehicle seat gives the best protection in asevere crash.
1.Route the child restraint tether strapover the back of the seat. For theoutermost seating positions, route thetether strap under the head restraintand between the head restraint posts.For the center seating positions, routethe tether strap over the top of thehead restraint. If needed, you can alsoremove the head restraints.
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2.Locate the correct anchor on the backpanel of the rear seat for the selectedseating position. The anchors arelabeled with the tether strap symbol.
3.Clip the tether strap to the anchor asshown.
4.Tighten the child restraint tether strapaccording to the manufacturer'sinstructions.
If your child restraint system has a tetherstrap, and the child restraint manufacturerrecommends its use, we also recommendits use.
BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the childto put the shoulder section of theseatbelt under their arm or behind theirback. Failure to follow this instructioncould reduce the effectiveness of theseatbelt and increase the risk of injury ordeath in a crash.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child safety restraint(generally children who are less than 57 in(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age 4 andless than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb(45 kg) if recommended by your childrestraint manufacturer). Many state andprovincial laws require that children useapproved booster seats until they reachage eight, a height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or80 lb (36 kg).
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 backrest withknees bent comfortably at the edge ofthe seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
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•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
If your backless booster seat has aremovable shield, remove the shield. If avehicle seating position has a low seatbackrest 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 backrestor head restraint and lap and shoulderbelts, or consider using a high back boosterseat.
•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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