Seating and Safety Restraints for Your Ford Focus 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2010)

Seating and Safety Restraints  
SEATING  
Notes:  
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the  
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the  
event of a collision.  
Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to reduce the risk of  
injury in a collision or sudden stop.  
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure  
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.  
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the  
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may  
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.  
Adjustable head restraints (if equipped)  
Your vehicle’s seats may be equipped with head restraints which are  
vertically adjustable. The purpose of these head restraints is to help limit  
head motion in the event of a rear collision. To properly adjust your head  
restraints, lift the head restraint so that it is located directly behind your  
head or as close to that position as possible. Refer to the following to  
raise and lower the head restraints.  
Push or pull the head restraint to  
raise it to the desired height. To  
lower, push the button in the collar  
around the stem.  
The rear head restraints can be removed altogether if the left-hand  
locking button is pressed.  
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Adjusting the front manual seat  
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined  
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the  
decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or  
death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your  
feet on the floor.  
To reduce the risk of possible serious injury: Do not hang objects  
off seat back or stow objects in map pocket (if equipped) when  
a child is in the front passenger seat. Do not place objects underneath  
the front passenger seat or between the seat and the center console (if  
equipped). Check the “passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off”  
indicator lamp for proper airbag status. Refer to Front passenger  
sensing system chapter for additional details. Failure to follow these  
instructions may interfere with the front passenger seat sensing  
system.  
Pull the lever located under the  
front edge of the seat to move the  
seat forward or backward.  
Turn the handle to adjust the height  
of the seat.  
Note: The seat height adjustment  
may create a gap between the  
cushion and the seatback.  
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Lift the control to adjust the angle  
of the seatback.  
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the  
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the  
event of a collision.  
Heated seats (if equipped)  
The heated seats switch is located on the center console.  
To operate the heated seats:  
Push control to activate.  
Push again to deactivate.  
The heating will operate when the ignition switch is in position 2.  
The indicator light on the switch is illuminated when activated. Although  
the indicator light is illuminated, the heat is regulated by a thermostat  
which causes the heat to activate within a certain range.  
The maximum temperature is reached after five or six minutes.  
Heating with the engine off will drain the battery.  
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Tip/slide front seat (3–door)  
Lift the control and fold the  
seatback forward.  
The seat can be slid forward to  
allow easier entry to the rear seats.  
Slide the seat back and fold back  
the seatback until it locks with a  
distinct click. The seatback will  
return to its original position. Rock  
the seat to ensure that the catch is  
securely engaged.  
On three door models, front safety  
belts should be pulled backwards to  
allow easier entry to or exit from  
the rear seats.  
Do not place objects behind the seat which could prevent the  
engagement of the seat lock.  
REAR SEATS  
Folding rear seat cushion forward  
Lift the seat cushion and pull it  
forward.  
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Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure  
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.  
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the  
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may  
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.  
Folding the rear seat back forward  
3–door/5–door and wagon  
Remove the head restraints (if  
equipped) of the rear seats and  
stow them on the floor behind the  
front seats.  
Push the unlocking control on the  
rear seatback and fold the rear  
seatback forward.  
Sedan  
Remove the head restraints (if  
equipped) of the rear seats and  
stow them on the floor behind the  
front seats.  
Pull one or both of the unlocking  
controls in the luggage compartment  
and fold the rear seatback forward.  
Returning the seatback to the upright position  
Fold back the seatback until it locks with a distinct “click.” Do not place  
any objects behind the seat which could prevent the seat from locking.  
When returning the seats back to their original positions, make  
sure they are fully locked and that the safety restraints are  
positioned in front of the seatback. Reinstall head restraints (if  
equipped).  
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Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure  
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.  
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the  
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may  
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.  
Note that the center rear safety belt cannot be pulled out until the  
seatback has latched completely.  
Folding the seat cushion and seatback forward  
Fold the seat cushion forward.  
Remove the head restraint(s) (if  
equipped) of the rear seat, and fold  
the seatback forward.  
Stow the head restraint(s) in the  
plastic retainers provided in the now  
upright underside of the seat  
cushion, as shown on the decal.  
When returning the seats to their  
original positions, make sure the  
safety belts will function properly  
and are positioned in front of the  
seatback and that the head  
restraints are properly reinstalled.  
SAFETY RESTRAINTS  
Personal Safety Systemி  
The Personal Safety Systemprovides an improved overall level of  
frontal crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help  
further reduce the risk of airbag-related injuries. The system is able to  
analyze different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating  
the appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of  
occupants in a variety of frontal crash situations.  
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Your vehicle’s Personal Safety Systemconsists of:  
Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints.  
Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,  
and safety belt usage sensors.  
Driver’s seat position sensor.  
Front crash severity sensor.  
Front passenger sensing system  
“Passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off” indicator lamp  
Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors.  
Restraint system warning light and back-up tone.  
The electrical wiring for the airbags, crash sensor(s), safety belt  
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position  
sensor, and indicator lights.  
How does the Personal Safety Systemி work?  
The Personal Safety Systemcan adapt the deployment strategy of your  
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and conditions. A  
collection of crash sensors provides information to the Restraints Control  
Module (RCM). During a crash, the RCM activates the safety belt  
pretensioners and/or either none, one, or both stages of the dual-stage  
airbag supplemental restraints based on crash severity and conditions.  
The fact that the pretensioners or airbags did not activate for both front  
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with  
the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety Systemdetermined  
the accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not  
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front airbags are designed  
to activate only in frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollovers,  
side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient  
longitudinal deceleration.  
Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints  
The dual-stage airbags offer the capability to tailor the level of airbag  
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more  
common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for  
the most severe impacts. Refer to Airbag Supplemental Restraints  
section in this chapter.  
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Front crash severity sensor  
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the  
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable  
information early in the crash event on the severity of the impact. This  
allows your Personal Safety Systemto distinguish between different  
levels of crash severity and modify the deployment strategy of the  
dual-stage airbags and safety belt pretensioners.  
Driver’s seat position sensor  
The driver’s seat position sensor allows your Personal Safety Systemto  
tailor the deployment level of the driver dual-stage airbag based on seat  
position. The system is designed to help protect smaller drivers sitting  
close to the driver airbag by providing a lower airbag output level.  
Front passenger sensing system  
For airbags to do their job they must inflate with great force, and this force  
can pose a potentially deadly risk to occupants that are very close to the  
airbag when it begins to inflate. For some occupants, like infants in  
rear-facing child seats, this occurs because they are initially sitting very  
close to the airbag. For other occupants, this occurs when the occupant is  
not properly restrained by safety belts or child safety seats and they move  
forward during pre-crash braking. The most effective way to reduce the  
risk of unnecessary injuries is to make sure all occupants are properly  
restrained. Accident statistics suggest that children are much safer when  
properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front.  
Air bags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a  
rear-facing child seat in front of an active air bag. If you must use a  
forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way back.  
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back  
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.  
The front passenger sensing system can automatically turn off the  
passenger front airbag. The system is designed to help protect small  
(child size) occupants from airbag deployments when they are  
improperly seated or restrained in the front passenger seat contrary to  
proper child-seating or restraint usage recommendations. Even with this  
technology, parents are STRONGLY encouraged to always properly  
restrain children in the rear seat. The sensor also turns off the airbag  
when the passenger seat is empty to prevent unnecessary replacement of  
the airbag(s) after a collision.  
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When the front passenger seat is occupied and the sensing system has  
turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag, the “pass airbag off” indicator  
will light and stay lit to remind you that the front passenger frontal  
airbag is off. See Front passenger sensing system in the airbags section  
of this chapter.  
Front safety belt usage sensors  
The front safety belt usage sensors detect whether or not the driver and  
front outboard passenger safety belts are fastened. This information  
allows your Personal Safety Systemto tailor the airbag deployment and  
safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage.  
Refer to Safety Belt section in this chapter.  
Front outboard safety belt pretensioners  
The safety belt pretensioners at the front outboard seating positions are  
designed to tighten the safety belts firmly against the occupant’s body  
during frontal collisions, and in side collisions and rollovers when the  
vehicle is equipped with the Safety Canopysystem. This helps increase  
the effectiveness of the safety belts. In frontal collisions, the safety belt  
pretensioners can be activated alone or, if the collision is of sufficient  
severity, together with the front airbags.  
Front outboard safety belt energy management retractors  
The front safety belt energy management retractors allow webbing to be  
pulled out of the retractor in a gradual and controlled manner in  
response to the occupant’s forward momentum. This helps reduce the  
risk of force-related injuries to the occupant’s chest by limiting the load  
on the occupant. Refer to Safety Belt section in this chapter.  
Determining if the Personal Safety Systemி is operational  
The Personal Safety Systemuses a warning light in the instrument  
cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the system. Refer  
to the Warning Light section in the Instrument Cluster chapter.  
Routine maintenance of the Personal Safety Systemis not required.  
The Restraints Control Module (RCM) monitors its own internal circuits  
and the circuits for the airbag supplemental restraints, crash sensor(s),  
safety belt pretensioners, front safety belt buckle sensors, front passenger  
sensing system, and the driver seat position sensor. In addition, the RCM  
also monitors the restraints warning light in the instrument cluster. A  
difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following.  
The warning light will either flash or stay lit.  
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The warning light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is  
turned on.  
A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat  
periodically until the problem and warning light are repaired.  
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the Personal  
Safety Systemserviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless  
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a  
collision.  
Safety belt precautions  
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap  
belt snug and low across the hips.  
To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit where they  
can be properly restrained.  
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the  
vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from  
injury in a collision.  
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always  
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag  
supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.  
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or  
outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas  
are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to  
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and  
safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a  
safety belt properly.  
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely  
to die than a person wearing a seat belt.  
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Each seating position in your vehicle has a specific safety belt  
assembly which is made up of one buckle and one tongue that  
are designed to be used as a pair. 1) Use the shoulder belt on the  
outside shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder belt under the arm. 2)  
Never swing the safety belt around your neck over the inside shoulder.  
3) Never use a single belt for more than one person.  
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back  
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.  
Combination lap and shoulder belts  
1. Insert the belt tongue into the  
proper buckle (the buckle closest to  
the direction the tongue is coming  
from) until you hear a snap and feel  
it latch. Make sure the tongue is  
securely fastened in the buckle.  
2. To unfasten, push the release  
button and remove the tongue from  
the buckle.  
Energy management feature  
This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management  
feature at the front outboard seating positions to help further reduce  
the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision.  
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This safety belt system has a retractor assembly that is designed to  
pay out webbing in a controlled manner. This feature is designed to  
help reduce the belt force acting on the occupant’s chest.  
The front outboard and rear safety restraints in the vehicle are  
combination lap and shoulder belts. The front passenger and rear seat  
safety belts have two types of locking modes.  
Vehicle sensitive mode  
The vehicle sensitive mode is the normal retractor mode, allowing free  
shoulder belt length adjustment to your movements and locking in  
response to vehicle movement. For example, if the driver brakes  
suddenly or turns a corner sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of  
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the combination safety belts will  
lock to help reduce forward movement of the driver and passengers.  
Automatic locking mode  
When to use the automatic locking mode  
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will  
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt. The automatic  
locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.  
This mode should be used any time a child safety seat (except a  
booster) is installed in a passenger front or outboard rear seating  
position (if equipped). Children 12 years old and under should be  
properly restrained in the rear seat whenever possible. Refer to Safety  
restraints for children or Safety seats for children later in this chapter.  
How to use the automatic locking mode  
Buckle the combination lap and  
shoulder belt.  
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Grasp the shoulder portion and  
pull downward until the entire  
belt is pulled out.  
Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking  
sound. This indicates the safety belt is now in the automatic locking  
mode.  
How to disengage the automatic locking mode  
Ford Motor Company recommends that all passenger safety belt  
assemblies and attaching hardware should be inspected by an  
authorized dealer after any collision to verify that the Љautomatic  
locking retractorЉ feature for child seats is still working properly. Safety  
belt assemblies should be inspected by an authorized dealer and must  
be replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted. Failure to  
replace the belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of  
injury in a collision.  
Unbuckle the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract  
completely to disengage the automatic locking mode and activate the  
vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.  
Front safety belt height adjustment  
Adjust the height of the shoulder  
belt so the belt rests across the  
middle of your shoulder.  
To adjust the shoulder belt height,  
push the button and slide the height  
adjuster up or down. Release the  
button and pull down on the height  
adjuster to make sure it is locked in  
place.  
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Three door models are equipped  
with a safety belt parking feature for  
the driver and front passenger. The  
purpose of the parking feature is to  
allow the driver or passenger to  
reach the safety belt. Fasten your  
safety belt as normal, and the belt  
will slide to the front of the steel  
bar along the bottom of the door.  
Pull the safety belt backwards to  
park for easier access or exit from  
the rear seats.  
Position the safety belt height adjusters so that the belt rests  
across the middle of your shoulder. Failure to adjust the safety  
belt properly could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt and  
increase the risk of injury in a collision.  
Safety belt pretensioner  
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belt pretensioners at the driver and  
front outboard passenger seating positions.  
The safety belt pretensioner tightens the safety belts firmly against the  
occupant’s body at the start of the crash.  
The driver and front passenger safety belt system (including  
retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be replaced if the  
vehicle is involved in a collision that results in deployment of front  
airbags and safety belt pretensioners.  
Safety belt extension assembly  
If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is a 8 inch  
(20 cm) safety belt extension assembly that can be added (part number  
611C22). This assembly can be obtained from an authorized dealer.  
Use only extensions manufactured by the same supplier as the safety  
belt. Manufacturer identification is located at the end of the webbing on  
the label. Also, use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too  
short for you when fully extended.  
Do not use extensions to change the fit of the shoulder belt  
across the torso.  
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Safety belt maintenance  
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work  
properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure  
there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt  
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle  
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder  
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if  
equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching  
hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford Motor Company  
recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in  
a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an  
authorized dealer finds that the belts do not show damage and continue  
to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt  
assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and  
replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.  
Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt  
assembly under the above conditions could result in severe  
personal injuries in the event of a collision.  
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer to Interior in the Cleaning  
chapter.  
Safety belt warning light and indicator chime  
The safety belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a  
chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.  
Conditions of operation  
If...  
Then...  
The driver’s safety belt is not  
The safety belt warning light  
buckled before the ignition switch illuminates 1-2 minutes and the  
is turned to the ON position... warning chime sounds 4-8 seconds.  
The driver’s safety belt is buckled The safety belt warning light and  
while the indicator light is  
illuminated and the warning  
chime is sounding...  
warning chime turn off.  
The driver’s safety belt is buckled The safety belt warning light and  
before the ignition switch is  
turned to the ON position...  
indicator chime remain off.  
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Belt-Minderா  
The Belt-Minderfeature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt  
warning function. This feature provides additional reminders by  
intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning  
light in the instrument cluster when the driver’s and front passenger’s  
safety belt is unbuckled.  
The Belt-Minderfeature uses information from the front passenger  
sensing system to determine if a front seat passenger is present and  
therefore potentially in need of a warning. To avoid activating the  
Belt-Minderfeature for objects placed in the front passenger seat,  
warnings will only be given to large front seat occupants as determined  
by the front passenger sensing system.  
Both the driver’s and passenger’s safety belt usages are monitored and  
either may activate the Belt-Minderfeature. The warnings are the same  
for the driver and the front passenger. If the Belt-Minderwarnings have  
expired (warnings for approximately 5 minutes) for one occupant (driver  
or front passenger), the other occupant can still activate the  
Belt-Minderfeature.  
If...  
Then...  
The driver’s and front  
passenger’s safety belts are  
buckled before the ignition  
switch is turned to the ON  
position or less than 1-2  
minutes have elapsed since the  
ignition switch has been turned  
ON...  
The Belt-Minderfeature will not  
activate.  
The driver’s or front  
The Belt-Minderfeature is activated  
- the safety belt warning light  
illuminates and the warning chime  
sounds for 6 seconds every 30  
seconds, repeating for approximately  
5 minutes or until the safety belts are  
buckled.  
passenger’s safety belt is not  
buckled when the vehicle has  
reached at least 3 mph (5  
km/h) and 1-2 minutes have  
elapsed since the ignition  
switch has been turned to  
ON...  
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If...  
Then...  
The driver’s or front  
The Belt-Minderfeature is activated  
passenger’s safety belt becomes - the safety belt warning light  
unbuckled for approximately 1 illuminates and the warning chime  
minute while the vehicle is  
traveling at least 3 mph (5  
km/h) and more than 1-2  
sounds for 6 seconds every 30  
seconds, repeating for approximately  
5 minutes or until the safety belts are  
minutes have elapsed since the buckled.  
ignition switch has been turned  
to ON...  
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing safety belts  
(All statistics based on U.S. data):  
Reasons given...  
Consider...  
“Crashes are rare events”  
36700 crashes occur every day. The  
more we drive, the more we are  
exposed to “rare” events, even for  
good drivers. 1 in 4 of us will be  
seriously injured in a crash during  
our lifetime.  
“I’m not going far”  
3 of 4 fatal crashes occur within  
25 miles (40 km) of home.  
“Belts are uncomfortable”  
We design our safety belts to enhance  
comfort. If you are uncomfortable -  
try different positions for the safety  
belt upper anchorage and seatback  
which should be as upright as  
possible; this can improve comfort.  
Prime time for an accident.  
Belt-Minderreminds us to take a few  
seconds to buckle up.  
“I was in a hurry”  
“Safety belts don’t work”  
Safety belts, when used properly,  
reduce risk of death to front seat  
occupants by 45% in cars, and by  
60% in light trucks.  
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Reasons given...  
Consider...  
“Traffic is light”  
Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in  
single-vehicle crashes, many when  
no other vehicles are around.  
Possibly, but a serious crash can do  
much more than wrinkle your clothes,  
particularly if you are unbelted.  
Set the example, teen deaths occur 4  
times more often in vehicles with  
TWO or MORE people. Children and  
younger brothers/sisters imitate  
behavior they see.  
“Belts wrinkle my clothes”  
“The people I’m with don’t  
wear belts”  
“I have an airbag”  
Airbags offer greater protection when  
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags  
are not designed to inflate in rear and  
side crashes or rollovers.  
“I’d rather be thrown clear”  
Not a good idea. People who are  
ejected are 40 times more likely  
to DIE. Safety belts help prevent  
ejection, WE CAN’T “PICK OUR  
CRASH”.  
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt or insert a latchplate  
into the buckle to avoid the Belt-Minderchime. To do so may  
adversely affect the performance of the vehicle’s air bag system.  
One time disable  
If at any time the driver/front passenger quickly buckles then unbuckles  
the safety belt for that seating position, the Belt-Minderis disabled for  
the current ignition cycle. The Belt-Minderfeature will enable during  
the same ignition cycle if the occupant buckles and remains buckled for  
approximately 30 seconds. Confirmation is not given for the one time  
disable.  
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Deactivating/activating the Belt-Minderfeature  
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderare  
deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating  
one seating position, do not buckle the other position as this will  
terminate the process.  
Read Steps 1 - 4 thoroughly before proceeding with the  
deactivation/activation programming procedure.  
Note: The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderfeatures must be  
disabled/enabled separately. Both cannot be disable/enabled during the  
same key cycle.  
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderfeatures can be  
deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure:  
Before following the procedure, make sure that:  
The parking brake is set  
The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission)  
The ignition switch is in the OFF position  
The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled  
While the design allows you to deactivate your Belt-Minder, this  
system is designed to improve your chances of being safely  
belted and surviving an accident. We recommend you leave the  
Belt-Mindersystem activated for yourself and others who may use the  
vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the  
Belt-Minderfeature while driving the vehicle.  
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT  
START THE ENGINE)  
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1  
minute)  
Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt  
warning light turns off.  
3. For the seating position being disabled, at a moderate speed, buckle  
then unbuckle the safety belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state.  
(Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt  
warning light turns off.)  
After Step 3, the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three  
seconds.  
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4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, at a moderate speed, buckle  
then unbuckle the safety belt.  
This will disable the Belt-Minderfeature for that seating position if it  
is currently enabled. As confirmation, the safety belt warning light will  
flash 1 time per second for 3 seconds.  
This will enable the Belt-Minderfeature for that seating position if it  
is currently disabled. As confirmation, the safety belt warning light will  
flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3 seconds with the  
light off, then followed by the safety belt warning light flashing 1time  
per second for 3 seconds again.  
AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)  
The supplemental restraint system is designed to work with the safety  
belt to help protect the driver and right front passenger from certain  
upper body injuries.  
Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly or gently, and the risk of injury  
from a deploying airbag is the greatest close to the trim covering  
the airbag module.  
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Important SRS precautions  
The SRS is designed to work with  
the safety belt to help protect the  
driver and right front passenger  
from certain upper body injuries.  
Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly;  
there is a risk of injury from a  
deploying airbag.  
All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always  
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag  
supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.  
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back  
seat and always properly use appropriate child restraints.  
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  
recommends a minimum distance of at least 10 inches (25 cm)  
between an occupant’s chest and the driver airbag module.  
Never place your arm over the airbag module as a deploying  
airbag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.  
To properly position yourself away from the airbag:  
Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the  
pedals comfortably.  
Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees from the upright position.  
Do not put anything on or over the airbag module. Placing  
objects on or over the airbag inflation area may cause those  
objects to be propelled by the airbag into your face and torso causing  
serious injury.  
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Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag  
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your authorized  
dealer.  
Children and airbags  
Children must always be properly  
restrained. Accident statistics  
suggest that children are safer when  
properly restrained in the rear  
seating positions than in the front  
seating position. Failure to follow  
these instructions may increase the  
risk of injury in a collision.  
Airbags can kill or injure a  
child in a child seat.  
NEVER place a rear-facing child  
seat in front of an active airbag. If  
you must use a forward-facing  
child seat in the front seat, move  
the seat all the way back.  
How does the airbag supplemental restraint system work?  
The airbag SRS is designed to  
activate when the vehicle sustains  
longitudinal deceleration sufficient  
to cause the sensors to close an  
electrical circuit that initiates airbag  
inflation. The fact that the airbags  
did not inflate in a collision does not  
mean that something is wrong with  
the system. Rather, it means the  
forces were not of the type  
sufficient to cause activation. Front  
airbags are designed to inflate in  
frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollover, side-impact, or  
rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient longitudinal  
deceleration.  
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The airbags inflate and deflate  
rapidly upon activation. After airbag  
deployment, it is normal to notice a  
smoke-like, powdery residue or  
smell the burnt propellant. This may  
consist of cornstarch, talcum  
powder (to lubricate the bag) or  
sodium compounds (e.g., baking  
soda) that result from the  
combustion process that inflates the  
airbag. Small amounts of sodium  
hydroxide may be present which  
may irritate the skin and eyes, but  
none of the residue is toxic.  
While the system is designed to help  
reduce serious injuries, contact with  
a deploying airbag may also cause abrasions, swelling or temporary  
hearing loss. Because airbags must inflate rapidly and with considerable  
force, there is the risk of death or serious injuries such as fractures,  
facial and eye injuries or internal injuries, particularly to occupants who  
are not properly restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time  
of airbag deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be  
properly restrained as far away from the airbag module as possible while  
maintaining vehicle control.  
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not  
touch them after inflation.  
If the air bag has deployed, the air bag will not function  
again and must be replaced immediately. If the air bag is not  
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a  
collision.  
The SRS consists of:  
driver and passenger airbag modules (which include the inflators and  
airbags).  
side airbags (if equipped). Refer to Side airbag system later in this  
chapter.  
safety belt pretensioners  
one or more impact and safing sensors.  
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Front passenger sensing system. Refer to Front passenger sensing  
system. later in this chapter.  
“Passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off” indicator lamp. Refer to  
Front passenger sensing system. later in this chapter.  
a readiness light and tone.  
diagnostic module.  
and the electrical wiring which connects the components.  
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the  
supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the impact  
sensors), the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the airbag  
back up power and the airbag ignitors.  
Front passenger sensing system  
The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory  
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208  
and is designed to disable (will not inflate) the front passenger’s frontal  
airbag under certain conditions.  
The front passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of  
the front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to  
detect the presence of a properly seated occupant and determine if the  
front passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or  
disabled (will not inflate).  
The front passenger sensing system will disable (will not inflate) the  
front passenger’s frontal airbag if:  
the front passenger seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in  
the front seat,  
the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant  
seat that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions,  
the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing  
child restraint that is installed according to the manufacturer’s  
instructions,  
the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,  
a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of  
time,  
a child or a small person occupies the front passenger seat.  
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For side airbag equipped vehicles, the front passenger sensing system  
will turn off the passenger seat side airbag if:  
the seat is empty and safety belt is unbuckled.  
The front passenger sensing system  
uses a Љpassenger airbag offЉ or  
Љpass airbag offЉ indicator which will  
illuminate and stay lit to remind you  
that the front passenger frontal  
airbag is disabled. The indicator  
lamp is located at the top of the  
instrument panel center stack area  
below the Hazard warning indicator  
and above the radio.  
Note: The indicator lamp will illuminate for a short period of time when  
the ignition is turned to the ON position to confirm it is functional.  
When the front passenger seat is not occupied (empty seat) or in the  
event that the front passenger frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate), the  
indicator lamp will be unlit.  
The front passenger sensing system is designed to disable (will not  
inflate) the front passenger’s frontal airbag when a rear facing infant  
seat, a forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected.  
When the front passenger sensing system disables (will not inflate)  
the front passenger frontal airbag, the indicator lamp will illuminate  
and stay lit to remind you that the front passenger frontal airbag is  
disabled.  
If the child restraint has been installed and the indicator lamp is not  
lit, then turn the vehicle off, remove the child restraint from the  
vehicle and reinstall the restraint following the child restraint  
manufacturer’s instructions.  
The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate)  
the front passenger’s frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a  
person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger seat.  
When the front passenger sensing system enables the front passenger  
frontal airbag (may inflate), the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit.  
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If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, but the  
Љpassenger airbag offЉ or Љpass airbag offЉ indicator lamp is lit, it is  
possible that the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens:  
Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the  
full upright position.  
Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion,  
with the person’s legs comfortably extended.  
Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for  
about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person  
and enable the passenger’s frontal airbag.  
If the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, the person should be  
advised to ride in the rear seat.  
Pass Airbag Off  
Indicator Lamp  
Occupant  
Passenger Airbag  
Empty seat  
Small child in child safety Lit  
seat or booster  
Unlit  
Disabled  
Disabled  
Small child with safety  
belt buckled or unbuckled  
Adult  
Lit  
Disabled  
Enabled  
Unlit  
Even with Advanced Restraints Systems, children 12 and under  
should be properly restrained in the back seat.  
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on safety belts, it’s  
very important that they continue to sit properly. A properly seated  
occupant sits upright, leaning against the seat back, and centered on the  
seat cushion, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor. Sitting  
improperly can increase the chance of injury in a crash event. For  
example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward,  
leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of  
injury during a crash is greatly increased.  
Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined  
too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the  
decision of the front passenger sensing system, resulting in serious  
injury or death in a crash.  
Always sit upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor.  
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The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects  
placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front  
passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the  
passenger airbag is disabled, the Љpass airbag offЉ lamp may or may not  
be illuminated according to the table below.  
Pass Airbag Off  
Indicator Lamp  
Objects  
Passenger Airbag  
Small (i.e. 3 ring  
binder, small purse,  
bottled water)  
Unlit  
Disabled  
Medium (i.e. heavy  
briefcase, fully packed  
luggage)  
Empty seat, or small  
to medium object with  
safety belt buckled  
Lit  
Lit  
Disabled  
Disabled  
If you think that the status of the passenger airbag off indicator lamp is  
incorrect, check for the following:  
Objects lodged underneath the seat  
Objects between the seat cushion and the center console (if  
equipped)  
Objects hanging off the seat back  
Objects stowed in the seatback map pocket (if equipped)  
Objects placed on the occupant’s lap  
Cargo interference with the seat  
Other passengers pushing or pulling on the seat  
Rear passenger feet and knees resting or pushing on the seat  
The conditions listed above may cause the weight of a properly seated  
occupant to be incorrectly interpreted by the passenger sensing system.  
The person in the front passenger seat may appear heavier or lighter due  
to the conditions described in the list above.  
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To reduce the risk of possible serious injury:  
Do not stow objects in seat back map pocket (if equipped) or  
hang objects off seat back if a child is in the front passenger seat.  
Do not place objects underneath the front passenger seat or between  
the seat and the center console (if equipped).  
Check the “passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off” indicator lamp for  
proper airbag Status.  
Failure to follow these instructions may interfere with the passenger  
seat sensing system.  
In case there is a problem with the  
front passenger sensing system, the  
airbag readiness lamp in the  
instrument cluster will stay lit.  
If the airbag readiness lamp is lit, do the following:  
The driver and/or adult passengers should check for any objects that  
may be lodged underneath the front passenger seat or cargo interfering  
with the seat.  
If objects are lodged and/or cargo is interfering with the seat; please take  
the following steps to remove the obstruction:  
Pull the vehicle over.  
Turn the vehicle off.  
Driver and/or adult passengers should check for any objects lodged  
underneath the front passenger seat or cargo interfering with the seat.  
Remove the obstruction(s) (if found).  
Restart the vehicle.  
Wait at least 2 minutes and verify that the airbag readiness lamp is no  
longer illuminated  
If the airbag readiness lamp remains illuminated, this may or may/not  
be a problem due to the front passenger sensing system.  
DO NOT attempt to repair or service the system; take your vehicle  
immediately to an authorized dealer.  
If it is necessary to modify an advanced front airbag system to  
accommodate a person with disabilities, contact the Ford Customer  
Relationship Center at the phone number shown in the Customer  
Assistance section of this Owner’s Guide.  
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Any alteration/modification to the front passenger seat may  
affect the performance of the front passenger sensing system.  
Determining if the system is operational  
The supplemental restraint system uses a warning indicator light in the  
instrument cluster or a back-up tone to indicate the condition of the  
system. Refer to the Warning lights and chimes section in the  
Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not  
required.  
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:  
The readiness light (same light  
for front and side airbag system)  
will either flash or stay lit.  
The readiness light will not  
illuminate immediately after ignition is turned on.  
A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat  
periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.  
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental  
restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless  
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a  
collision.  
Seat-mounted side airbag system (if equipped)  
Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the airbag  
cover on the side of the seatbacks of the front seats or in front  
seat areas that may come into contact with a deploying airbag. Failure  
to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in  
the event of a collision.  
Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of accessory seat  
covers may prevent the deployment of the side airbags and  
increase the risk of injury in an accident.  
Do not lean your head on the door. The side airbag could injure  
you as it deploys from the side of the seatback.  
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Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag SRS, its  
fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an airbag. See your  
authorized dealer.  
All occupants of the vehicle should always wear their safety belts  
even when an airbag SRS is provided.  
How does the side airbag system work?  
The side airbag system consists of  
the following:  
An inflatable nylon bag (airbag)  
with a gas generator concealed  
behind the outboard bolster of  
the driver and front passenger  
seatbacks.  
A special seat cover designed to  
allow airbag deployment.  
The same warning light,  
electronic control and diagnostic  
unit as used for the front airbags.  
Two crash sensors located under  
the outboard side of the front  
seats, attached to the floor.  
Side airbags, in combination with  
safety belts, can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a  
significant side impact collision.  
The side airbags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the  
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the airbag on the side affected by  
the collision will be inflated. The front passenger sensing system will  
turn off the passenger seat side airbag if the seat is empty (unless for  
some reason the safety belt is properly buckled). If the front passenger  
seat is empty, and the safety belt is not properly buckled, the front  
passenger seat side airbag will be turned off by the front passenger  
sensing system. The airbag was designed to inflate between the door  
panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided  
occupants in side impact collisions.  
The airbag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral  
deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit  
that initiates airbag inflation.  
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The fact that the airbags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that  
something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces were  
not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Side airbags are designed  
to inflate in side-impact collisions, not roll-over, rear-impact, frontal or  
near-frontal collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral  
deceleration.  
Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not  
touch them after inflation.  
If the side airbag has  
deployed, the airbag will  
not function again. The side  
airbag system (including the  
seat) must be inspected and  
serviced by an authorized  
dealer. If the airbag is not  
replaced, the unrepaired area will  
increase the risk of injury in a  
collision.  
Disposal of airbags and airbag equipped vehicles (including  
pretensioners)  
See your authorized dealer. Airbags MUST BE disposed of by qualified  
personnel.  
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN  
See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety  
restraints for children. Also see Airbag supplemental restraint system  
(SRS) in this chapter for special instructions about using airbags.  
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be placed  
in front of an active passenger airbag.  
Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back  
seat and always use appropriate child restraints.  
Accident statistics indicate that children are safer when properly  
restrained in the rear seats.  
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Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in  
your vehicle.  
Safety belts and seats can become hot in a vehicle that has been  
closed up in sunny weather, they could burn a small child. Check  
seat covers and buckles before you place a child anywhere near them.  
Important child restraint precautions  
You are required by law to use safety restraints for children in the U.S.  
and Canada. If small children (generally children who are four years old  
or younger and who weigh 40 lb. [18 kg] or less) ride in your vehicle, you  
must put them in safety seats made especially for children. Many states  
require that children use approved booster seats until they are eight  
years old. Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific  
requirements regarding the safety of children in your vehicle. When  
possible, always place children under age 12 in the rear seat of your  
vehicle. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly  
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position.  
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the  
vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from  
injury in a collision.  
Always follow the instructions and warnings that come with any infant or  
child restraint you might use.  
Children and safety belts  
If the child is the proper size, restrain the child in a safety seat. Children  
who are too large for child safety seats (as specified by your child safety  
seat manufacturer) should always wear safety belts.  
Follow all the important safety restraint and airbag precautions that  
apply to adult passengers in your vehicle.  
If the shoulder belt portion of a combination lap and shoulder belt can  
be positioned so it does not cross or rest in front of the child’s face or  
neck, the child should wear the lap and shoulder belt. Moving the child  
closer to the center of the vehicle may help provide a good shoulder belt  
fit.  
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Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in  
your vehicle.  
Child booster seats  
Children outgrow a typical convertible or toddler seat when they weigh  
40 lb. (18 kg) and are around 4 years of age. Although the lap/shoulder  
belt will provide some protection, these children are still too small for  
lap/shoulder belts to fit properly, which could increase the risk of serious  
injury in a crash.  
To improve the fit of both the lap and shoulder belt on children who  
have outgrown child safety seats, Ford Motor Company recommends use  
of a belt-positioning booster.  
Booster seats position a child so that safety belts fit better. They lift the  
child up so that the lap belt rests low across the hips and the knees  
bend comfortably. Booster seats may also make the shoulder belt fit  
better and more comfortably. Try to keep the belt near the middle of the  
shoulder.  
When children should use booster seats  
Children need to use booster seats from the time they outgrow the  
toddler seat until they are big enough for the vehicle seat and  
lap/shoulder belt to fit properly. Generally this is when they weigh about  
80 lb. (36 kg) (about 8 to 12 years old).  
Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these  
questions:  
Can the child sit all the way back  
against the vehicle seat back with  
knees bent comfortably at the  
edge of the seat without  
slouching?  
Does the lap belt rest low across the hips?  
Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?  
Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?  
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Types of booster seats  
There are two types of belt-positioning booster seats:  
Those that are backless.  
If your backless booster seat has a  
removable shield, remove the  
shield and use the lap/shoulder  
belt. If a seating position has a  
low seat back and no head  
restraint, a backless booster seat  
may place your child’s head (top  
of ear level) above the top of the  
seat. In this case, move the  
backless booster to another  
seating position with a higher seat back and lap/shoulder belts.  
Those with a high back.  
If, with a backless booster seat,  
you cannot find a seating position  
that adequately supports your  
child’s head, a high back booster  
seat would be a better choice.  
Either type can be used at any seating position equipped with  
lap/shoulder belts if your child is over 40 lb. (18 kg).  
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Children and booster seats vary widely in size and shape. Choose a  
booster that keeps the lap belt low and snug across the hips, never up  
across the stomach, and lets you adjust the shoulder belt to cross the  
chest and rest snugly near the center of the shoulder. The drawings  
below compare the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt uncomfortably  
close to the neck and a shoulder belt that could slip off the shoulder.  
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh  
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this  
condition.  
The importance of shoulder belts  
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s  
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should  
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is best to use a booster  
seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat- the safest place for children  
to ride.  
Move a child to a different seating location if the shoulder belt  
does not stay positioned on the shoulder during use.  
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the  
booster seat.  
Never put the shoulder belt under a child’s arm or behind the  
back because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of  
the body and may increase the risk of injury or death in a collision.  
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Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can  
slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a  
collision.  
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN  
Child and infant or child safety seats  
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the  
child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions with the  
safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install and use the  
safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden stop or  
collision.  
When installing a child safety seat:  
Review and follow the information  
presented in the Airbag  
supplemental restraint system  
(SRS) section in this chapter.  
Use the correct safety belt buckle  
for that seating position (the  
buckle closest to the direction the  
tongue is coming from).  
Insert the belt tongue into the  
proper buckle until you hear a  
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the  
buckle.  
Keep the buckle release button pointing up and away from the safety  
seat, with the tongue between the child seat and the release button,  
to prevent accidental unbuckling.  
Place seat back in upright position.  
Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer to Automatic  
locking mode (passenger side front and outboard rear seating  
positions) (if equipped) section in this chapter.  
LATCH lower anchors are recommended for use by children up to  
48 lb. (22 kg) in a child restraint. Top tether anchors can be used for  
children up to 60 lb. (27 kg) in a child restraint, and to provide upper  
torso restraint for children up to 80 lb. (36 kg) using an upper torso  
harness and a belt-positioning booster.  
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Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether  
strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position with LATCH and  
tether anchors. For more information on top tether straps and anchors,  
refer to Attaching safety seats with tether straps in this chapter. For  
more information of LATCH anchors refer to Attaching safety seats with  
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachments in this  
chapter.  
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions included  
with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install  
and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden  
stop or collision.  
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be placed  
in front of an active airbag.  
Installing child safety seats with combination lap and shoulder  
belts  
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. NEVER place a  
rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. If you must use  
a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat all the way  
back.  
Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the rear  
seat whenever possible.  
1. Position the child safety seat in a  
seat with a combination lap and  
shoulder belt.  
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2. Pull down on the shoulder belt  
and then grasp the shoulder belt  
and lap belt together.  
3. While holding the shoulder and  
lap belt portions together, route the  
tongue through the child seat  
according to the child seat  
manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure  
the belt webbing is not twisted.  
4. Insert the belt tongue into the  
proper buckle (the buckle closest to  
the direction the tongue is coming  
from) for that seating position until  
you hear a snap and feel the latch  
engage. Make sure the tongue is  
latched securely by pulling on it.  
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5. To put the retractor in the  
automatic locking mode, grasp the  
shoulder portion of the belt and pull  
downward until all of the belt is  
pulled out and a click is heard.  
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it  
is in the automatic locking mode.  
7. Pull the lap belt portion across  
the child seat toward the buckle and  
pull up on the shoulder belt while  
pushing down with your knee on the  
child seat.  
8. Allow the safety belt to retract to  
remove any slack in the belt.  
9. Before placing the child in the  
seat, forcibly move the seat forward  
and back to make sure the seat is  
securely held in place. To check  
this, grab the seat at the belt path  
and attempt to move it side to side  
and forward. There should be no  
more than one inch of movement for  
proper installation.  
10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is  
in the automatic locking mode (you should not be able to pull more belt  
out). If the retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat Steps 2  
through 9.  
Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.  
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Attaching child safety seats with tether straps  
Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which  
goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether  
straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact  
the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a  
tether strap.  
The rear seats of your vehicle are equipped with built-in tether strap  
anchors located behind the seats as described below.  
The tether anchors in your vehicle are either located under a cover  
marked with the tether anchor symbol (shown with title) or are recessed  
bars on the back side of the seatback.  
The tether strap anchors in your  
vehicle are in the following positions  
(shown from top view, left is front  
of the vehicle):  
Attach the tether strap only to the appropriate tether anchor as  
shown. The tether strap may not work properly if attached  
somewhere other than the correct tether anchor.  
1. Position the child safety seat on the seat cushion.  
2. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat.  
On hatchbacks, the removable luggage area cover must be removed prior  
to attaching the tether strap to the tether anchor.  
On wagons, it may be necessary to remove the cargo cover assembly  
prior to attaching the tether strap to the tether anchor. The tether must  
not go around the cargo cover retractor assembly.  
For vehicles with adjustable head restraints, route the tether strap under  
the head restraint and between the head restraint posts, otherwise route  
the tether strap over the top of the seatback.  
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3. Locate the correct anchor for the selected seating position.  
On Sedan’s the anchors are  
located on the rear back panel.  
For 3–door/5–door and Wagon,  
the anchors are located on the  
back of the rear seat.  
4. On a sedan, open the tether  
anchor cover.  
5. Clip the tether strap to the  
anchor as shown.  
If the tether strap is clipped  
incorrectly, the child safety  
seat may not be retained properly  
in the event of a collision.  
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6. Install the child safety seat tightly using the LATCH anchors or safety  
belts. Follow the instructions in this chapter.  
7. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the  
manufacturer’s instructions.  
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child  
being injured in a collision greatly increases.  
Attaching child safety seats with Lower Anchor and Tethers for  
Children (LATCH) attachments for child seat anchors  
Some child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments  
that connect to two anchors at specific seating positions in your vehicle.  
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use safety belts to attach  
the child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also  
be attached to the proper tether anchor point. For information on using  
tether straps with the child safety seats, refer to Attaching safety seats  
with tether straps in this chapter.  
LATCH anchors for child seat  
installation have been provided in  
your vehicle at the following  
locations:  
The anchors on both sides of the  
center of the rear seat are provided  
primarily for child seats at the  
outboard seats and are further apart  
than the pairs of lower anchors for  
child seat installation at other seats. A child seat with rigid LATCH  
attachments cannot be installed at the center rear seat. A child seat with  
LATCH attachments on belt webbing can be used at the center rear seat  
unless a child seat at an outboard rear seat is attached to one of these  
lower anchors. Install a child seat onto the lower anchors at the center  
rear seat ONLY IF the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the  
child seat can be installed to anchors that are spaced up to 450 mm  
apart.  
Never attach two LATCH child safety seats to the same anchor.  
In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two  
child seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or death.  
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The LATCH anchors are located on  
the rear section of the seat cushion,  
at the bottom of the seatback.  
Follow the child seat manufacturer’s  
instructions to properly install safety  
seats with LATCH attachments.  
Attach the LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to  
the appropriate locations shown.  
Once you have installed the LATCH safety seat, ensure that the seat is  
properly attached to LATCH and tether anchors. Also, test the safety  
seat before you place the child in it. Tilt the seat from side to side. Also  
try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if the anchors hold the seat in  
place.  
If the safety seat in not anchored properly, the risk of a child  
being injured in a collision greatly increases.  
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