Get Seating and Safety Restraints Guide for Ford Mustang 2 Door Fifth Generation (2005-2014)

SEATING

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to

reduce the risk of injury in a collision or sudden stop.

WARNING: 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

Your vehicle is equipped with front row outboard head restraints that are

vertically adjustable.

WARNING: To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a

crash, the driver and passenger occupants should not sit in

and/or operate the vehicle, until the head restraint is placed in its

proper position. The driver should never adjust the head restraint

while the vehicle is in motion.

The adjustable head restraints

consist of:

• a trimmed energy absorbing foam

and structure (1),

• two steel stems (2),

• a guide sleeve adjust/release

button (3),

• and a guide sleeve unlock/remove

button (4).

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To adjust the head restraint, do the following:

1. Adjust the seatback to an upright driving/riding position.

2. Raise the head restraint by

pulling up on the head restraint.

3. Lower the head restraint by

pressing and holding the guide

sleeve adjust/release button and

pushing down on the head restraint.

Properly adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head restraint is

even with the top of your head and positioned as close as possible to the

back of your head. For occupants of extremely tall stature, adjust the

head restraint to its full up position.

WARNING: The adjustable head restraint is a safety device.

Whenever possible it should be installed and properly adjusted

when the seat is occupied.

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To remove the adjustable head restraint, do the following:

1. Pull up the head restraint until it

reaches the highest adjustment

position.

2. Simultaneously press and hold

both the adjust/release button and

the unlock/remove button, then pull

up on the head restraint.

To reinstall the adjustable head restraint, do the following:

1. Insert the two stems into the

guide sleeve collars.

2. Push the head restraint down

until it locks.

Properly adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head restraint is

even with the top of your head and positioned as close as possible to the

back of your head. For occupants of extremely tall stature, adjust the

head restraint to its full up position.

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WARNING: To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a

crash, head restraints must be installed properly.

Adjusting the manual seats (if equipped)

WARNING: Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the

vehicle is moving.

WARNING: Always drive and ride with your seatback upright

and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

Lift handle to move seat forward or

backward.

Pull lever up to adjust the angle of

the seatback.

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Four-way seat adjust (driver side only)

Pump the handle upwards to raise

the cushion and pump downward to

lower the cushion to the desired

location.

Using the power lumbar support (if equipped)

The power lumbar control is located

on the top of the driver’s seat side

shield.

Press one side of the control to

increase lower back firmness.

Press the other side of the control

to decrease lower back firmness.

Adjusting the power seats (if equipped)

WARNING: Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the

vehicle is moving.

WARNING: Do not pile cargo higher than the seatbacks to avoid

injuring people in a collision or sudden stop.

WARNING: Always drive and ride with your seatback upright

and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

WARNING: 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.

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WARNING: 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.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of possible serious injury: Do not

hang objects off seat back or stow objects in the seatback 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 section for additional details.

Failure to follow these instructions may interfere with the front

passenger seat sensing system.

The power seat control is located on

the outboard side of the seat

(illustration shows the driver’s seat).

Move the switch in the direction of

the arrows to raise or lower the

front portion of the seat cushion.

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Move the switch in the direction of

the arrows to raise or lower the rear

portion of the seat cushion.

Press the switch in the direction of

the arrows to move the seat

forward, backward, up or down.

Heated seats (if equipped)

WARNING: Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin

because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes, spinal cord

injury, medication, alcohol use, exhaustion, or other physical

conditions, must exercise care when using the seat heater. The seat

heater may cause burns even at low temperatures, especially if used

for long periods of time. Do not place anything on the seat that

insulates against heat, such as a blanket or cushion, because this may

cause the seat heater to overheat. Do not puncture the seat with pins,

needles, or other pointed objects because this may damage the heating

element which may cause the seat heater to overheat. An overheated

seat may cause serious personal injury.

Note: Do not do the following:

• Place heavy objects on the seat

• Operate the seat heater if water or any other liquid is spilled on the

seat. Allow the seat to dry thoroughly.

The heated seat control is located in the lower center of the instrument

panel.

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To operate the heated seats:

• Press control to activate.

• Press again to deactivate.

The heated seats will only function when the engine is running.

Rear seat entry/exit

Use the seatback release to fold the

back of the front seat forward for

rear seat access. This release handle

is located on the upper back of the

front seat. The seatback locks

automatically when returned to the

normal position.

Use the recliner handle to return

the seatback to the desired position.

REAR SEATS

2nd seat/split-folding rear seat

One or both rear seatbacks (coupe only) can be folded down to provide

additional cargo space.

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To lower the seatback(s) from

inside the vehicle, be sure the head

restraint is in the upright position,

pull the strap to release the

seatback and then fold the seatback

down.

When raising the seatback(s), make sure you hear the seat latch into

place. Pull down on the seatback to ensure that it has latched.

WARNING: 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.

SAFETY RESTRAINTS

Personal Safety System™

The Personal Safety System™ provides 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.

Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System™ consists of:

• Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints.

• Driver and front passenger side airbags.

• 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.

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• 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, front passenger sensing system, and indicator lights.

How does the Personal Safety System™ work?

The Personal Safety System™ can 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 may activate 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 System™ determined

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

(SRS) section in this chapter.

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 System™ to 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 System™ to

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.

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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.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: When possible, all children 12 years old and under

should be properly restrained in a rear seating position.

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 passenger

front airbag and side airbag when the passenger seat is empty to prevent

unnecessary replacement of airbag(s) after a collision.

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 Airbag

supplemental restraints (SRS) 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 System™ to tailor the airbag deployment

and safety belt pretensioner activation depending upon safety belt usage.

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Front 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. 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 safety belt energy management retractors

The front outboard 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.

Determining if the Personal Safety System™ is operational

The Personal Safety System™ uses a warning 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 Personal Safety System™ is 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.

• 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, contact your

authorized dealer as soon as possible. Unless serviced, the system may

not function properly in the event of a collision.

Safety restraints precautions

WARNING: Always drive and ride with your seatback upright

and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

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WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit

in a rear seating position where they can be properly restrained.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver,

should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an

airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is

significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a safety

belt.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: When possible, all children 12 years old and under

should be properly restrained in a rear seating position.

WARNING: 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.

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WARNING: Front and rear seat occupants, including pregnant

women, should wear safety belts for optimum protection in an

accident.

Combination lap and shoulder belts

The presenter arm (available on the coupe only) is intended to improve

access to the safety belt and to allow access to the rear seat.

Rotate the presenter arm toward the

front of the vehicle until it locks

into place. This allows easier access

to the front safety belt for the front

seat occupant.

To access the second row seats,

rotate the arm back to its original

position against the trim panel.

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.

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2. To unfasten, press the release

button and remove the tongue from

the buckle.

WARNING: The center of the rear seat is NOT designed as a

seating position and is not equipped with safety belts. The

LATCH anchors were not designed to be used with a child seat in the

center position and there is no tether anchor available at the center.

Attempted use of the center as a seating position will increase the risk

of injury or death in the event of a collision.

Energy management feature

• This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management

feature at the front seating positions to help further reduce the risk of

injury in the event of a head-on collision.

• 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.

WARNING: After any vehicle collision, the safety belt system at

all outboard seating positions (except driver, which has no

“automatic locking retractor” feature) must be checked by an

authorized dealer to verify that the “automatic locking retractor”

feature for child seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all safety

belts should be checked for proper function.

WARNING: BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE

REPLACED if the safety belt assembly “automatic locking

retractor” feature or any other safety belt function is not operating

properly when checked by an authorized dealer.

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WARNING: Failure to replace the Belt and Retractor assembly

could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

The front 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 described below:

Vehicle sensitive mode

This is the normal retractor mode, which allows 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

The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.

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 is installed

(except a booster) in a passenger front or outboard rear seating position.

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

WARNING: Ford Motor Company recommends that all safety

belt assemblies and attaching hardware should be inspected by

an authorized dealer after any collision. Safety belt assemblies not in

use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either

damage or improper operation is noted.

Disconnect 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.

WARNING: After any vehicle collision, the front passenger and

rear outboard safety belt systems must be checked by an

authorized dealer to verify that the “automatic locking retractor”

feature for child seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all safety

belts should be checked for proper function.

WARNING: BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE

REPLACED if the safety belt assembly “automatic locking

retractor” feature or any other safety belt function is not operating

properly when checked by an authorized dealer.

WARNING: Failure to replace the Belt and Retractor assembly

could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

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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.

WARNING: 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, side airbags, and safety belt pretensioners.

Safety belt extension assembly

If the safety belt is too short when fully extended, there is an 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.

WARNING: Do not use extensions to change the fit of the

shoulder belt across the torso.

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.

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Conditions of operation

If... Then...

The driver’s safety belt is not

buckled before the ignition

switch is turned to the on

position...

The safety belt warning light

illuminates 1-2 minutes and the

warning chime sounds 4-8 seconds.

The driver’s safety belt is

buckled while the indicator

light is illuminated and the

warning chime is sounding...

The safety belt warning light and

warning chime turn off.

The driver’s safety belt is

buckled before the ignition

switch is turned to the on

position...

The safety belt warning light and

indicator chime will remain off.

Belt-Minder姞

The Belt-Minder威 feature 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-Minder威 feature 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-Minder威 feature 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-Minder威 feature. The warnings are the same

for the driver and the front passenger. If the Belt-Minder威 warnings have

expired (warnings for approximately five minutes) for one occupant

(driver or front passenger), the other occupant can still activate the

Belt-Minder威 feature.

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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 to on...

The Belt-Minder威 feature will not

activate.

The driver’s or front

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...

The Belt-Minder威 feature is activated

- the safety belt warning light

illuminates and the warning chime

sounds for six seconds every

30 seconds, repeating for

approximately five minutes or until

the safety belts are buckled.

The driver’s or front

passenger’s safety belt becomes

unbuckled for approximately

one minute while the vehicle is

traveling at least 3 mph

(5 km/h) and more than

1-2 minutes have elapsed since

the ignition switch has been

turned to on...

The Belt-Minder威 feature is activated

- the safety belt warning light

illuminates and the warning chime

sounds for six seconds every

30 seconds, repeating for

approximately five minutes or until

the safety belts are buckled.

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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. 1in4ofus

will be seriously injured in a crash during

our lifetime.

“I’m not going far” 3of4fatal 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.

“I was in a hurry” Prime time for an accident. Belt-Minder威

reminds us to take a few seconds to buckle

up.

“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.

“Traffic is light” Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in

single-vehicle crashes, many when no

other vehicles are around.

“Belts wrinkle my

clothes”

Possibly, but a serious crash can do much

more than wrinkle your clothes, particularly

if you are unbelted.

“The people I’m with

don’t wear belts”

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.

“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”.

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WARNING: Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt or insert a

latchplate into the buckle to avoid the Belt-Minder威 chime. To

do so may adversely affect the performance of the vehicle’s airbag

system.

Deactivating/activating the Belt-Minder姞 feature

The driver and front passenger Belt-Minder威 are

deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating

one seating position, do not buckle the other position as this will

terminate the process.

Read Steps1-4thoroughly before proceeding with the

deactivation/activation programming procedure.

Note:The driver and front passenger Belt-Minder威 features must be

disabled/enabled separately. Both cannot be disable/enabled during the

same key cycle.

The driver and front passenger Belt-Minder威 features 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 gearshift is in neutral (manual transmission)

• The ignition switch is in the off position

• The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled

WARNING: While the design allows you to deactivate your

Belt-Minder威, this system is designed to improve your chances of

being safely belted and surviving an accident. We recommend you

leave the Belt-Minder威 system activated for yourself and others who

may use the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury, do not

deactivate/activate the Belt-Minder威 feature while driving the vehicle.

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1. Turn the ignition switch to the on position. DO NOT START THE

ENGINE.

2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off (approximately one

minute).

• Step 3 must be completed within 30 seconds after the safety belt

warning light turns off.

3. For the seating position being disabled, buckle then unbuckle the

safety belt three times at a moderate speed, ending in the unbuckled

state. Step 3 must be completed within 30 seconds after the safety belt

warning light turns off.

• After Step 3, the restraint system warning light (airbag light) will be

turned on for three seconds.

4. Within approximately seven seconds of the light turning off, buckle

then unbuckle the safety belt.

• This will disable the Belt-Minder威 feature for that seating position if it

is currently enabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning

light will flash four times per second for three seconds.

• This will enable the Belt-Minder威 feature for that seating position if it

is currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning

light will flash four times per second for three seconds, followed by

three seconds with the light off, then followed by the restraint system

warning light flashing four times per second for three seconds again.

AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)

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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;

thereisariskofinjuryfroma

deploying airbag.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: When possible, all children 12 years old and under

should be properly restrained in a rear seating position.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: 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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WARNING: Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the

airbag supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. Contact your

authorized dealer as soon as possible.

WARNING: Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of

the vehicle (including frame, bumper, front end body structure

and tow hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system,

increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the

vehicle.

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.

WARNING: 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.

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How does the airbag supplemental restraint system work?

The airbag SRS is designed to

activate when the vehicle sustains a

longitudinal deceleration sufficient

to cause the airbag 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 sufficient

enough to cause activation. 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.

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 or sodium compounds which

may irritate the skin and eyes, but

none of the residue is toxic.

While the SRS 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. It is

extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away

from the airbag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control.

The SRS consists of:

• Driver and passenger airbag modules (which include the inflators and

airbags)

• seat-mounted side airbags

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• one or more impact and safing sensors

• a readiness light and tone

• a diagnostic module

• and the electrical wiring which connects the components

• front safety belt pretensioner

• 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.

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.

WARNING: Several air bag system components get hot after

inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

WARNING: 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.

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,

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• 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.

When the passenger airbag off light is illuminated, the passenger side

airbag may be disabled to avoid the risk of airbag deployment injuries.

The front passenger sensing system

uses a ⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or

⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator which will

illuminate and stay lit to remind you

that the front passenger frontal

airbag is disabled. The indicator

lamp is located on the front edge of the map lamps.

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.

If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, but the

⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or ⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator lamp is lit, it is

possible that the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens:

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• 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.

Occupant

Pass Airbag Off

Indicator Lamp

Passenger Airbag

Empty seat Unlit Disabled

Small child in child

safety seat or booster

Lit Disabled

Small child with safety

belt buckled or

unbuckled

Lit Disabled

Adult Unlit Enabled

WARNING: Even with Advanced Restraints Systems, children

12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating

position.

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.

WARNING: 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.

The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects

placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front

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passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the

passenger airbag is disabled, the ⬙pass airbag off⬙ lamp may or may not

be illuminated according to the table below.

Objects

Pass Airbag Off

Indicator Lamp

Passenger Airbag

Small (i.e. three-ring

binder, small purse,

bottled water)

Unlit Disabled

Medium (i.e. heavy

briefcase, fully packed

luggage)

Lit Disabled

Empty seat, or small

to medium object with

safety belt buckled

Lit 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 front passenger sensing

system. The person in the front passenger seat may appear heavier or

lighter due to the conditions described in the list above.

WARNING: 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 front

passenger seat sensing system.

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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 two minutes and verify that the airbag readiness light 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.

WARNING: Any alteration/modification to the front passenger

seat may affect the performance of the front passenger sensing

system.

Seat-mounted side airbag system

WARNING: 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.

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WARNING: 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.

WARNING: Do not lean your head on the door. The side airbag

could injure you as it deploys from the side of the seatback.

WARNING: Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the

airbag SRS, its fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an

airbag. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.

WARNING: 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 design and development of the side airbag system included

recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of

automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working

Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of

injuries related to the deployment of side airbags.

The side airbag system consists of

the following:

• An inflatable 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.

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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 airbag was designed to inflate between

the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided

to occupants in side impact collisions.

The airbag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral

deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to initiate 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. 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.

WARNING: Several air bag system components get hot after

inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

WARNING: 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.

Determining if the system is operational

The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a 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.

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A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:

• The readiness light 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, contact your

authorized dealer as soon as possible. Unless serviced, the system may

not function properly in the event of a collision.

SOS Post-Crash Alert System™

The system automatically flashes the turn signal lamps and sounds the

horn three times at four second intervals in the event of a serious impact

that deploys an airbag (front, side, side curtain or Safety Canopy威)or

the safety belt pretensioners.

The system can be turned off when any one of the following actions are

taken by the driver or any other person:

• pressing the hazard control button,

• or pressing the panic button on the remote entry transmitter.

The feature will continue to operate until the vehicle runs out of power.

Disposal of airbags and airbag equipped vehicles

See 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.

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Important child restraint precautions

WARNING: Always make sure your child is secured properly in

a device that is appropriate for their height, age and weight.

Child safety restraints must be purchased separately from the vehicle.

Failure to follow these instructions and guidelines may result in an

increased risk of serious injury or death to your child.

WARNING: All children are shaped differently. The

Recommendations for Safety Restraints are based on probable

child height, age and weight thresholds from NHTSA and other safety

organizations or are the minimum requirements of law. Ford

recommends checking with a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger Safety

Technician (CPST) and consult your pediatrician to make sure your

child seat is appropriate for your child, and is compatible with and

properly installed in the vehicle. To locate a child seat fitting station

and CPST contact the NHTSA toll free at 1-888-327-4236 or on the

internet at .. In Canada, check with your local

St. John Ambulance office for referral to a CPST or for further

information, contact your provincial ministry of transportation, your

local St. John Ambulance office at ., or Transport

Canada at 1–800–333–0371 (.). Failure to properly

restrain children in safety seats made especially for their height, age,

and weight may result in an increased risk of serious injury or death to

your child.

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Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children

Child size, height, weight, or age

Recommended

restraint type

Infants or

toddlers

Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or

less (generally age four or younger)

Use a child safety

seat (sometimes

called an infant

carrier, convertible

seat, or toddler seat).

Small

children

Children who have outgrown or no

longer properly fit in a child safety

seat (generally children who are less

than 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters)

tall, are greater than age four (4)

and less than age twelve (12), and

between 40 lb (18 kg) and 80 lb

(36 kg) and upward to 100 lb

(45 kg) if recommended by your

child restraint manufacturer)

Use a belt-positioning

booster seat.

Larger

children

Children who have outgrown or no

longer properly fit in a

belt-positioning booster seat

(generally children who are at least

4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall or

greater than 80 lb (36 kg) or 100 lb

(45 kg) if recommended by child

restraint manufacturer)

Use a vehicle safety

belt having the lap

belt snug and low

across the hips,

shoulder belt

centered across the

shoulder and chest,

and seatback upright.

• You are required by law to properly use safety seats for infants and

toddlers in the U.S. and Canada.

• Many states and provinces require that small children use approved

booster seats until they reach age eight, a height of 4 ft 9 in.

(1.45 meters) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg). Check your local and state or

provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety of

children in your vehicle.

• When possible, always properly restrain children twelve (12) years of

age and under in a rear seating position of your vehicle. Accident

statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in

the rear seating positions than in a front seating position.

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Recommendations for attaching child safety restraints for children

Restraint

Type

Child

Weight

Use any attachment method as indicated

below by “X”

LATCH

(lower

anchors

and

top

tether

anchor)

LATCH

(lower

anchors

only)

Safety

belt

and

top

tether

anchor

Safety

belt and

LATCH

(lower

anchors

and top

tether

anchor)

Safety

belt

only

Rear

facing

child seat

Up to

48 lb

(21 kg)

Forward

facing

child seat

Up to

48 lb

(21 kg)

XXX

Forward

facing

child seat

Over

48 lb

(21 kg)

WARNING: 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

vehicle seat all the way back. When possible, all children age 12 and

under should be properly restrained in a rear seating position. If all

children cannot be seated and restrained properly in a rear seating

position, properly restrain the largest child in the front seat.

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WARNING: Always carefully follow the instructions and

warnings provided by the manufacturer of any child restraint to

determine if the restraint device is appropriate for your child’s size,

height, weight, or age. Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s

instructions and warnings provided for installation and use in

conjunction with the instructions and warnings provided by the vehicle

manufacturer. A safety seat that is improperly installed or utilized, is

inappropriate for your child’s height, age, or weight or does not

properly fit the child may increase the risk of serious injury or death.

WARNING: 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, which may result in serious injury or

death.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: Always restrain an unoccupied child seat or booster

seat. These objects may become projectiles in a collision or

sudden stop, which may increase the risk of serious injury.

WARNING: Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder

belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces

the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk

of injury or death in a collision.

WARNING: Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets

unattended in your vehicle.

Transporting children

Always make sure your child is secured properly in a device that is

appropriate for their age, height and weight. All children are shaped

differently. The child height, age and weight thresholds provided are

recommendations or the minimum requirements of law. The National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides education and

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training to ensure that all children ages 0 to 16 are properly restrained in

the correct restraint system. Ford recommends checking with a NHTSA

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and your

pediatrician to make sure your seat is appropriate for your child and

properly installed in the vehicle. To locate a child seat fitting station and

CPST contact the NHTSA toll free at 1-888-327-4236 or on the internet

at .. In Canada, check with your local St. John

Ambulance office for referral to a CPST or for further information,

contact your provincial ministry of transportation, your local St. John

Ambulance office at ., or Transport Canada at

1–800–333–0371 (.).

Follow all the safety restraint and airbag precautions that apply to adult

passengers in your vehicle.

If the child is the proper height, age, and weight (as specified by your

child safety seat or booster manufacturer), fits the restraint and can be

restrained properly, then restrain the child in the child safety seat or

with the belt-positioning booster. Remember that child seats and

belt-positioning boosters vary and may be designed to fit children of

different heights, ages and weights. Children who are too large for child

safety seats or belt-positioning boosters (as specified by your child safety

seat manufacturer) should always properly wear safety belts.

SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN

Infant and/or toddler seats

Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the

child.

When installing a child safety seat:

• Review and follow the information

presented in the Airbag

supplemental restraint system

(SRS) section 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.

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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 vehicle seat all the

way back.

Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating

position whenever possible. If all children cannot be seated and

restrained properly in a rear seating position, properly restrain the

largest child in the front seat.

Installing child safety seats with combination lap and shoulder

belts

Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.

Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating

position whenever possible. If all children cannot be seated and

restrained properly in a rear seating position, properly restrain the

largest child in the front seat.

When installing a child safety seat with combination lap/shoulder belts:

• Use the correct safety belt buckle for that seating position.

• 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 vehicle seat back in upright position.

• Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer to Step 5

below. This vehicle does not require the use of a locking clip.

WARNING: Depending on where you secure a child restraint,

and depending on the child restraint design, you may block

access to certain safety belt buckle assemblies and/or LATCH lower

anchors, rendering those features potentially unusable. To avoid risk of

injury, occupants should only use seating positions where they are able

to be properly restrained.

Perform the following steps when installing the child seat with

combination lap/shoulder belts:

Note: Although the child seat illustrated is a forward facing child seat,

the steps are the same for installing a rear facing child seat.

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1. Position the child safety seat in a

seat with a combination lap and

shoulder belt.

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.

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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.

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.

6. Allow the belt to retract to remove slack. The belt will click as it

retracts to indicate it is in the automatic locking mode.

7. 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, repeat Steps 5 and 6.

8. Remove remaining slack from the

belt. Force the seat down with extra

weight, e.g., by pressing down or

kneeling on the child restraint while

pulling up on the shoulder belt in

order to force slack from the belt.

This is necessary to remove the

remaining slack that will exist once

the additional weight of the child is

added to the child restraint. It also

helps to achieve the proper

snugness of the child seat to the

vehicle. Sometimes, a slight lean

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towards the buckle will additionally help to remove remaining slack from

the belt.

9. Attach the tether strap (if the child seat is equipped). Refer to

Attaching child safety seats with tether straps later in this chapter.

10. 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 and back. There should

be no more than one inch (2.5 cm)

of movement for proper installation.

Ford recommends checking with a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger

Safety Technician (CPST) to make certain the child restraint is properly

installed. In Canada, check with your local St. John Ambulance office for

referral to a CPST.

Attaching child safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and

Tethers for CHildren) attachments

The LATCH system is composed of three vehicle anchor points: two (2)

lower anchors located where the vehicle seat back and seat cushion meet

(called the “seat bight”) and one (1) top tether anchor located behind

that seating position.

LATCH compatible child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted

attachments that connect to the two lower anchors at the LATCH

equipped seating positions in your vehicle. This type of attachment

method eliminates the need to use safety belts to attach the child seat,

however the safety belt can still be used to attach the child seat. For

forward-facing child seats, the top tether strap must also be attached to

the proper top tether anchor, if a top tether strap has been provided

with your child seat. Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a

child safety seat having a top tether strap. See Attaching child safety

seats with tether straps and Recommendations for attaching child

safety restraints for children in this chapter for more information.

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Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors for child seat installation at the

seating positions marked with the child seat symbol.

The LATCH anchors are located at

the rear section of the rear seat

between the cushion and seat back,

below the locator symbols on the

seat back. Follow the child seat

manufacturer’s instructions to

properly install a child seat with

LATCH attachments.

Follow the instructions on attaching

child safety seats with tether straps.

Refer to Attaching child safety

seats with tether straps later in this

chapter.

Attach LATCH lower attachments of

the child seat only to the anchors

shown.

WARNING: The center of the rear seat is NOT designed as a

seating position and is not equipped with safety belts. The

LATCH anchors were not designed to be used with a child seat in the

center position and there is no tether anchor available at the center.

Attempted use of the center as a seating position will increase the risk

of injury or death in the event of a collision.

WARNING: Never attach two child safety seats to the same

anchor. In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold

two child safety seat attachments and may break, causing serious

injury or death.

If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, and have

attached the top tether strap to the proper top tether anchor, do not

tighten the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat

cushion when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug

without lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just

touching the vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.

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Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly

attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor, if applicable. Tug the

child seat from side to side and forward and back where it is secured to

the vehicle. The seat should move less than one inch when you do this

for a proper installation.

If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child being

injured in a crash greatly increases.

Combining safety belt and LATCH lower anchors for attaching

child safety seats

When used in combination, either the safety belt or the LATCH lower

anchors may be attached first, provided a proper installation is achieved.

Attach the tether strap afterward, if included with the child seat. Refer

to Recommendations for attaching child safety restraints for children

in this chapter.

Attaching child safety seats with tether straps

Many forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which

extends from the back of the child safety seat and hooks to an anchoring

point called the top tether anchor. 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, or to obtain a

longer tether strap if the tether strap on your safety seat does not reach

the appropriate top tether anchor in the vehicle.

The rear seats of your vehicle are equipped with built-in tether strap

anchors located behind the seats and below the rear window behind the

speakers (coupe) or rearward of the seatback in the convertible top sling

(convertible).

The tether anchors in your vehicle are either located under a cover

marked with the child tether anchor symbol (shown with title) or are

under a tag marked with the child tether anchor symbol in the

convertible top sling.

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The tether strap anchors in your vehicle are in the following positions

(shown from top view):

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.

Once the child safety seat has been

installed, using either the safety

belt, the lower anchors of the LATCH system, or both, you can attach

the top tether strap.

Perform the following steps to attach a child safety seat to the tether

anchor:

For Coupe only:

1. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat.

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.

2. Locate the correct anchor for the

selected seating position.

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3. Open the tether anchor cover.

4. 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.

5. 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.

For Convertible only:

1. Route the child safety seat tether strap over the back of the seat.

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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The tether anchors on the

convertible are located rearward of

the seatback in the convertible top

sling.

Note: For easier access, attach the

tether with the convertible top up.

Note: The attachments for the

convertible boot located on the back

of the head restraints are not tether

anchors.

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2. Access tether anchors located

behind the seatback under the vinyl

tag marked with the child tether

anchor symbol.

3. 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.

4. 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.

If your child restraint system is equipped with a tether strap, and the

child restraint manufacturer recommends its use, Ford also recommends

its use.

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Child booster seats

The belt-positioning booster (booster seat) is used to improve the fit of

the vehicle safety belt. Children outgrow a typical child seat (e.g.,

convertible or toddler seat) when they weigh about 40 lb (18 kg) and are

around four (4) years of age. Consult your child safety seat owner guide

for the weight, height, and age limits specific to your child safety seat.

Keep your child in the child safety seat if it properly fits the child,

remains appropriate for their weight, height and age AND if properly

secured to the vehicle.

Although the lap/shoulder belt will provide some protection, children

who have outgrown a typical child seat are still too small for lap/shoulder

belts to fit properly, and wearing an improperly fitted vehicle safety belt

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 vehicle lap/shoulder safety belts fit

better. They lift the child up so that the lap belt rests low across the hips

and the knees bend comfortably at the edge of the cushion, while

minimizing slouching. Booster seats may also make the shoulder belt fit

better and more comfortably. Try to keep the belt near the middle of the

shoulder and across the center of the chest. Moving the child closer (a

few centimeters or inches) to the center of the vehicle, but remaining in

the same seating position, may help provide a good shoulder belt fit.

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 reach a

height of at least 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 meters) tall (around age eight to

age twelve and between 40 lb (18 kg) and 80 lb (36 kg) or upward to

100 lb (45 kg) if recommended by your child restraint manufacturer).

Many state and provincial laws require that children use approved

booster seats until they reach age eight, a height of 4 feet 9 inches

(1.45 meters) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg).

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Booster seats should be used until you can answer YES to ALL of these

questions when seated without a booster seat:

• Can the child sit all the way back

against the vehicle seat back with

knees bent comfortably at the

edge of the seat cushion?

• Can the child sit 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?

Types of booster seats

There are generally two types of belt-positioning booster seats: backless

and high back. Always use booster seats in conjunction with the vehicle

lap/shoulder belt.

• Backless booster seats

If your backless booster seat has a

removable shield, remove the

shield. If a vehicle seating position

has a low seat back or no head

restraint, a backless booster 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 another seating position with a

higher seat back or head restraint and lap/shoulder belts, or consider

using a high back booster seat.

• High back booster seats

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.

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Children and booster seats vary 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. The drawings below

also show how the lap belt should be low and snug across the child’s

hips.

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. Do not introduce any item thicker than this under the booster

seat. Check with the booster seat manufacturer’s instructions.

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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 generally best to use a

booster seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat.

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.

WARNING: Never place, or allow a child to place, the shoulder

belt under a child’s arm or behind the back because it reduces

the protection for the upper part of the body and may increase the risk

of injury or death in a collision.

Child restraint and safety belt maintenance

Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically

to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the

vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears

or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle 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. Refer to the child restraint manufacturer’s

instructions for additional inspection and maintenance information

specific to the child restraint. 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.

For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer to Interior in the Cleaning

chapter.

WARNING: Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the

safety belt assembly or child restraint system under the above

conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a

collision.

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Seating and Safety Restraints for Your Ford Mustang 2 Door Fifth Generation (2005-2014)

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