Ford Escort (2003 year). Manual — part 14

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.

Adjustable head restraints (if equipped)
Head restraints help to limit head motion in the event of a rear collision.
Adjust your head restraint so that it is located directly or as close as
possible behind your head.

The head restraints can be moved
up and down.

Push control to lower head restraint.

Adjusting the front manual seat

Never adjust the driver’s seat or seatback when the vehicle is
moving.

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58

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 seatback.

FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEATS

To fold the seatback down:
• Press the latch control downward

or pull up on strap and

• Pull the seatback forward and

down.

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59

RETURNING THE SEAT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION

Check to see that the seat and seatback is latched securely in
position. Keep floor area free of objects that would prevent

proper seat engagement. Never attempt to adjust the seat while the
vehicle is in motion.

To return the seat to the upright/normal seating position:

• Rotate seat upward and latch.
The full rear bench seat is shown. The split-folding rear seat (if
equipped) operates in a similar manner.

SAFETY RESTRAINTS

Safety restraints 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 (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.

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60

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a safety belt.

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.

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.

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.

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61