Ford Expedition (2018 year). Manual — part 11

The front passenger sensing system is
designed to disable (will not inflate) the
front passenger frontal airbag under
certain conditions:
•

The front passenger seat is
unoccupied.

•

The system determines an infant is
present in a child restraint.

•

A passenger takes their weight off of
the seat for a period of time.

•

If there is a problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing
system.

Even with this technology, parents are
strongly

encouraged to always properly

restrain children in the rear seat.

•

When the front passenger sensing
system disables (will not inflate) the
front passenger frontal airbag, the
passenger airbag status indicator
illuminates the off lamp and stays lit
to remind you that the front passenger
frontal airbag is disabled.

•

If you have installed the child restraint
and the passenger airbag status
indicator illuminates the on lamp, then
switch your vehicle off, remove the
child restraint from your vehicle and
reinstall the restraint following the
child restraint manufacturer's
instructions.

The front passenger sensing system works
with sensors that are part of the front
passenger seat and seatbelt. The sensors
are designed to detect the presence of a
properly seated occupant and determine
if the front passenger frontal airbag should
be enabled.

•

When the front passenger sensing
system enables the front passenger
frontal airbag (may inflate), the
passenger airbag status indicator
illuminates the on lamp and remains
illuminated.

If a person of adult size is sitting in the front
passenger seat, but the passenger airbag
status indicator off lamp is lit, it is possible
that the person is not sitting properly in the
seat. If this happens:
•

Switch your vehicle off and ask the
person to place the seatback in an
upright position.

•

Have the person sit upright in the seat,
centered on the seat cushion, with the
person's legs comfortably extended.

•

Restart your vehicle and have the
person remain in this position for about
two minutes. This allows the system
to detect that person and enable the
passenger frontal airbag.

•

If the indicator off lamp remains lit
even after this, you should advise the
person to ride in the rear seat.

Note:

When the passenger airbag status

indicator off lamp illuminates, the passenger
side airbag (seat mounted) may be disabled
to avoid the risk of airbag deployment
issues.

After all occupants have adjusted their
seats and put on seatbelts, it is very
important that they continue to sit
properly. A properly seated occupant sits
upright, leaning against the seatback, 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 greatly
increases.

If you think that the state of the passenger
airbag status indicator lamp is incorrect,
check for the following:
•

Objects lodged underneath the seat.

•

Objects between the seat cushion and
the center console.

•

Objects hanging off the seat backrest.

•

Objects stowed in the seat backrest
map pocket.

•

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 previous list.

E67017

Make sure the front passenger
sensing system is operating
properly. See Crash Sensors

and Airbag Indicator

(page 50).

If the airbag readiness light is lit, do the
following:

The driver and adult passengers should
check for objects lodged underneath the
front passenger seat or cargo interfering
with the seat.

If objects are lodged or cargo is interfering
with the seat, please take the following
steps to remove the obstruction:
•

Pull your vehicle over.

•

Switch your vehicle off.

•

Driver 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 your vehicle.

•

Wait at least two minutes and verify
that the airbag readiness light in the
instrument cluster is no longer
illuminated.

•

If the airbag readiness light in the
instrument cluster 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 your
Customer Relationship Center.

SIDE AIRBAGS

WARNINGS

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 crash.

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.

Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the supplementary restraint
system or associated components.

Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death.

WARNINGS

If a supplementary restraint system
component has deployed, it will not
function again. Have the system and

associated components inspected as soon
as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.

The side airbags are on the outboard side
of the seatbacks of the front seats. The
airbag was designed to inflate between
the door panel and occupant to further
enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact crashes.

E152533

The system consists of the following:
•

A label or embossed side panel
indicating that side airbags are found
on your vehicle.

•

Side airbags inside the seatback of the
driver and front passenger seats.

•

Front passenger sensing system.

E67017

·Crash sensors and monitoring
system with readiness indicator.
See Crash Sensors and Airbag

Indicator

(page 50).

Note:

The passenger sensing system will

deactivate the passenger seat-mounted
side airbag if it detects an empty passenger
seat.

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.

SAFETY CANOPY™

WARNINGS

Do not place objects or mount
equipment on or near the headliner
at the siderail that may come into

contact with a deploying curtain airbag.
Failure to follow these instructions may
increase the risk of personal injury in the
event of a crash.

Do not lean your head on the door.
The curtain airbag could injure you
as it deploys from the headliner.

Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the supplementary restraint
system or associated components.

Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death.

All occupants of your vehicle,
including the driver, should always
properly wear their seatbelts, even

when an airbag supplemental restraint
system is provided. Failure to properly wear
your seatbelt could seriously increase the
risk of injury or death.

To reduce risk of injury, do not
obstruct or place objects in the
deployment path of the airbag.

If a supplementary restraint system
component has deployed, it will not
function again. Have the system and

associated components inspected as soon
as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.

The Safety Canopy deploys during
significant side crashes or when a certain
likelihood of a rollover event is detected
by the rollover sensor. The Safety Canopy
is mounted to the roof side rail sheet metal,
behind the headliner, above each row of
seats. In certain sideways crashes or
rollover events, the Safety Canopy will be
activated, regardless of which seats are
occupied. The Safety Canopy is designed
to inflate between the side window area
and occupants to further enhance
protection provided in side impact crashes
and rollover events.

E75004

The system consists of the following:
•

Safety Canopy curtain airbags above
the trim panels over the front and rear
side windows identified by a label or
wording on the headliner or roof-pillar
trim.

•

A flexible headliner which opens above
the side doors to allow air curtain
deployment

E67017

· Crash sensors and monitoring
system with a readiness
indicator. See Crash Sensors

and Airbag Indicator

(page 50).

Properly restrain children 12 years old and
under in the rear seats. The Safety Canopy
will not interfere with children restrained
using a properly installed child or booster
seat because it is designed to inflate
downward from the headliner above the
doors along the side window opening.

The design and development of the Safety
Canopy 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
(including the Safety Canopy).

CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR

WARNING

Modifying or adding equipment to
the front end of your vehicle
(including hood, bumper system,

frame, front end body structure, tow hooks
and hood pins) may affect the
performance of the airbag system,
increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify
or add equipment to the front end of your
vehicle.

Your vehicle has a collection of crash and
occupant sensors which provide
information to the restraints control
module which deploys (activates) the
front seatbelt pretensioners, driver airbag,
passenger airbag, rear inflatable belts, seat
mounted side airbags, and the Safety
Canopy. Based on the type of crash, the
restraints control module will deploy the
appropriate safety devices.