Ford Ranger (2011 year). Manual — part 20

safety belts in impacts for which the airbags are designed to deploy, and
airbags do not offer any protection in crashes for which they do not
deploy.
The airbag supplemental restraint system consists of:
• driver and passenger dual stage airbag modules (which include the

inflators and airbags).

• one or more impact and safing sensors.

• the same indicator light, RCM (restraints control module) and

diagnostic unit used for the Personal safety system.

• Front passenger sensing system

• Seat-mounted side airbag system. Refer to Seat-mounted side airbag

system later in this chapter.

• Passenger airbag off indicator light.
The airbag supplemental restraints are an integral part of the Personal
Safety System. They are designed to be deployed in cases where the
Personal Safety System has determined the occupant conditions and
crash severity are appropriate to activate these devices. Refer to the
Personal Safety System section in this chapter.

Important supplemental restraint system (SRS) precautions
The supplemental restraint system is designed to work with the safety
belt to help protect the driver and right front passenger from certain
upper body injuries.
Airbags DO NOT inflate slowly or gently and the risk of injury from a
deploying airbag is greatest close to the trim covering the airbag module.

WARNING: Rear facing
child seats should NEVER

be placed in front of an active
airbag.

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.

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WARNING: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm

(10 inches) between an occupant’s chest and the driver airbag module.

WARNING: Never place your arm over the air bag module as a
deploying airbag can result in serious arm fractures or other

injuries.

Steps you can take 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.

WARNING: Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
Airbag Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. Contact your

authorized dealer as soon as possible.

WARNING: The front passenger airbag is not designed to offer
protection to an occupant in the center front seating position.

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.

WARNING: Additional equipment may affect the performance of
the airbag sensors increasing the risk of injury.

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Children and airbags

For additional important safety information, read all information on
safety restraints in this guide.

WARNING: Do not install a
child seat in a center facing

jump seat.

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.

WARNING: Front seating positions only: If seating two adults
and a child, Ford recommends properly restraining the child in

the center front seating position, but only if doing so will not interfere
with driving the vehicle. This arrangement provides lap and shoulder
belt and airbag protection for adult occupants and an attachment
method for a child restraint. If the child seat interferes with driving the
vehicle and the child restraint is forward-facing, the child may be
restrained in the passenger seat. Move the seat as far rearward as
possible to minimize the likelihood of interaction with the front
passenger airbag. Never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an
active airbag. Always properly restrain all occupants, including the
child in an appropriate child seat or booster.

WARNING: Installing a child safety seat in the front row lap
seating position should be avoided if at all possible.

WARNING: Never place a rear-facing child seat in the front
center seating position of a vehicle with rear seating positions.

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WARNING: Booster seats must be installed only in seating
positions equipped with a combination lap/shoulder belt.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, make sure children sit
where they can be properly restrained.

How does the airbag supplemental restraint system work?

The airbag SRS is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains
sufficient longitudinal deceleration.

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. Airbags are
designed to inflate in frontal and
near-frontal collisions, not rollover,
side-impact, or rear-impacts.

The airbags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After airbag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder (to lubricate the bag) or
sodium compounds (e.g., baking
soda) that result from the
combustion process that inflates the
airbag. Small amounts of sodium
hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.

While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor 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

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