Ford Ranger (2011 year). Manual — part 21

restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of airbag
deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the airbag cover as possible while
maintaining vehicle control.

WARNING: Several airbag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

WARNING: If the airbag has deployed, the airbag will not
function again and must be replaced immediately. If the

airbag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of
injury in a collision.

Front passenger sensing system

The front passenger sensing system will turn off the front passenger’s
frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver’s frontal airbag is not
part of the front passenger sensing system. 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 not.

The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208
and is designed to turn off 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 a small child is present in a rear-facing

child seat that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing

child restraint that is installed according to the manufacturer’s
instructions,

• the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
• a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of

time,

Note: When the passenger airbag off light is illuminated, the passenger
(seat mounted) side airbag may be disabled to avoid the risk of airbag
deployment injuries.

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WARNING: Even with Advanced Restraints Systems, children
12 and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating

position (if equipped).

When the front passenger seat is occupied and the sensing system has
turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag, the

⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or

⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the
front passenger frontal airbag is off. 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 light will be unlit.

The indicator light is located in the
center stack of the instrument
panel. To confirm the

⬙pass airbag

light

⬙ is functional, it will

momentarily illuminate when the
ignition is turned to the on position.

The front passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the front
passenger’s frontal airbag when a rear facing child seat, a forward-facing
child restraint, or a booster seat is detected. If the child restraint has
been installed and the indicator 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 directions.

The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate)
the right 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 passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit to remind you that the
airbag is enabled (may inflate).

If a person of adult-size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, but the
⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or ⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator is lit, it could be that
the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the
vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the full upright
position, then 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 then enable the passenger’s airbag. If
the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, then the occupant should
be advised to ride in the back seat.

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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

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on safety belts, it’s
very important that they continue to sit upright, with their back against
the seatback, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor while the
vehicle is still in motion. 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.

In case there is a problem with the
passenger sensing system, the
airbag readiness lamp in the
instrument cluster will stay lit. Do
NOT attempt to repair or service the system; take your vehicle
immediately to the dealer.

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

WARNING: An out of position front center occupant could
affect the decision of the front passenger sensing system.

If it is necessary to modify an advanced front airbag system to
accommodate a person with disabilities, contact the Ford Customer
Relationship Center at the phone number shown in the Customer
Assistance section of this owner’s guide.

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89

The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects
placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front
passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the
passenger airbag is disabled, the

⬙pass airbag off⬙ light 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

WARNING: Any alteration/modification to the front passenger
seat may affect the performance of the front passenger sensing

system.

Determining if the system is operational

The SRS uses readiness lights in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to Airbag readiness in the
Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not
required.

A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
• The readiness lights will either

flash or stay lit.

• The readiness lights 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.

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