Ford Fusion Hybrid (2014 year). Manual — part 9

Passenger airbag

Passenger airbag OFF indic-

ator

Occupant

Disabled

Unlit

Empty

Disabled

Lit

Child

Enabled

Unlit

Adult

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.

After all occupants have adjusted their
seats and put on safety belts, it is 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.

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

•

Objects hanging off the seat back

•

Objects stowed in the seat back 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 list above.

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

and Airbag Indicator (page 42).

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

•

Pull the vehicle over.

•

Turn the vehicle off.

•

Driver and 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.

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Supplementary Restraints System

•

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

•

If the airbag readiness light 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. See
Getting the Services You Need (page
213).

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

airbag as you could be seriously injured or
killed. Contact your authorized dealer as
soon as possible.

WARNINGS

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 crash.

The side airbags are located on the
outboard side of the seatbacks of the front
seats. In certain sideways crashes, the
airbag on the side affected by the crash
will be inflated. 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 fitted
to your vehicle.

•

Side airbags located inside the driver
and front passenger seatbacks.

•

Front passenger sensing system.

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

Indicator (page 42).

Note: The passenger sensing system will
deactivate the passenger seat-mounted
side airbag if it detects an empty passenger
seat.

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Supplementary Restraints System

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.

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS

WARNINGS

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

contact with a deploying side 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 side curtain airbag could injure
you as it deploys from the headliner.

Do not attempt to service, repair, or
modify the side curtain airbags, its
fuses, the A, B, or C pillar trim, or the

headliner on a vehicle containing side
curtain airbags. Contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.

All occupants of the vehicle including
the driver should always wear their
safety belts even when an airbag

supplemental restraint system and side
curtain airbag is provided.

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

airbag.

WARNINGS

If the side curtain airbags have
deployed, the side curtain airbags
will not function again. The side

curtain airbags (including the A, B and C
pillar trim and headliner) must be
inspected and serviced by an authorized
dealer. If the side curtain airbag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase
the risk of injury in a crash.

The side curtain airbags will deploy during
significant side crashes. The side curtain
airbags are mounted to the roof side-rail
sheet metal, behind the headliner, above
each row of seats. In certain sideways
crashes, the side curtain airbag on the
impacted side of the vehicle will be
activated. The side curtain airbags are
designed to inflate between the side
window area and occupants to further
enhance protection provided in side impact
crashes.

The system consists of the following:

E75004

•

Side curtain airbags located 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 side air curtain
deployment.

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Supplementary Restraints System

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

Indicator (page 42).

Children 12 years old and under should
always be properly restrained in the back
seats. The side curtain airbags 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 side
curtain airbags 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
curtain airbags.

CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR

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.

The vehicle has a collection of crash and
occupant sensors which provide
information to the restraints control
module which deploys (activates) the
front safety belt pretensioners, driver
airbag, passenger airbag, knee airbag(s),

seat mounted side airbags, side curtain
airbags and optional rear inflatable safety
belts. Based on the type of crash (frontal
impact or side impact), the restraints
control module will deploy the appropriate
safety devices.

The restraints control module also
monitors the readiness of the above safety
devices plus the crash and occupant
sensors. The readiness of the safety
system is indicated by a warning indicator
light in the instrument cluster or by a
backup tone if the warning light is not
working. Routine maintenance of the
airbag is not required.

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

The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.

•

The readiness light will either flash or
stay lit.

•

A series of five beeps will be heard. The
tone pattern will repeat periodically
until the problem, the light or both are
repaired.

If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the
system may not function properly in the
event of a crash.

The safety belt pretensioners and the front
airbag supplemental restraint system are
designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains frontal deceleration sufficient to
cause the restraints control module to
deploy a safety device.

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Supplementary Restraints System