Ford Escape (2018 year). Manual — part 9

particularly to occupants who are not
properly 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 module as possible
while maintaining vehicle control.

Routine maintenance of the airbags is not
required.

DRIVER AND PASSENGER
AIRBAGS

WARNINGS

Do not place your arms on the airbag
cover or through the steering wheel.
Failure to follow this instruction

could result in personal injury.

Keep the areas in front of the airbags
free from obstruction. Do not affix
anything to or over the airbag covers.

Objects could become projectiles during
airbag deployment or in a sudden stop.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death.

Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child restraint. Never place a
rear-facing child restraint in front of

an active airbag. If you must use a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
seat, move the seat upon which the child
restraint is installed all the way back.

E151127

The driver and front passenger airbags will
deploy during significant frontal and near
frontal crashes.

The driver and passenger front airbag
system consists of:
•

Driver and passenger airbag modules.

•

Front passenger sensing system.

E67017

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

Indicator (page 45).

Proper Driver and Front Passenger
Seating Adjustment

WARNING

National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance

of at least 10 in (25 cm) between an
occupant's chest and the driver airbag
module.

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.

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 is greatly
increased.

Children and Airbags

WARNING

Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child restraint. Never place a
rear-facing child restraint in front of

an active airbag. If you must use a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
seat, move the seat upon which the child
restraint is installed all the way back.

E142846

Children must always be properly
restrained. Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seating positions than in the
front seating position. Failure to follow
these instructions may increase the risk of
injury in a crash.

FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM

WARNINGS

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

rear seating position. Failure to follow this
could seriously increase the risk of injury or
death.

Sitting improperly out of position or
with the seatback 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 seat
back, with your feet on the floor.

Any alteration or modification to the
front passenger seat may affect the
performance of the front passenger

sensing system which could seriously
increase the risk of injury or death.

This system works with sensors that are
part of the front passenger seat and
seatbelt to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and determine
if the front passenger frontal airbag should
be enabled (may inflate) or not.

E225141

The indicator lamp is on the center stack
of the instrument panel.

The front passenger sensing system uses
a passenger airbag status indicator that
will illuminate indicating that the front
passenger frontal airbag is either ON
(enabled) or OFF (disabled).

Note: The passenger airbag status indicator
OFF and ON indicator lamps will illuminate
for a short period of time when the ignition
is first turned on to confirm it is functional.

The front passenger sensing system is
designed to disable (will not inflate) the
front passenger frontal airbag when the
front passenger seat is unoccupied, or a
rear facing infant seat, a forward-facing
child restraint, or a booster seat is
detected. Even with this technology,
parents are strongly encouraged to
always properly restrain children in the rear
seat. The sensor also turns off the
passenger front airbag and seat-mounted
side airbag when the passenger seat is
empty.

•

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

•

If the child restraint has been installed
and the passenger airbag status
indicator illuminates the ON lamp, then
turn the vehicle off, remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall
the restraint following the child
restraint manufacturer's instructions.

The front passenger sensing system is
designed to enable (may inflate) the front
passenger frontal airbag anytime the
system senses that a person of adult size
is sitting properly in the front passenger
seat.

•

When the front passenger sensing
system enables the front passenger
frontal airbag (may inflate), the
passenger airbag status indicator will
illuminate the ON lamp and remain
illuminated.

If a person of adult size is sitting in the front
passenger seat, but the passenger airbag
is disabled, it is possible that the person is
not 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.

•

Have the person 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 enable the
passenger’s frontal airbag.

•

If the passenger airbag status OFF light
remains lit even after this, the person
should be advised to ride in the rear
seat.

Passenger airbag

Passenger airbag status

indicator

Occupant

Disabled

OFF: Lit

Empty

ON: Unlit

Disabled

OFF: Lit

Child

ON: Unlit

Enabled

OFF: Unlit

Adult

ON: Lit

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

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 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 seatback.

•

Objects stowed in the seatback 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 passenger
sensing system. The person in the front
passenger seat may appear heavier or
lighter due to the conditions described in
the list above.

E67017

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

and Airbag Indicator (page 45).

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
authorized dealer.

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.

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.