Ford C-MAX Hybrid (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.

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.

· 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.

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, properly restrain children
12 and under 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 weight off the seat cushion

and affect the decision of the passenger
sensing system, resulting in serious injury
or death in the event of 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. This 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.

The front passenger sensing system uses
a passenger airbag off indicator which
illuminates and stays lit to remind you that
the front passenger frontal airbag is
disabled. The indicator lamp is in the
center stack of the instrument panel.

Note: When you first switch the ignition on,
the passenger airbag off light illuminates
for a short period of time 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
illuminates and stays lit to remind you
that the front passenger frontal airbag
is disabled.

•

If you install the child restraint and the
passenger airbag status indicator does
not illuminate, then switch 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
not illuminate.

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

Switch 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 allows the system to
detect that person and enable the
passenger front airbag.

•

If the passenger airbag status indicator
lamp remains lit even after this, advise
the person to ride in the rear seat.

Passenger airbag

Passenger airbag status

indicator

Occupant

Disabled

Unlit

Empty

Disabled

Lit

Child

Enabled

Unlit

Adult

Note: When the passenger airbag status
indicator lamp 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 both
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.

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

and Airbag Indicator (page 45).

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

The driver or adult passengers should
check for objects that 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.

•

Switch the 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 the vehicle.

•

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

•

If the airbag readiness lamp 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
authorized dealer.