Safety Belt System: Notes

WARNING: All safety belt assemblies including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar), if equipped, shoulder belt height adjusters, if equipped, child safety seat tether bracket assemblies, if equipped, and attaching hardware should be inspected after any collision. Ford recommends new safety belt assemblies be installed unless a qualified technician finds the assemblies show no damage and operate correctly. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and new assemblies installed if either damage or incorrect operation is noted.

WARNING: The Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) feature of the safety belt retractor must be checked by a qualified technician to verify that the ALR feature for a child seat is functioning properly, in addition to other checks for correct safety belt system function. A belt and retractor assembly must be replaced if the safety belt assembly's "automatic locking retractor" feature or any other safety belt function is not operating properly when inspected according to the functional inspection procedures. Failure to replace the belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

WARNING: Each seating position in the vehicle has a specific safety belt assembly which consists of one buckle and one tongue. The safety belt assembly is designed to be used as a pair and is not to be used across seating positions.

WARNING: Never put a rear-facing child seat on the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger airbag. If the airbag deploys, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to cause severe personal injury or death to the infant.

WARNING: A forward-facing child safety seat should only be placed in the front seat when it is unavoidable. If you must place a forward facing child seat in the front, always move the seat as far back as possible, because the force of the deploying front passenger air bag could cause death or serious injury to the infant. If the vehicle is equipped with a passenger airbag deactivation switch, the passenger airbag must be deactivated.

NOTE: New safety belt buckles, height adjusters, center adjust tongues and belts and retractors can be installed separately. However, if a safety assembly was in use during a collision, a new belt and retractor must be installed as well as the center adjust tongue, and belt and buckle assembly or the center adjust tongue, and the cable and buckle assembly. When installing new safety belts and buckles, height adjusters, safety cables and buckles, center adjust tongues, and belt and retractors, use only the parts specified in the Ford Master Parts Catalogs for the make and model of the vehicle being repaired. Safety belt assemblies must not be interchanged between vehicle models.

The active restraint system consists of:

front seat safety belt retractor with adjustable D-rings attached to the B-pillar behind the trim panel.
front seat safety belt buckle pretensioners attached to the seat track bracket.
second row seat safety belt retractors attached to the C-pillar behind the trim panel.
third row seat outboard safety belt retractors attached to the D-pillar behind the trim panel.
third row center safety belt retractor, which is mounted to the reinforced roof panel.
second row LH, RH buckle ends, which are secured to the seat frame.
third row LH, RH and center buckle ends, which are secured to the seat frame.
child safety seat tether anchors located in both seating positions of the second row bench and bucket seats and center position of the third row bench seat.
child safety seat lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system located in both seating positions of the second row bench and bucket seats and center position of the third row bench seat.

When installing new safety belt buckles and/or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts and Accessories Catalog.