Safety Belt System: Notes

WARNING: All safety belt assemblies (including retractors, buckles, belt tension sensor [BTS], if equipped, 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.

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 proper 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 in the workshop manual. 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.

When replacing any active occupant restraint components, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Customer Service Division Master Parts Catalog.

The active restraint system consists of the following:

Front row safety belt buckles and pretensioners, attached to the inboard side of the seats.
Driver safety belt retractor pretensioner (Hybrid only).
Front row safety belt retractors, located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels.
Second row outboard safety belt retractors, located behind the rear quarter trim panels.
Second row 60/40 seat center safety belt retractor and LH safety belt buckle assembly integrated into the 60 percent seat back.
Second row dual safety belt buckle assembly for the 60/40 seat attached to the floor pan under the RH seat cushion.
Second row lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) at all outboard seating positions, welded to the seat backrest frame.
The child safety seat tether anchors are attached to the roof near the rear liftgate door.