airbag FORD F150 2023 User Guide

WHAT IS THE PERSONAL
SAFETY SYSTEM
Personal Safety System
An advanced safety system that protectsoccupants in frontal crashes.
HOW DOES THE PERSONAL
SAFETY SYSTEM WORK
This system provides an improved level offrontal crash protection to front seatoccupants and is designed to reduce therisk of airbag-related injuries. The systemanalyzes occupant conditions and crashseverity before activating the appropriatesafety devices. During a crash, therestraints control module may deploy theseatbelt pretensioners, and one or bothstages of the dual-stage airbags based oncrash severity and occupant conditions.
PERSONAL SAFETY SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
•Driver and passenger dual-stage airbagsupplemental restraints.
•Front seat outermost seatbelts withpretensioners, energy managementretractors and seatbelt usage sensors.
•Front passenger sensing system.
•Passenger airbag off and on indicators.
•Front crash severity sensors.
•Restraints control module with impactand safing sensors.
•Restraint system warning light andtone.
•The electrical wiring for the airbags,crash sensors, seatbelt pretensioners,front seatbelt usage sensors, frontpassenger sensing system andindicator lights.
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HOW DO THE FRONT AIRBAGS
WORK
The driver and front passenger airbagsdeploy during significant frontal and nearfrontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbagsystem consists of:
•Driver and passenger airbag modules.
•Front passenger sensing system.
•Crash sensors and monitoring systemwith readiness indicator. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator (page80).
The airbags are a supplemental restraintsystem and are designed to work with theseatbelts to help protect the driver andright front passenger from certain upperbody injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;there is a risk of injury from a deployingairbag.
Note:You will hear a loud bang and see acloud of harmless powdery residue if anairbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidlyupon activation. After airbag deployment,it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powderyresidue or smell the burnt propellant. Thismay consist of cornstarch, talcum powder(to lubricate the bag) or sodium
compounds (for example, baking soda)that result from the combustion processthat inflates the airbag. Small amounts ofsodium hydroxide may be present whichmay irritate the skin and eyes, but none ofthe residue is toxic.
Contact with a deploying airbag may causeabrasions or swelling. Temporary hearingloss is also a possibility as a result of thenoise associated with a deploying airbag.
Because airbags must inflate rapidly andwith considerable force, there is the risk ofdeath or serious injuries such as fractures,facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,particularly to occupants who are notproperly restrained or are otherwise out ofposition at the time of airbag deployment.Thus, it is extremely important thatoccupants be properly restrained as faraway from the airbag module as possiblewhile maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is notrequired.
HOW DO THE SIDE AIRBAGS
WORK
WARNING: Do not place objectsor mount equipment on or near theairbag cover, on the side of the front orrear seatbacks, or in areas that maycome into contact with a deployingairbag. Failure to follow theseinstructions may increase the risk ofpersonal injury in the event of a crash.
WARNING: Accessory seat coversnot released by Ford Motor Companycould prevent the deployment of theairbags and increase the risk of injuriesin a crash.
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WARNING: Do not lean your headon the door. The side airbag could injureyou as it deploys from the side of theseatback.
The side airbags are on the outermost sideof the seat backrests of the front seats. Incertain sideways crashes or rollovers, theairbags will be inflated. The airbag wasdesigned to inflate between the door paneland occupant to further enhance theprotection provided to occupants in sideimpact crashes.
The system consists of the following:
•A label or embossed side panelindicating that side airbags are fittedto your vehicle.
•Side airbags inside the driver and frontpassenger seat backrests.
•Crash sensors and monitoring systemwith readiness indicator. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator (page80).
HOW DO THE KNEE AIRBAGS
WORK
Driver and passenger knee airbags areunder or within the instrument panel.During a crash, the restraints controlmodule may activate the driver andpassenger knee airbags (individually orboth) based on crash severity andrespective occupant conditions. Undercertain crash and occupant conditions, thedriver and passenger knee airbags maydeploy (individually or both) but thecorresponding front airbag may notactivate. It is important to be properlyseated and restrained to reduce the risk ofdeath or serious injury.
Make sure the knee airbags areoperating properly. See CrashSensors and Airbag Indicator(page 80).
HOW DOES THE SAFETY
CANOPY™ WORK
WARNING: Do not place objectsor mount equipment on or near theheadliner at the siderail that may comeinto contact with a deploying curtainairbag. Failure to follow theseinstructions may increase the risk ofpersonal injury in the event of a crash.
WARNING: Do not lean your headon the door. The curtain airbag couldinjure you as it deploys from theheadliner.
WARNING: To reduce risk of injury,do not obstruct or place objects in thedeployment path of the airbag.
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The Safety Canopy deploys duringsignificant side crashes or when a certainlikelihood of a rollover event is detectedby the rollover sensor. The Safety Canopyis mounted to the roof side-rail sheetmetal, behind the headliner, above eachrow of seats. In certain sideways crashesor rollover events, the Safety Canopy willbe activated, regardless of which seats areoccupied. The Safety Canopy inflatesbetween the side window area andoccupants to further enhance protectionprovided in side impact crashes androllover events.
The system consists of the following:
•Safety Canopy curtain airbags abovethe trim panels over the front and rearside windows identified by a label orwording on the headliner or roof-pillartrim.
•A flexible headliner which opens abovethe side doors to allow air curtaindeployment
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with a readinessindicator. See Crash Sensorsand Airbag Indicator (page 80).
Properly restrain children 12 years old andunder in the rear seats. The Safety Canopywill not interfere with children restrainedusing a properly installed child or boosterseat because it is designed to inflatedownward from the headliner above thedoors along the side window opening.
AIRBAG PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Airbags do not inflateslowly or gently, and the risk of injuryfrom a deploying airbag is the greatestclose to the trim covering the airbagmodule.
WARNING: All occupants of yourvehicle, including the driver, shouldalways properly wear their seatbelts,even when an airbag supplementalrestraint system is provided. Failure toproperly wear your seatbelt couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: Properly securechildren 12 years old and under in a rearseating position whenever possible. Ifyou are unable to properly secure allchildren in a rear seating position,properly secure the largest child on thefront seat. If you must use a forwardfacing child restraint on the front seat,move the seat as far back as possible.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not place your armson the airbag cover or through thesteering wheel. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury.
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WARNING: Keep the areas in frontof the airbags free from obstruction. Donot affix anything to or over the airbagcovers. Objects could become projectilesduring airbag deployment. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: To reduce risk of injury,do not obstruct or place objects in thedeployment path of the airbag.
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Do not attempt toservice, repair, or modify thesupplementary restraint system orassociated components. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Several airbag systemcomponents get hot after inflation. Toreduce the risk of injury, do not touchthem after inflation.
WARNING: If a supplementaryrestraint system component hasdeployed, it will not function again. Havethe system and associated componentsinspected as soon as possible. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
PROPERLY ADJUSTING THE
DRIVER AND FRONT
PASSENGER SEATS
WARNING: National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)recommends a minimum distance of atleast 10 in (25 cm) between anoccupant's chest and the driver airbagmodule.
To properly position yourself away fromthe airbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as youcan while still reaching the pedalscomfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly one or twodegrees from the upright position.
After all occupants have adjusted theirseats and put on seatbelts, it is veryimportant that they continue to sitproperly. Properly seated occupants situpright, lean against the seat backrest, andcenter themselves on the seat cushion,with their feet comfortably extended onthe floor. Sitting improperly can increasethe chance of injury in a crash event. Forexample, if an occupant slouches, liesdown, turns sideways, sits forward, leansforward or sideways, or puts one or bothfeet up, the chance of injury during a crashgreatly increases.
CHILDREN AND AIRBAGS
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
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Children must always be properlyrestrained. Accident statistics suggest thatchildren are safer when properly restrainedin the rear seating positions than in thefront seating position. Failure to followthese instructions may increase the risk ofinjury in a crash.
If two adults and a child occupy a vehiclewithout rear seats, properly restrain thechild in the center front seat unless doingso would interfere with driving your vehicle.This provides lap and shoulder beltprotection for all occupants, and airbagprotection for the adults. A child or infantproperly restrained in the center front seatshould have a reduced risk to serious injuryfrom the airbags.
FRONT PASSENGER SENSING
SYSTEM
WHAT IS THE FRONT PASSENGERSENSING SYSTEM
This system detects a properly seatedoccupant and determines if the frontpassenger airbag should be enabled.
HOW DOES THE FRONTPASSENGER SENSING SYSTEMWORK
The system uses a passenger airbag statusindicator which illuminates indicating thatthe front passenger frontal airbag is eitherenabled or disabled.
Note:When you first switch the ignition on,the passenger airbag status indicator offand on lamps illuminate for a short periodto confirm they are functional.
The indicator lamps are in the overheadconsole.
The front passenger sensing system isdesigned to disable the front passengerfrontal airbag under these conditions:
•The front passenger seat isunoccupied.
•The system determines an infant ispresent in a child restraint.
•A passenger takes their weight off ofthe seat for a period of time.
•If there is a problem with the airbagsystem or the passenger sensingsystem.
Even with this technology, parents arestrongly encouraged to always properlyrestrain children in the rear seat.
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•When the front passenger sensingsystem disables the front passengerfrontal airbag, the passenger airbagstatus indicator illuminates the offlamp.
•If you have installed the child restraintand the passenger airbag statusindicator illuminates the on lamp,switch your vehicle off, remove thechild restraint from your vehicle andreinstall the restraint following thechild restraint manufacturer'sinstructions.
The front passenger sensing system workswith sensors that are part of the frontpassenger seat and seatbelt. The sensorsare designed to detect the presence of aproperly seated occupant and determineif the front passenger frontal airbag shouldbe enabled.
•When the front passenger sensingsystem enables the front passengerfrontal airbag, the passenger airbagstatus indicator illuminates the onlamp.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the frontpassenger seat, but the passenger airbagstatus indicator off lamp is illuminated, itis possible that the person is not sittingproperly in the seat. If this happens:
•Switch your vehicle off and ask theperson to place the seat backrest in anupright position.
•Have the person sit upright in the seat,centered on the seat cushion, with theperson's legs comfortably extended.
•Restart your vehicle and have theperson remain in this position for abouttwo minutes. This allows the systemto detect that person and enable thepassenger frontal airbag.
•If the indicator off lamp remainsilluminated even after this, you shouldadvise the person to ride in the rearseat.
After all occupants have adjusted theirseats and put on seatbelts, it is veryimportant that they continue to sit upright,leaning against the seat backrest, andcentered on the seat cushion, with theirfeet comfortably extended on the floor.
Sitting improperly can increase the chanceof injury in a crash event. For example, ifan occupant slouches, lies down, turnssideways, sits forward, leans forward orsideways, or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash greatlyincreases.
If you think that the state of the passengerairbag status indicator lamp is incorrect,check for the following:
•Objects lodged underneath the seat.
•Objects between the seat cushion andthe center console.
•Objects hanging off the seat backrest.
•Objects stowed in the seat backrestmap pocket.
•Objects placed on the occupant's lap.
•Cargo interference with the seat
•Other passengers pushing or pulling onthe seat.
•Rear passenger feet and knees restingor pushing on the seat.
The listed conditions could cause theweight of a properly seated occupant tobe incorrectly interpreted by the frontpassenger sensing system. The person inthe front passenger seat could appearheavier or lighter due to the conditionslisted.
Make sure the front passengersensing system is operatingproperly. See Crash Sensorsand Airbag Indicator (page 80).
If the airbag readiness light is on, do thefollowing:
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•Pull your vehicle over.
•Switch your vehicle off.
•Check for any objects lodgedunderneath the front passenger seator cargo interfering with the seat.
•Remove the obstruction if found.
•Restart your vehicle.
•Wait at least two minutes and verifythat the airbag readiness light in theinstrument cluster is no longerilluminated.
•If the airbag readiness light in theinstrument cluster remains illuminated,there may be a problem due to thefront passenger sensing system.
Do not attempt to repair or service thesystem. Take your vehicle in for serviceimmediately.
If it is necessary to modify an advancedfront airbag system to accommodate aperson with disabilities, contact yourCustomer Relationship Center. SeeContacting Us (page 22).
FRONT PASSENGER SENSINGSYSTEM PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Sitting improperly, outof position or with the seatback reclinedtoo far can take weight off the seatcushion and affect the decision of thepassenger sensing system, resulting inserious injury or death in the event of acrash. Always sit upright against yourseat back, with your feet on the floor.
WARNING: Any alteration ormodification to the front passenger seatmay affect the performance of the frontpassenger sensing system. This couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
FRONT PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM INDICATORS
Passenger AirbagPassenger Airbag StatusIndicatorOccupant
DisabledOFF: IlluminatedEmpty
ON: Not Illuminated
DisabledOFF: IlluminatedChild
ON: Not Illuminated
EnabledOFF: Not IlluminatedAdult
ON: Illuminated
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CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR
WARNING: Modifying or addingequipment to the front of your vehiclecould affect the performance of theairbag system, increasing the risk ofinjury. This includes the hood, bumpersystem, frame, front body structure, towhooks, hood pins, push bar andsnowplows.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash andoccupant sensors. These sensors provideinformation to the restraints controlmodule which activates the following:
•Front seatbelt pretensioners.
•Driver airbag.
•Passenger airbag.
•Knee airbag(s).
•Seat mounted side airbags.
•Safety Canopy.
Based on the type of crash, the restraintscontrol module deploys the appropriatesafety devices.
The restraints control module alsomonitors the readiness of the above safetydevices plus the crash and occupantsensors. The readiness of the safetysystem is indicated by a warning indicatorlight in the instrument cluster or by abackup tone if the warning light is notworking. Routine maintenance of theairbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated byone or more of the following:
The readiness light will notilluminate immediately after youswitch the ignition on.
•The readiness light either flashes orstays on.
•You hear a series of five tones. Thetone pattern repeats periodically untilthe problem, the light or both arerepaired.
If any of these things happen, evenintermittently, have the supplementalrestraint system serviced immediately.Unless serviced, the system may notfunction properly in the event of a crash.
The fact that the seatbelt pretensionersor front airbags did not activate for bothfront seat occupants in a crash does notmean that something is wrong with thesystem. Rather, it means the restraintscontrol module determined the accidentconditions (crash severity, seatbelt usage)were not appropriate to activate thesesafety devices.
•The front airbags activate only infrontal and near-frontal crashes. Frontairbags may activate in rollovers, sideimpacts or rear impacts if the crashcauses sufficient frontal deceleration.
•The seatbelt pretensioners activate infrontal, near-frontal and side crashes,and in rollovers.
•The knee airbag(s) deploy based oncrash severity and occupant conditions.
•The side airbags inflate in certain sideimpact crashes or rollover events. Sideairbags may activate in other types ofcrashes if the vehicle experiencessufficient sideways motion ordeformation.
•The Safety Canopy inflates in certainside impact crashes or rollover events.The Safety Canopy may activate inother types of crashes if the vehicleexperiences sufficient sideways motionor deformation, or a certain likelihoodof rollover.
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CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR - POLICE
RESPONDER
WARNING: Modifying or addingequipment to the front of your vehiclecould affect the performance of theairbag system, increasing the risk ofinjury. This includes the hood, bumpersystem, frame, front body structure, towhooks, hood pins, push bar andsnowplows.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash andoccupant sensors. These sensors provideinformation to the restraints controlmodule which activates the following:
•Front seatbelt pretensioners.
•Driver airbag.
•Passenger airbag.
•Knee airbag(s).
•Seat mounted side airbags.
•Safety Canopy.
Based on the type of crash, the restraintscontrol module deploys the appropriatesafety devices.
The restraints control module alsomonitors the readiness of the above safetydevices plus the crash and occupantsensors. The readiness of the safetysystem is indicated by a warning indicatorlight in the instrument cluster or by abackup tone if the warning light is notworking. Routine maintenance of theairbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated byone or more of the following:
•The readiness light either flashes orstays on.
•You hear a series of five tones. Thetone pattern repeats periodically untilthe problem, the light or both arerepaired.
•The readiness light will not illuminateimmediately after you switch theignition on.
If any of these things happen, evenintermittently, have the supplementalrestraint system serviced immediately.Unless serviced, the system may notfunction properly in the event of a crash.
The fact that the seatbelt pretensionersor airbags did not activate for both frontseat occupants in a crash does not meanthat something is wrong with the system.Rather, it means the restraints controlmodule determined the accidentconditions (crash severity, belt usage)were not appropriate to activate thesesafety devices.
•The front airbags activate only infrontal and near-frontal crashes, notrollovers, side impacts or rear impacts,unless the crash causes sufficientfrontal deceleration.
•The seatbelt pretensioners activate infrontal, near-frontal and side crashesand in rollovers.
•The side airbags inflate in certain sideimpact crashes and in rollovers. Sideairbags may activate in other types ofcrashes if the vehicle experiencessufficient sideways motion ordeformation.
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