FORD FLEX 2012 1.G Owners Manual

4. Pull the strap located on the back of the seat to fold the front
passenger seatback.
5. Without releasing the pull strap, push the seatback forward.
WARNING:Cover sharp edges on the load and properly secure
the load to prevent injury to occupants from shifting load during
sudden stops.
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original
position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original
position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An
unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
Easy entry/exit feature (if equipped)
This feature automatically moves the driver’s seat rearward 2 in (5 cm)
when:
•the transmission is in N (Neutral) or P (Park)
•the key is removed from the ignition
The seat will move to the original position when:
•the transmission is in N (Neutral) or P (Park)
•the key is placed in the ignition.
The easy entry feature can be turned off or on through the vehicle
message center. Refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter.
REAR SEATS
Second and third row head restraints
WARNING:To minimize the risk of neck injury in the event of a
crash, the driver and passenger occupants should not sit in
and/or operate the vehicle, until the head restraint is placed in its
proper position. The driver should never adjust the head restraint
while the vehicle is in motion.
Seating and Safety Restraints
151
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Second row outboard seat head restraints–The outboard head
restraints are non adjustable, but they can be removed.
The non-adjustable head restraints
consist of :
•a trimmed energy absorbing foam
and structure (1),
•two steel stems (2),
•and two guide sleeve
unlock/remove buttons (3).
To remove the non-adjustable head restraint, do the following:
1. Simultaneously press and hold
both unlock/remove buttons, then
pull up on the head restraint.
To reinstall the non-adjustable head restraint, do the following:
1. Insert the two stems into the
guide sleeve collars.
2. Push the head restraint down
until it locks.
Seating and Safety Restraints
152
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Second row center seat head restraint (if equipped)–The center
head restraint is vertically adjustable and can also be removed.
The adjustable head restraint
consist of :
•a trimmed energy absorbing foam
and structure (1),
•two steel stems (2),
•a guide sleeve adjust/release
button (3),
•and a guide sleeve unlock/remove
button (4).
For details about how to raise, lower and remove/reinstall the head
restraint, refer toAdjustable head restraintsat the beginning of this
chapter.
Third row head restraints–The third row head restraints are non
adjustable, but they can be folded.
The non-adjustable head restraints
consist of:
•a trimmed energy absorbing foam
and structure (1),
•two steel stems (2),
•and a fold strap (3),
To fold the head restraint, pull the fold strap. To place the head restraint
back to the upright position, pull up on the head restraint.
Note:Pressing the stow or fold button on power folding seats will
automatically fold the head restraint.
1
34
2
1
32
Seating and Safety Restraints
153
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Adjusting second row bucket and bench seat back
Lift the handle to adjust seatback.
Using same control will fold the
seatback flat.
Note:For the bench seat only,
make sure the center safety belt is
unbuckled before folding the
seatback.
WARNING:Always drive and ride with your seatback upright
and the lap belt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING:Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to
slide under the seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal
injuries in the event of a collision.
Adjusting second row seats (six–passenger vehicles only)
Lift the control to adjust the seat
forward or backward.
Accessing the third row seats
Fold and tumble the second row seat to access the third row. Remove
items from the second row seat and ensure that no bulky objects such as
purses or briefcases are on the floor in front of the second row seats
before tumbling them. For second row bench seats, make sure the center
safety belt is unbuckled before folding the seatback.
Note:You may have to move the front row seat forward to allow the 2nd
row seat to be fully tumbled. Stow the head restraint by pressing the
head restraint release button while sliding the head restraint fully down.
Seating and Safety Restraints
154
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

1. Lift the handle located on the
side of the seat.
The seatback will fold flat.
2. Lift the handle all the way up
until the seat releases from the
floor. Rotate the seat forward to
allow access to the third row.
Note:The seatback must be folded
flat in order to release the floor
latches. Ensure that there are no
objects on the seat cushion that may
restrict the seatback from folding
flat.
Seating and Safety Restraints
155
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

3. To return the seatback to the
floor from tumbled position, rotate
the seat down until you hear it
latching to the floor.
4. To return the seatback to the
upright position
•Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle, and
•Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the
upright position.
Note:The seatback will not raise if
the rear latch hooks are not
properly engaged to the floor
striker. If the seatback does not raise, then repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. Pull the head restraint back up to its normal adjusted position.
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original
position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original
position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An
unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
Seating and Safety Restraints
156
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

2nd row power fold and tumble seat
WARNING:Ensure that the seat is unoccupied when folding it
down. Folding the seat while occupied could result in occupant
injury or damage to the seat.
This feature is available for the right-hand seat on seven-passenger
vehicles and on both sides for six-passenger vehicles.
Press the control located at the
back of the rear door opening one
time to fold the seat back down and
tumble the seat forward for access
to the 3rd row.
Note:When the ignition is in turned off, the power fold feature will work
until the battery saver will turns it off after 10 minutes. You can
reactivate the power seats by pressing
on the remote entry key fob
or by using the unlock procedure on the keyless entry keypad. Refer to
SecuriCode™ keyless entry systemin theLocks and Securitychapter.
Keeping the key in accessory or run positions will prevent the feature
from timing out.
Exiting the third row seat
1. Stow the head restraint by pressing the head restraint release button
while sliding the head restraint fully down.
2. Pull on the strap located on the
back of the second row seat. This
will fold the seatback forward. Pull
the strap a second time to tumble
the seat forward, allowing easy exit
from the 3rd row seat.
Note:The seatback must be folded
flat in order to release the floor
latches. Ensure that there are no
objects on the seat cushion that may
restrict the seatback from folding
flat.
Seating and Safety Restraints
157
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

3. To return the seatback to the
floor from tumbled position, rotate
the seat down until you hear it
latching to the floor.
4. To return the seatback to the
upright position
•Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle, and
•Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the
upright position.
Note:The seatback will not raise if
the rear latch hooks are not
properly engaged to the floor
striker. If the seatback does not raise, then repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If the seat has a head restraint, pull the head restraint back up to its
normal adjusted position.
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original
position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original
position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An
unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
Seating and Safety Restraints
158
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Ensure that the rear latch hooks are
properly engaged with the floor
striker.
Note: Ensure that the seat and
seatback are latched securely in
position. Keep floor area free of
objects that would prevent proper
seat engagement.
WARNING:Do not adjust
or release the seat floor
latch while vehicle is in motion.
Do not operate the vehicle with
seats in tumbled position. Always
latch the vehicle seat to the floor,
whether the seat is occupied or
empty. If not latched or if the seat
is tumbled, the seat may cause
injury during a sudden stop.
Second row heated seats (if equipped)
WARNING:Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes, spinal cord
injury, medication, alcohol use, exhaustion, or other physical
conditions, must exercise care when using the seat heater. The seat
heater may cause burns even at low temperatures, especially if used
for long periods of time. Do not place anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such as a blanket or cushion, because this may
cause the seat heater to overheat. Do not puncture the seat with pins,
needles, or other pointed objects because this may damage the heating
element which may cause the seat heater to overheat. An overheated
seat may cause serious personal injury.
Note:Do not do the following:
•Place heavy objects on the seat
•Operate the seat heater if water or any other liquid is spilled on the
seat. Allow the seat to dry thoroughly.
Seating and Safety Restraints
159
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

To operate the heated seats:
•Press the button located on the
rear of the floor console once to
activate high heat.
•Press twice to activate low heat.
•Press a third time to deactivate.
The indicator light on the control will illuminate when activated. For low
heat, one light will be lit; for high heat, both lights will be lit.
Stowing the third row seat
1. Remove all objects from the seat and stowage tub. Objects in the seat
or stowage tub may cause serious damage to the seat upholstery and
cause improper seat function.
2. From the rear of the vehicle, stow
the head restraints by pulling the
strap located on the middle of the
seatback just below the head
restraint, then fold seatback by
pulling and holding the number 1
strap while pushing the seatback
forward. Release the strap once the
seatback starts rotating forward.
3. Release the cushion latches by
pulling the number 2 strap while
pulling on the strap located at the
top of the seatback to tumble the
seat all the way into the floor tub.
Note:Do not use the seat anchors as cargo tie downs.
Seating and Safety Restraints
160
2012 Flex(471)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)