Ford Escape Hybrid (2012 year). Manual — part 36

The airbags inflate and deflate
rapidly upon activation. After airbag
deployment, it is normal to notice a
smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum
powder or sodium compounds which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but
none of the residue is toxic.

While the SRS is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with
a deploying airbag may also cause
abrasions, swelling or temporary
hearing loss. Because airbags must
inflate rapidly and with considerable
force, there is the risk of death or
serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye injuries or internal
injuries, particularly to occupants who are not properly restrained or are
otherwise out of position at the time of airbag deployment. It is
extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away
from the airbag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control.

The SRS consists of:
• driver and passenger airbag modules (which include the inflators and

airbags).

• seat-mounted side airbags. Refer to Seat-mounted side airbag system

later in this chapter

• Safety Canopy威 System. Refer to Safety Canopy威 System later in this

chapter.

• one or more impact and safing sensors.
• Safety belt pretensioners
• a readiness light and tone.
• diagnostic module.
• and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
• Front passenger sensing system. Refer to Front passenger sensing

system later in this chapter.

• “Passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off” indicator lamp. Refer to

Front passenger sensing system later in this chapter.

The RCM (restraints control module) monitors its own internal circuits
and the supplemental airbag electrical system wiring (including the

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impact sensors, the system wiring, the airbag system readiness light, the
airbag backup power and the airbag ignitors).

WARNING: Several air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.

WARNING: If the airbag has deployed, the airbag will not
function again and must be replaced immediately. If the

airbag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of
injury in a collision.

Front passenger sensing system

The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208
and is designed to disable (will not inflate) the front passenger’s frontal
airbag under certain conditions.

The front passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of
the front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to
detect the presence of a properly seated occupant and determine if the
front passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or
disabled (will not inflate).

The front passenger sensing system will disable (will not inflate) the
front passenger’s frontal airbag if:
• the front passenger seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in

the front seat,

• the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant

seat that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions,

• the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing

child restraint that is installed according to the manufacturer’s
instructions,

• the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
• a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of

time,

Note: When the passenger airbag off light is illuminated, the passenger
(seat mounted) side airbag may be disabled to avoid the risk of airbag
deployment injuries.

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The front passenger sensing system
uses a

⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or ⬙pass

airbag off

⬙ indicator which will

illuminate and stay lit to remind you
that the front passenger frontal airbag is off. The indicator lamp is located
in the center stack of the instrument panel just above the air vents.

Note: The indicator lamp will illuminate for a short period of time when
the ignition is turned to the on position to confirm it is functional.

When the front passenger seat is not occupied (empty seat) or in the
event that the front passenger frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate), the
indicator lamp will be unlit.

The front passenger sensing system is designed to disable (will not
inflate) the front passenger’s frontal airbag when a rear facing infant
seat, a forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected.
• When the front passenger sensing system disables (will not inflate)

the front passenger frontal airbag, the indicator lamp will illuminate
and stay lit to remind you that the front passenger frontal airbag is
disabled.

• If the child restraint has been installed and the indicator lamp is not

lit, then turn 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’s 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 indicator will be unlit and stay unlit.

If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, but the

⬙passenger airbag off⬙ or ⬙pass airbag off⬙ indicator lamp is lit, it is
possible that the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens:
• Turn 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 will allow the system to detect that person
and enable the passenger’s frontal airbag.

• If the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, the person should be

advised to ride in the rear seat.

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Occupant

Pass Airbag Off
Indicator Lamp

Passenger Airbag

Empty seat

Unlit

Disabled

Small child in child safety seat or
booster

Lit

Disabled

Small child with safety belt
buckled or unbuckled

Lit

Disabled

Adult

Unlit

Enabled

WARNING: Even with Advanced Restraints Systems, children 12
and under should be properly restrained in a rear seating position.

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on safety belts, it’s
very important that they continue to sit properly. A properly seated
occupant sits upright, leaning against the seat back, 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.

WARNING: Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat
back reclined too far can take off weight from the seat cushion

and affect the decision of the front passenger sensing system, resulting
in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor.

The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects
placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front
passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the
passenger airbag is disabled, the

⬙pass airbag off⬙ lamp may or may not

be illuminated according to the table below.

Objects

Pass Airbag Off
Indicator Lamp

Passenger Airbag

Small (i.e. three-ring binder, small
purse, bottled water)

Unlit

Disabled

Medium (i.e. heavy briefcase, fully
packed luggage)

Lit

Disabled

Empty seat, or small to medium
object with safety belt buckled

Lit

Disabled

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