Ford Escape: Airbags / Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator. Disposing of Airbags

Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator

WARNING: Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of your vehicle (including hood, bumper system, frame, front end body structure, tow hooks and hood pins) may affect the performance of the airbag system, increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify or add equipment to the front end of your vehicle.

Your vehicle has a collection of crash and occupant sensors. These sensors provide information to the restraints control module which deploys (activates) the following:

• Seatbelt pretensioners.
• Driver airbag.
• Passenger airbag.
• Knee airbag(s).
• Seat mounted side airbags.
• Safety Canopy.

Based on the type of crash, the restraints control module deploys the appropriate safety devices.

The restraints control module also monitors the readiness of the above safety devices plus the crash and occupant sensors. The readiness of the safety system is indicated by a warning indicator light in the instrument cluster or by a backup tone if the warning light is not working. Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required.

A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:

The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after you switch the ignition on.

• The readiness light either flashes or stays on.
• You hear a series of five beeps. The tone pattern repeats periodically until the problem, the light or both are repaired.

If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a crash.

The fact that the seatbelt pretensioners or front airbags did not activate for both front seat occupants in a crash does not mean that something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the restraints control module determined the accident conditions (crash severity, seatbelt usage) were not appropriate to activate these safety devices.

• The design of the front airbags is to activate only in frontal and near-frontal crashes (not rollovers, side impacts or rear impacts) unless the crash causes sufficient frontal deceleration.
• The design of the front seatbelt pretensioners is to activate in frontal, near-frontal and side crashes, and in rollovers. The design of the rear seatbelt pretensioners is to activate in frontal crashes and in rollovers.
• The design of the knee airbag(s) is to deploy based on crash severity and occupant conditions.
• The design of the side airbags is to inflate in certain side impact crashes or rollover events. Side airbags may activate in other types of crashes if the vehicle experiences sufficient sideways motion or deformation.
• The design of the Safety Canopy is to inflate in certain side impact crashes or rollover events. The Safety Canopy may activate in other types of crashes if the vehicle experiences sufficient sideways motion or deformation, or a certain likelihood of rollover.

Disposing of Airbags

Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible. Airbags must be disposed of by qualified personnel.