Occupant Restraint System

Regular Cab:

Super Cab:

Front Row Seating:

Rear Seating:

The outboard safety belts for the front seats are a continuous-loop three-point system. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common sliding tongue and retractor.

The shoulder harness retractor is designed to let the webbing move freely in and out at all times, except during vehicle hard braking, hard cornering or an impact of 8 km/h (5 mph) or more, when it is automatically locked by a mechanically actuated inertia sensor.

Dual Locking Mode Retractors

NOTE: When installing a new dual locking mode retractor, the retractor should be checked to make sure it is not in the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode after installation in the stowed position.

All outboard continuous-loop, three-point retractor systems, except the driver position, are equipped with the dual locking mode system.

The Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking only on hard braking, hard cornering, or an impact of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph). The ELR mode helps to reduce the forward movement of the driver and passengers. The ELR mode is continuously in operation at all seating positions.

The ALR portion of this system does not allow the occupant freedom of movement. The ALR mode is used when locking a child seat in an outboard seating position or when a tight belt fit is desired. The ALR mode is disengaged when the webbing is free to move in or out of the retractor. The ALR mode is automatically engaged when the webbing is fully extracted from the retractor and then allowed to retract. As the webbing is retracted back onto the spool, an audible clicking sound is made indicating that the retractor is in ALR mode. The ALR mode is automatically disengaged when most of the webbing is retracted back onto the spool.

WARNING: AFTER ANY VEHICLE COLLISION, THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM AT ALL OUTBOARD SEATING POSITIONS (EXCEPT DRIVER, WHICH HAS NO "AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR" FEATURE) MUST BE CHECKED BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO VERIFY THAT THE "AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR" FEATURE FOR CHILD SEATS IS STILL 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 CHECKED ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES. FAILURE TO REPLACE THE BELT AND RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN COLLISIONS.

This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management feature at the front seating positions to help further reduce the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision.

This safety belt system has a retractor assembly that is designed to pay out webbing in a controlled manner. This feature is designed to help reduce the belt force acting on a occupant's chest.

Safety Belt Extension Assembly
In certain cases, the safety belt may be too short even when it is fully extended. About 20 cm (8 in) can be added to the belt length by using a safety belt extension. Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from any Ford or Mercury dealership parts department. Safety belt extensions are only available with black webbing and the extender must be from the same manufacturer as the belt system to which it is attached.

Tether Anchor Hardware
Some manufacturers make safety seats that include a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory. Contact the manufacturer of your child safety seat for information about ordering a tether strap.

You can attach a tether strap anchor bracket to the cab inner back panel by using a tether anchor kit, available at no charge from any Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer.

Read and follow the instructions provided with the kit carefully, for installation of the child tether strap anchor.

Follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions to attach the tether strap to the tether bracket.

Warning System - Driver Safety Belt
The driver safety belt buckle incorporates a safety belt warning indicator switch, warning indicator and chime. The warning indicator lamp and chime are reminders to fasten the safety belt.

Safety Belt Warning Indicator and Chime
The warning indicator lamp and chime remind the occupant to fasten the safety belt. The following conditions will take place:
^ If the safety belt is not buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, the chime will turn on for four to eight seconds and the indicator lamp will illuminate for one to two minutes.
^ If the safety belt is buckled while the indicator lamp is on and the chime is sounding, both the indicator and chime will turn off.
^ If the safety belt is buckled before the ignition is turned to the ON position, neither the indicator lamp nor the chime will be active.







Belt Minder (if equipped)
The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver's safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.