Ford Explorer (2024 year). Manual in english

PERCHLORATE

Certain components in your vehicle such
as airbag modules, seatbelt pretensioners
and remote control batteries may contain
perchlorate material. Special handling
may apply for service or vehicle end of life
disposal.

For more information visit:

Web Address

www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazard-

ouswaste/perchlorate

FORD CREDIT

US Only

Ford Credit offers a full range of financing
and lease plans to help you acquire your
vehicle. If you have financed or leased your
vehicle through Ford Credit, thank you for
your business.

For assistance call 1-800-727-7000, or for
more information about Ford Credit and
access to the online Account Manager tool,
visit www.ford.com/finance.

REPLACEMENT PARTS
RECOMMENDATION

We have built your vehicle to the highest
standards using quality parts. We
recommend that you demand the use of
genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts
whenever your vehicle requires scheduled
maintenance or repair. You can clearly
identify genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts
by looking for the Ford, FoMoCo or
Motorcraft branding on the parts or their
packaging.

Scheduled Maintenance and
Mechanical Repairs

One of the best ways for you to make sure
that your vehicle provides years of service
is to have it maintained in line with our
recommendations using parts that
conform to the specifications detailed in
this Owner’s Manual.

Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts meet
or exceed these specifications.

Collision Repairs

We hope that you never experience a
collision, but accidents happen sometimes.

Genuine Ford replacement collision parts
meet our stringent requirements for fit,
finish, structural integrity, corrosion
protection and dent resistance. During
vehicle development we validate that
these parts deliver the intended level of
protection as a whole system. A great way
to know for sure you are getting this level
of protection is to use genuine Ford
replacement collision parts.

Warranty on Replacement Parts

Genuine Ford and Motorcraft replacement
parts are the only replacement parts that
benefit from a Ford Warranty.

The Ford Warranty may not cover damage
caused to your vehicle as a result of failed
non-Ford parts.

For additional information, refer to the
terms and conditions of the Ford Warranty.

SPECIAL NOTICES

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

For a detailed description of what is
covered and what is not covered by your
vehicle’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
refer to the Warranty Guide that is provided
to you along with your Owner’s Manual.

Introduction

Special Instructions

For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted
with sophisticated electronic controls.

WARNING:

You risk death or

serious injury to yourself and others if you
do not follow the instruction highlighted
by the warning symbol. Failure to follow
the specific warnings and instructions
could result in personal injury.

WARNING:

Do not place a

rearward facing child restraint in front of
an active airbag. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.

On Board Diagnostics Data Link
Connector

WARNING:

Do not connect

wireless plug-in devices to the data link
connector. Unauthorized third parties
could gain access to vehicle data and
impair the performance of safety related
systems. Only allow repair facilities that
follow our service and repair instructions
to connect their equipment to the data
link connector.

Your vehicle has an OBD Data Link
Connector (DLC) that is used in
conjunction with a diagnostic scan tool for
vehicle diagnostics, repairs and
reprogramming services. Installing an
aftermarket device that uses the DLC
during normal driving for purposes such as
remote insurance company monitoring,
transmission of vehicle data to other
devices or entities, or altering the
performance of the vehicle, may cause

interference with or even damage to
vehicle systems. We do not recommend
or endorse the use of aftermarket plug-in
devices unless approved by Ford. The
vehicle Warranty will not cover damage
caused by an aftermarket plug-in device.

Notice to Owners of Pickup Trucks
and Utility Type Vehicles

WARNING:

Utility vehicles have a

significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.

Before you drive your vehicle, please read
this Owner’s Guide carefully. Your vehicle
is not a passenger car. As with other
vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury or death.

Using Your Vehicle With a

Snowplow

Do not use this vehicle for
snowplowing.

Your vehicle does not have a snowplowing
package.

Using Your Vehicle as an
Ambulance

Do not use this vehicle as an
ambulance.

Your vehicle does not have the Ford
Ambulance Preparation Package.

Introduction

Decommissioning Requirements

We have implemented a decommissioning
process of Ford-provided police features.
It is the responsibility of the owner to
complete the decommissioning of the
vehicle in compliance with any state
regulations prior to initial sale to the public
sector. See

Decommissioning

Requirements

(page 399).

MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT

WARNING:

Driving while

distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, crash and injury. We strongly
recommend that you use extreme
caution when using any device that may
take your focus off the road. Your
primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We
recommend against the use of any
hand-held device while driving and
encourage the use of voice-operated
systems when possible. Make sure you
are aware of all applicable local laws
that may affect the use of electronic
devices while driving.

Using mobile communications equipment
is becoming increasingly important in the
conduct of business and personal affairs.
However, you must not compromise your
own or others’ safety when using such
equipment. Mobile communications can
enhance personal safety and security when
appropriately used, particularly in
emergency situations. Safety must be
paramount when using mobile
communications equipment to avoid
negating these benefits. Mobile
communication equipment includes, but
is not limited to, cellular phones, pagers,
portable email devices, text messaging
devices and portable two-way radios.

EXPORT UNIQUE OPTIONS

For your particular global region, your
vehicle may be equipped with features and
options that are different from the features
and options that are described in this
Owner’s Manual. A market unique
supplement may be supplied that
complements this book. By referring to the
market unique supplement, if provided,
you can properly identify those features,
recommendations and specifications that
are unique to your vehicle. This Owner’s
Manual is written primarily for the U.S. and
Canadian Markets. Features or equipment
listed as standard may be different on units
built for export.

Refer to this Owner’s

Manual for all other required
information and warnings.

Introduction

WARNING:

Do not connect

We respect your privacy and are
committed to protecting it. The
information contained in this publication
was correct at the time of release, but as
technology rapidly changes, we
recommend that you visit the local Ford
website for the latest information.

Your vehicle has electronic control units
that have data recording functionality and
the ability to permanently or temporarily
store data. This data could include
information on the condition and status of
your vehicle, vehicle maintenance
requirements, events and malfunctions.
The types of data that can be recorded are
described in this section. Some of the data
recorded is stored in event logs or error
logs.

Note:

Error logs are reset following a service

or repair.

Note:

We may provide information in

response to requests from law enforcement,
other government authorities and third
parties acting with lawful authority or
through a legal process. Such information
could be used by them in legal proceedings.

Data recorded includes, for example:
•

Operating states of system
components, for example fuel level,
tire pressure and battery charge level.

•

Vehicle and component status, for
example wheel speed, deceleration,
lateral acceleration and seatbelt
status.

•

Events or errors in essential systems,
for example headlamps and brakes.

•

System responses to driving situations,
for example airbag deployment and
stability control.

•

Environmental conditions, for example
temperature.

Some of this data, when used in
combination with other information, for
example an accident report, damage to a
vehicle or eyewitness statements, could
be associated with a specific person.

Services That We Provide

If you use our services, we collect and use
data, for example account information,
vehicle location and driving characteristics,
that could identify you. We transmit this
data through a dedicated, protected
connection. We only collect and use data
to enable your use of our services to which
you have subscribed, with your consent or
where permitted by law. For additional
information, see the terms and conditions
of the services to which you have
subscribed.

For additional information about our
privacy policy, refer to the local Ford
website.

Services That Third Parties
Provide

We recommend that you review the terms
and conditions and data privacy
information for any services equipped with
your vehicle or to which you subscribe. We
take no responsibility for services that third
parties provide.

Data Privacy

SERVICE DATA

Service data recorders in your vehicle are
capable of collecting and storing
diagnostic information about your vehicle.
This potentially includes information about
the performance or status of various
systems and modules in the vehicle, such
as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and
service your vehicle, Ford Motor Company
(Ford of Canada in Canada), and service
and repair facilities may access or share
among them vehicle diagnostic
information received through a direct
connection to your vehicle when
diagnosing or servicing your vehicle.
Additionally, Ford Motor Company (Ford
of Canada, in Canada) may, where
permitted by law, use vehicle diagnostic
information for vehicle improvement or
with other information we may have about
you, for example, your contact information,
to offer you products or services that may
interest you. Data may be provided to our
service providers such as part suppliers
that may help diagnose malfunctions, and
who are similarly obligated to protect data.
We retain this data only as long as
necessary to perform these functions or to
comply with law. We may provide
information where required in response to
official requests to law enforcement or
other government authorities or third
parties acting with lawful authority or court
order, and such information may be used
in legal proceedings. For U.S. only (if
equipped), if you choose to use connected
apps and services, you consent that certain
diagnostic information may also be
accessed electronically by Ford Motor
Company and Ford authorized service
facilities, and that the diagnostic
information may be used to provide
services to you, personalizing your
experience, troubleshoot, and to improve
products and services and offer you
products and services that may interest

you, where permitted by law. For Canada
only, for more information, please review
the Ford of Canada privacy policy at
www.ford.ca, including our U.S. data
storage and use of service providers in
other jurisdictions who may be subject to
legal requirements in Canada, the United
States and other countries applicable to
them, for example, lawful requirements to
disclose personal information to
governmental authorities in those
countries.

EVENT DATA

This vehicle is equipped with an event data
recorder. The main purpose of an event
data recorder is to record, in certain crash
or near crash-like situations, such as an
airbag deployment or hitting a road
obstacle; this data will assist in
understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The event data recorder is
designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.

The event data recorder in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
•

How various systems in your vehicle
were operating.

•

Whether or not the driver and
passenger seatbelts were
buckled/fastened.

•

How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or the
brake pedal.

•

How fast the vehicle was traveling.

•

Where the driver was positioning the
steering wheel.

This data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur.

Data Privacy

Note:

Event data recorder data is recorded

by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash
situation occurs; no data is recorded by the
event data recorder under normal driving
conditions and no personal data or
information (for example name, gender,
age, and crash location) is recorded.
However, parties, such as law enforcement,
could combine the event data recorder data
with the type of personally identifying data
routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.

To read data recorded by an event data
recorder, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the event data
recorder is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such
as law enforcement, that have such special
equipment, can read the information if they
have access to the vehicle or the event
data recorder.

SETTINGS DATA

Your vehicle has electronic control units
that have the ability to store data based
on your personalized settings. The data is
stored locally in the vehicle or on devices
that you connect to it, for example, a USB
drive or digital music player. You can delete
some of this data and also choose whether
to share it through the services to which
you subscribe. See

Settings

(page 335).

Comfort and Convenience Data

Data recorded includes, for example:
•

Seat and steering wheel position.

•

Climate control settings.

•

Radio presets.

Entertainment Data

Data recorded includes, for example:
•

Music, videos or album art.

•

Contacts and corresponding address
book entries.

•

Navigation destinations.

MOBILE DEVICE DATA

If you connect a mobile device to your
vehicle, you can display data from your
device on the touchscreen for example,
music and album art. You can share your
vehicle data with mobile apps on your
device through the system. See

Apps

(page 333).

The mobile apps function operates by your
connected device sending data to us in the
United States. The data is encrypted and
includes, for example, the vehicle
identification number of your vehicle, the
SYNC module serial number, odometer,
enabled apps, usage statistics and
debugging information. We retain it only
as long as necessary to provide the service,
to troubleshoot, for continuous
improvement and to offer you products
and services that may be of interest to you
according to your preferences and where
allowed by law.

If you connect a cell phone to the system,
the system creates a profile that links to
that cell phone. The cell phone profile
enables more mobile features and efficient
operation. The profile contains, for
example data from your phonebook, read
and unread text messages and call history,
including history of calls when your cell
phone was not connected to the system.

Data Privacy

If you connect a media device, the system
creates and retains a media device index
of supported media content. The system
also records a short diagnostic log of
approximately 10 minutes of all recent
system activity.

The cell phone profile, media device index
and diagnostic log remain in your vehicle
unless you delete them and are generally
accessible only in your vehicle when you
connect your cell phone or media device.
If you no longer plan to use the system or
your vehicle, we recommend you use the
system reset function to erase the stored
information. See

Settings

(page 335).

System data cannot be accessed without
special equipment and access to your
vehicle's module.

For additional information about our
privacy policy, refer to the local Ford
website.

Note:

To find out if your vehicle has

connectivity technology, visit

www.FordConnected.com

EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM
DATA

When the emergency call system is active,
it may disclose to emergency services that
your vehicle has been in a crash involving
the deployment of an airbag or activation
of the fuel pump shut-off. Certain versions
or updates to the emergency call system
may also be capable of electronically or
verbally disclosing to emergency services
operators your vehicle location or other
details about your vehicle or crash to assist
emergency services operators to provide
the most appropriate emergency services.
If you do not want to disclose this
information, do not activate the emergency
call system.

Note:

You cannot deactivate emergency

call systems that are required by law.

Data Privacy

INSTRUMENT PANEL

E283251

Cruise control. See

Cruise Control

(page 66). Auxiliary control. See

Audio

Control

(page 65).

Direction indicator. See

Direction Indicators

(page 72). Wiper lever. See

Windshield Wipers

(page 67).

Information display. See

General Information

(page 84).

Information display control. See

Information Display Control

(page 66).

Gearshift lever. See

Automatic Transmission

(page 141).

Deep sand/snow mode button. See

What Is Drive Mode Control

(page 176).

Information and Entertainment display.

Pre-collision assist disable. See

Pre-Collision Assist

(page 172). Police

perimeter alert. See

Audio unit. See

Climate control. See

Automatic Climate Control

(page 100).

At a Glance

GENERAL INFORMATION

See the following sections for directions
on how to properly use safety restraints
for children.

WARNING:

Always make sure your

child is secured properly in a device that
is appropriate for their height, age and
weight. Child safety restraints must be
bought separately from your vehicle.
Failure to follow these instructions and
guidelines may result in an increased risk
of serious injury or death to your child.

WARNING:

All children are shaped

differently. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration and other safety
organizations, base their
recommendations for child restraints on
probable child height, age and weight
thresholds, or on the minimum
requirements of the law. We recommend
that you check with a NHTSA Certified
Child Passenger Safety Technician

(CPST) to make sure that you properly
install the child restraint in your vehicle
and that you consult your pediatrician to
make sure you have a child restraint
appropriate for your child. To locate a
child restraint fitting station and CPST,
contact NHTSA toll free at
1-888-327-4236 or go to
www.nhtsa.dot.gov. In Canada, contact
Transport Canada toll free at
1-800-333-0371 or go to www.tc.gc.ca
to find a Child Car Seat Clinic in your
area. Failure to properly restrain children
in child restraints made especially for
their height, age and weight, may result
in an increased risk of serious injury or
death to your child.

WARNING:

On hot days, the

temperature inside the vehicle can rise
very quickly. Exposure of people or
animals to these high temperatures for
even a short time can cause death or
serious heat related injuries, including
brain damage. Small children are
particularly at risk.

Child Safety

Recommendations for Safety Restraints for Children

Recommended Restraint

Type

Child Size, Height, Weight, or Age

Child

Use a child restraint

(sometimes called an

infant carrier, convertible

seat, or toddler seat).

Children weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less

(generally age four or younger).

Infants or

toddlers

Use a belt-positioning

booster seat.

Children who have outgrown or no longer

properly fit in a child restraint (generally

children who are less than 57 in (1.45 m)

tall, are greater than age four and less

than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)

and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb

(45 kg) if recommended by your child

restraint manufacturer).

Small children

Use a vehicle seatbelt

having the lap belt snug

and low across the hips,

shoulder belt centered

across the shoulder and

chest, and seat backrest

upright.

Children who have outgrown or no longer

properly fit in a belt-positioning booster

seat (generally children who are at least

57 in (1.45 m) tall or greater than 80 lb

(36 kg) or 100 lb (45 kg) if recommended

by child restraint manufacturer).

Larger children

•

You are required by law to properly use
child restraints for infants and toddlers
in the United States, Canada and
Mexico.

•

Many states and provinces require that
small children use approved booster
seats until they reach age eight, a
height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or 80 lb
(36 kg). Check your local and state or
provincial laws for specific
requirements about the safety of
children in your vehicle.

•

When possible, properly restrain
children 12 years of age and under in a
rear seating position of your vehicle.
Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions
than in a front seating position. See

Front Passenger Sensing System

(page 43).

•

When installing a rear facing child
restraint, adjust the vehicle seats to
avoid interference between the child
restraint and the vehicle seat in front
of the child restraint.

Child Safety

INSTALLING CHILD
RESTRAINTS

Child Seats

E142594

Use a child restraint (sometimes called an
infant carrier, convertible seat, or toddler
seat) for infants, toddlers or children
weighing 40 lb (18 kg) or less (generally
age four or younger).

Using Lap and Shoulder Belts

WARNING:

Do not place a

rearward facing child restraint in front of
an active airbag. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.

WARNING:

Properly secure

children 12 years old and under in a rear
seating position whenever possible. If
you are unable to properly secure all
children in a rear seating position,
properly secure the largest child on the
front seat. If you must use a forward
facing child restraint on the front seat,
move the seat as far back as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions could
result in personal injury or death.

WARNING:

Depending on where

you secure a child restraint, and
depending on the child restraint design,
you may block access to certain seatbelt
buckle assemblies and LATCH lower
anchors, rendering those features
potentially unusable. To avoid risk of
injury, make sure occupants only use
seating positions where they are able to
be properly restrained.

When installing a child restraint with
combination lap and shoulder belts:
•

Use the correct seatbelt buckle for that
seating position.

•

Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle until you hear a snap and feel it
latch. Make sure the tongue is securely
fastened in the buckle.

•

Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the child
restraint, with the tongue between the
child restraint and the release button,
to prevent accidental unbuckling.

•

Place the vehicle seat in the upright
position before you install the child
restraint.

•

For second-row seating positions,
adjust the recliner slightly to improve
child restraint fit. If needed, remove the
head restraints.

•

Put the seatbelt in the automatic
locking mode. See Step 5. This vehicle
does not require the use of a locking
clip.

Perform the following steps when
installing the child restraint with
combination lap and shoulder belts:

Note:

Although the child restraint

illustrated is a forward facing child restraint,
the steps are the same for installing a rear
facing child restraint.

Child Safety

Note:

Follow all instructions provided by

the manufacturer of the child restraint
regarding the necessary and proper use of
the Lock-off device. In some instances these
devices have been provided only for use in
vehicles with seatbelt systems that would
otherwise require a locking clip. This vehicle
does not require the use of a locking clip.

E142528

Position the child restraint in a seat
with a combination lap and shoulder
belt.

E142529

2. After positioning the child restraint in

the proper seating position, pull down
on the shoulder belt and then grasp the
shoulder belt and lap belt together
behind the belt tongue.

E142530

3. While holding the shoulder and lap belt

portions together, route the tongue
through the child restraint according
to the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions. Make sure you do not twist
the belt webbing.

E142531

4. Insert the belt tongue into the proper

buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming from)
for that seating position until you hear
a snap and feel the latch engage. Make
sure you securely latch the tongue by
pulling on it.

Child Safety

E142875

5. To put the retractor in the automatic

locking mode, grasp the shoulder
portion of the belt and pull downward
until all of the belt is pulled out.

6. Allow the belt to retract to remove

slack. The belt will click as it retracts
to indicate it is in the automatic locking
mode.

Try to pull the belt out of the retractor
to make sure the retractor is in the
automatic locking mode. You should
not be able to pull more belt out. If the
retractor did not lock, unbuckle the belt
and repeat Steps 5 and 6.

E142533

8. Remove remaining slack from the belt.

Force the seat down with extra weight,
for example, by pressing down or
kneeling on the child restraint as you
pull up on the shoulder belt to force
slack from the belt. This is necessary

to remove the remaining slack that
exists once you add the extra weight
of the child to the child restraint. It also
helps to achieve the proper snugness
of the child restraint to your vehicle.
Sometimes, a slight lean toward the
buckle provides extra help to remove
remaining slack from the belt.

9. Attach the tether strap (if the child

restraint is equipped). See

Using

Tether Straps

later in this chapter.

E142534

10.

Before placing the child in the seat,
forcibly move the seat forward and
back to make sure you have the seat
securely held in place. To check this,
grab the seat at the belt path and
attempt to move it side to side and
forward and back. There should be
no more than 1 in (2.5 cm) of
movement for proper installation.

We recommend checking with a NHTSA
Certified Child Passenger Safety
Technician to make certain the child
restraint is properly installed. In Canada,
check with Transport Canada for referral
to a Child Car Seat Clinic.

Child Safety

Using Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren (LATCH)

WARNING:

Do not attach two child

safety restraints to the same anchor. In
a crash, one anchor may not be strong
enough to hold two child safety restraint
attachments and may break, causing
serious injury or death.

WARNING:

Depending on where

The LATCH system has three vehicle
anchor points: two lower anchors where
the seat backrest and seat cushion meet
(called the seat bight) and one top tether
anchor behind that seating position.

LATCH compatible child restraints have
two rigid or webbing mounted
attachments that connect to the two lower
anchors at the LATCH equipped seating
positions in your vehicle. This type of
attachment method eliminates the need
to use seatbelts to attach the child
restraint. However, you can still use the
seatbelt to attach the child restraint. For
forward-facing child restraints, you must
also attach the top tether strap to the
proper top tether anchor if one came with
your child restraint.

E322471

Your vehicle has LATCH lower anchors for
child restraint installation at the seating
positions marked with the child restraint
symbol.

E144054

The LATCH anchors are at the rear section
of the rear seat between the cushion and
seat backrest below the symbols as
shown. Follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions to properly
install a child restraint with LATCH
attachments.

Follow the instructions on attaching child
restraints with tether straps. See

Using

Tether Straps

later in this chapter.

Attach LATCH lower attachments of the
child restraint only to the anchors shown.

Child Safety

Use of Inboard Lower Anchors from the
Outermost Seating Positions (Center
Seating Use)

WARNING:

The standardized

spacing for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in
(280 mm) center to center. Do not use
LATCH lower anchors for the center
seating position unless the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions permit and
specify using anchors spaced at least as
far apart as those in this vehicle.

The lower anchors at the center of the
second row bench seat are spaced 20.5 in
(52 cm) apart. The standardized spacing
for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in (28 cm)
center to center. You cannot install a child
restraint with rigid LATCH attachments at
the center seating position. You can only
use LATCH compatible child restraints with
attachments on belt webbing at this
seating position provided that the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions
permit use with the anchor spacing stated.
Do not attach a child restraint to any lower
anchor if an adjacent child restraint is
attached to that anchor.

Each time you use the child restraint, check
that you properly attach the seat to the
lower anchors and tether anchor, if
applicable. Tug the child restraint from side
to side and forward and back where you
secured it to your vehicle. The seat should
move less than 1 in (2.5 cm) when you do
this for a proper installation.

If the child restraint is not anchored
properly, the risk of injury to a child greatly
increases in a crash.

Combining Seatbelt and LATCH Lower
Anchors for Attaching Child Restraints

When used in combination, you can attach
either the seatbelt or the LATCH lower
anchors first, provided a proper installation
is achieved. Attach the tether strap
afterward, if included with the child
restraint.

Using Tether Straps

E141128

Many forward-facing child
restraints include a tether strap
which extends from the back of

the child restraint and hooks to an
anchoring point called the top tether
anchor. Tether straps are available as an
accessory for many older child restraints.

Contact the manufacturer of your child
restraint for information about ordering a
tether strap, or to obtain a longer tether
strap if the tether strap on your child
restraint does not reach the appropriate
top tether anchor in your vehicle.

Once you install the child restraint using
either the seatbelt, the lower anchors of
the LATCH system, or both, you can attach
the top tether strap.

Child Safety

The tether strap anchors in your vehicle
are in the following positions (shown from
top view).

E322281

Note:

If you install a child restraint with rigid

LATCH attachments, do not tighten the
tether strap enough to lift the child restraint
off your vehicle seat cushion when the child
is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug
without lifting the front of the child restraint.
Keeping the child restraint just touching your
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a
severe crash.

E251593

Perform the following steps to install a
child restraint with tether anchors.

Route the child restraint tether strap
over the seat backrest.

Child Safety

E190833

2. Locate the correct anchor for the

selected seating position.

3. Clip the tether strap to the anchor as

shown. The tether hook may be
twisted ½ turn to improve installation.
If the tether strap is clipped incorrectly,
the child restraint may not be retained
properly in the event of a crash.

4. Tighten the child restraint tether strap

according to the manufacturer's
instructions.

If the child restraint is not properly
anchored, the risk of injury to a child greatly
increases in a crash.

If your child restraint system has a tether
strap, and the child restraint manufacturer
recommends its use, we also recommend
its use.

BOOSTER SEATS

WARNING:

Do not put the shoulder

section of the seatbelt or allow the child
to put the shoulder section of the
seatbelt under their arm or behind their
back. Failure to follow this instruction
could reduce the effectiveness of the
seatbelt and increase the risk of injury or
death in a crash.

Use a belt-positioning booster seat for
children who have outgrown or no longer
properly fit in a child safety restraint
(generally children who are less than 57 in
(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age 4 and
less than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)
and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb
(45 kg) if recommended by your child
restraint manufacturer). Many state and
provincial laws require that children use
approved booster seats until they reach
age eight, a height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or
80 lb (36 kg).

Booster seats should be used until you can
answer YES to ALL of these questions
when seated without a booster seat:

E142595

•

Can the child sit all the way back
against their vehicle seat backrest with
knees bent comfortably at the edge of
the seat cushion?

•

Can the child sit without slouching?

•

Does the lap belt rest low across the
hips?

•

Is the shoulder belt centered on the
shoulder and chest?

•

Can the child stay seated like this for
the whole trip?

Always use booster seats in conjunction
with your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.

Child Safety

Types of Booster Seats

E68924

•

Backless booster seats

If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the shield. If a
vehicle seating position has a low seat
backrest or no head restraint, a backless
booster seat may place your child's head
(as measured at the tops of the ears)
above the top of the seat. In this case,
move the backless booster to another
seating position with a higher seat backrest
or head restraint and lap and shoulder
belts, or consider using a high back booster
seat.

E70710

•

High back booster seats

If, with a backless booster seat, you cannot
find a seating position that adequately
supports your child's head, a high back
booster seat would be a better choice.

Children and booster seats vary in size and
shape. Choose a booster that keeps the
lap belt low and snug across the hips,
never up across the stomach, and lets you
adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest
and rest snugly near the center of the
shoulder. The following drawings compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt
uncomfortably close to the neck and a
shoulder belt that could slip off the
shoulder. The drawings also show how the
lap belt should be low and snug across the
child's hips.

E142596

Child Safety

E142597

If the booster seat slides on the vehicle
seat upon which it is being used, placing a
rubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpet
liner under the booster seat may improve
this condition. Do not introduce any item
thicker than this under the booster seat.
Check with the booster seat
manufacturer's instructions.

CHILD RESTRAINT
POSITIONING

WARNING:

Do not place a

rearward facing child restraint in front of
an active airbag. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.

WARNING:

Properly secure

WARNING:

Always carefully follow

the instructions and warnings provided
by the manufacturer of any child
restraint to determine if the restraint
device is appropriate for your child's size,
height, weight, or age. Follow the child
restraint manufacturer's instructions and
warnings provided for installation and
use in conjunction with the instructions
and warnings provided by your vehicle
manufacturer. A safety seat that is
improperly installed or utilized, is
inappropriate for your child's height, age,
or weight or does not properly fit the
child may increase the risk of serious
injury or death.

WARNING:

Do not allow a

passenger to hold a child on their lap
when your vehicle is moving. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death in the event of a
sudden stop or crash.

WARNING:

Do not use pillows,

books or towels to boost your child's
height. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death.

Child Safety

WARNING:

Properly secure child

restraints or booster seats when they are
not in use. They could become projectiles
in a sudden stop or crash. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death.

WARNING:

Do not put the shoulder

WARNING:

Do not leave children

or pets unattended in your vehicle.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death.

Recommendations for Attaching Child Safety Restraints for Children

Use Any Attachment Method as Indicated Below by X

Combined

Weight of

Child and

Child

Restraint

Type

Seatbelt

Only

Seatbelt

and LATCH

(Lower

Anchors

and Top

Tether

Anchor)

Seatbelt

and Top

Tether

Anchor

LATCH

(Lower

Anchors

Only)

LATCH

(Lower

Anchors

and Top

Tether

Anchor)

Up to 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Rear facing

child

restraint

Over 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Rear facing

child

restraint

Up to 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Forward

facing

child

restraint

Over 65 lb

(29.5 kg)

Forward

facing

child

restraint

Child Safety

Note:

The child restraint must rest tightly

against the vehicle seat upon which it is
installed. It may be necessary to lift or
remove the head restraint. See

Seats

(page

107).

CHILD SAFETY LOCKS

WARNING:

You cannot open the

rear doors from inside if you have put the
child safety locks on.

E300933

A child safety lock is on the rear edge of
each rear door. You must set the child
safety lock separately on each door.

Left-Hand Side

Turn the key clockwise to switch the child
lock on and counter clockwise to switch it
off.

Right-Hand Side

Turn the key counter clockwise to switch
the child lock on and clockwise to switch
it off.

Note:

To make sure the child safety lock is

on, pull the inside door handle twice to verify
the door does not open.

Note:

To open the rear doors from inside

the vehicle when the child lock is engaged,
roll down the rear window and use the
outside door handle. Or have someone
outside the vehicle open the door.

Child Safety

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

WARNING:

Always drive and ride

with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.

WARNING:

Children must always

be properly restrained.

WARNING:

Do not allow a

passenger to hold a child on their lap
when your vehicle is moving. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death in the event of a
sudden stop or crash.

WARNING:

All occupants of your

vehicle, including the driver, should
always properly wear their seatbelts,
even when an airbag supplemental
restraint system is provided. Failure to
properly wear your seatbelt could
seriously increase the risk of injury or
death.

WARNING:

It is extremely

dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a crash, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow
people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and
seatbelts. Make sure everyone in your
vehicle is in a seat and properly using a
seatbelt. Failure to follow this warning
could result in serious personal injury or
death.

WARNING:

In a rollover crash, an

unbelted person is significantly more
likely to die than a person wearing a
seatbelt.

WARNING:

Each seating position

in your vehicle has a specific seatbelt
assembly made up of one buckle and
one tongue designed to be used as a pair.
Use the shoulder belt on the outside
shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder
belt under the arm. Never use a single
seatbelt for more than one person.

WARNING:

Even with advanced

restraints systems, properly restrain
children 12 and under in a rear seating
position. Failure to follow this could
seriously increase the risk of injury or
death.

WARNING:

Seatbelts and seats

may be hot in a vehicle that is in the
sunshine. The hot seatbelts or seats may
burn a small child. Check seat covers and
buckles before you place a child
anywhere near them.

All seating positions in your vehicle have
lap and shoulder seatbelts. All occupants
of the vehicle should always properly wear
their seatbelts, even when an airbag
supplemental restraint system is provided.

The seatbelt system consists of:
•

Lap and shoulder seatbelts.

•

Shoulder seatbelt with automatic
locking mode, (except driver seatbelt).

•

Height adjuster at the front outermost
seating positions.

•

Seatbelt pretensioners at the front
outermost and second row outermost
seating positions.

•

Belt tension sensor at the front
outermost passenger seating position.

E71880

•

Seatbelt warning light and chime.

Seatbelts

E67017

•

Crash sensors and monitoring system
with readiness indicator.

The seatbelt pretensioners are designed
to tighten the seatbelts when activated. In
frontal and near-frontal crashes, the
seatbelt pretensioners may be activated
alone or, if the crash is of sufficient severity,
together with the front airbags. The
pretensioners may also activate when a
Safety Canopy airbag deploys.

FASTENING THE SEATBELTS

The front outboard and rear safety
restraints in the vehicle are combination
lap and shoulder belts.

E142587

Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle (the buckle closest to the
direction the tongue is coming from)
until you hear a snap and feel it latch.
Make sure that you securely fasten the
tongue in the buckle.

E142588

2. To unfasten, press the release button

and remove the tongue from the
buckle.

Using Seatbelts During Pregnancy

WARNING:

Always ride and drive

with your seatback upright and properly
fasten your seatbelt. Fit the lap portion
of the seatbelt snugly and low across
the hips. Position the shoulder portion of
the seatbelt across your chest. Pregnant
women must follow this practice. See
the following figure.

E142590

Seatbelts

Pregnant women should always wear their
seatbelt. Position the lap belt portion of a
combination lap and shoulder belt low
across the hips below the belly and worn
as tight as comfort allows. Position the
shoulder belt to cross the middle of the
shoulder and the center of the chest.

Seatbelt Locking Modes

WARNING:

If your vehicle is

involved in a crash, have the seatbelts
and associated components inspected
as soon as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.

All safety restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder belts. The
driver seatbelt has the first type of locking
mode, and the front outboard passenger
and rear seat seatbelts have both types of
locking modes described as follows:

Vehicle Sensitive Mode

This is the normal retractor mode, which
allows free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and
locking in response to vehicle movement.
For example, if the driver brakes suddenly
or turns a corner sharply, or the vehicle
receives an impact of about 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the combination
seatbelts lock to help reduce forward
movement of the driver and passengers.

In addition, the design of the retractor is to
lock if you pull the webbing out too quickly.
If the seatbelt retractor locks, slowly lower
the height adjuster to allow the seatbelt
to retract. If the retractor does not unlock,
pull the seatbelt out slowly then feed a

small length of webbing back toward the
stowed position. For rear seatbelts, recline
the rear seat backrest or push the seat
backrest cushion away from the seatbelt.
Feed a small length of webbing back
toward the stowed position.

Automatic Locking Mode

In this mode, the shoulder belt
automatically pre-locks. The belt retracts
to remove any slack in the shoulder belt.
The automatic locking mode is not
available on the driver seatbelt.

When to Use the Automatic Locking
Mode

Use this mode any time you install a child
safety seat, except a booster, in passenger
front or rear seating positions. Properly
restrain children 12 years old and under in
a rear seating position whenever possible.
See

Child Safety

(page 20).

How to Use the Automatic Locking
Mode

E142591

Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.

2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull

downward until you pull the entire belt
out. Allow the belt to retract. As the
belt retracts, you will hear a clicking
sound. This indicates the seatbelt is
now in the automatic locking mode.

Seatbelts

How to Disengage the Automatic
Locking Mode

Unbuckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic
locking mode and turn on the vehicle
sensitive (emergency) locking mode.

SEATBELT HEIGHT
ADJUSTMENT

WARNING:

Position the seatbelt

height adjuster so that the seatbelt rests
across the middle of your shoulder.
Failure to adjust the seatbelt correctly
could reduce its effectiveness and
increase the risk of injury in a crash.

E201573

Adjust the height of the shoulder belt
so the belt rests across the middle of
your shoulder.

2. Slide the adjuster up to raise the belt.

Press the button and slide it down to
lower the belt.

SEATBELT WARNING LAMP
AND INDICATOR CHIME

E71880

This lamp illuminates and an
indicator chime will sound if the
driver seatbelt has not been

fastened when the vehicle's ignition is
turned on.

Conditions of operation

Then

The seatbelt warning lamp illuminates and

the indicator chime sounds for a few

seconds.

The driver seatbelt is not buckled before

the ignition switch is turned to the on posi-

tion...

The seatbelt warning lamp and indicator

chime turn off.

The driver seatbelt is buckled while the

warning lamp is illuminated and the indic-

ator chime is sounding...

The seatbelt warning lamp and indicator

chime remain off.

The driver seatbelt is buckled before the

ignition switch is turned to the on position...

Seatbelts

SEATBELT REMINDER

WARNING:

The system will only

provide protection when you use the
seatbelt correctly.

This system monitors all seating positions
and provides audio and graphic feedback.

E71880

This lamp illuminates and a
warning tone sounds if you do
not fasten your seatbelt when

you switch the ignition on. The lamp and
tone turn off when you fasten your seatbelt
or about one minute has elapsed.

When the initial warning expires for the
driver, more warnings are provided for the
driver and front passenger. This lamp
illuminates and a warning tone sounds if
you or your front passenger do not fasten
the seatbelt buckle and the vehicle speed
exceeds 6 mph (9.7 km/h). To deactivate
the warning, see Deactivating and
Activating the Belt-Minder Feature.

Note:

To avoid inadvertent warnings, do

not place large objects on the seat.

E206718

This lamp illuminates when you
switch the ignition on, identifying
the number of seating positions

with fastened buckles. It illuminates again
when a seating position changes from
unfastened to fastened.

E331448

This warning displays and a tone sounds
if an occupant unfastens the rear seatbelt
buckle or it becomes unfastened.

Note:

If a rear seat is unoccupied, or an

occupant never fastens the seatbelt buckle
to begin with, the warning will not display.

Note:

Front seating positions appear in this

warning display. Warnings for unfastened
front seatbelt buckles appear in the initial
warning lamp.

Seatbelt Status

E281361

E274703

Seatbelt fastened.

Seatbelt not fastened.

Seatbelt recently unfastened.

Fault.

To view the seatbelt status, use the
information display controls on the
steering wheel.

Seatbelts

Deactivating and Activating the
Seatbelt Reminder (Front Seats Only)

WARNING:

While the system

allows you to deactivate it, this system
is designed to improve your chances of
being safely belted and surviving an
accident. We recommend you leave the
system activated for yourself and others
who may use the vehicle.

Note:

The driver and front passenger

warnings switch on and off independently.
When you perform this procedure for one
seating position, do not buckle the other
position as this terminates the process.

Read Steps 1 - 4 before starting the
procedure.

Make sure that:
•

You set the parking brake.

•

The transmission is in park (P).

•

The ignition is off.

•

You close all vehicle doors.

•

You unbuckle the driver and front
passenger seatbelts.

Switch the ignition on. Do not start the
engine.

2. Wait until the seatbelt warning lamp

turns off (about one minute). After
Step 2, wait an additional five seconds
before proceeding with Step 3. Once
you start Step 3, you must complete
the procedure within 60 seconds.

3. For the seating position you are

switching off, buckle then unbuckle the
seatbelt three times at a moderate
speed, ending in the unbuckled state.
After Step 3, the seatbelt warning lamp
turns on.

4. When the seatbelt warning lamp is on,

buckle then unbuckle the seatbelt.
After Step 4, the seatbelt warning lamp
flashes for confirmation.

•

This switches the feature off if it is
currently on.

•

This switches the feature on if it is
currently off.

CHILD RESTRAINT AND
SEATBELT MAINTENANCE

Inspect the vehicle seatbelts and child
safety seat systems periodically to make
sure they work properly and are not
damaged. Inspect the vehicle and child
restraint seatbelts to make sure there are
no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if
necessary. All vehicle seatbelt assemblies,
including retractors, buckles, front seatbelt
buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped),
shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seat
backrest (if equipped), child safety seat
LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after a
crash. Read the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions for additional
inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint.

We recommend that all seatbelt
assemblies in use in vehicles involved in a
crash be replaced. However, if the crash
was minor and an authorized dealer finds
that the belts do not show damage and
continue to operate properly, they do not
need to be replaced. Seatbelt assemblies
not in use during a crash should also be
inspected and replaced if either damage
or improper operation is noted.

Properly care for seatbelts. See

Vehicle

Care

(page 238).

Seatbelts

SEATBELT EXTENSIONS

WARNING:

Persons who fit into

the vehicle's seatbelt should not use an
extension. Unnecessary use could result
in serious personal injury in the event of
a crash.

WARNING:

Only use extensions

provided free of charge by our dealers.
The dealer will provide an extension
designed specifically for this vehicle,
model year and seating position. The use
of an extension intended for another
vehicle, model year or seating position
may not offer you the full protection of
your vehicle's seatbelt restraint system.

WARNING:

Never use seatbelt

extensions to install child restraints.

WARNING:

Do not use extensions

to change the way the seatbelt fits
across the torso, over the lap or to make
the seatbelt buckle easier to reach.

If, because of body size or driving position,
it is not possible to properly fasten the
seatbelt over your lap and shoulder, an
extension that is compatible with the
seatbelts is available free of charge from
our dealers. Only use our seatbelt
extensions made by the original equipment
seatbelt manufacturer with our seatbelts.
Ask your authorized dealer if your extension
is compatible with your vehicle restraint
system.

Seatbelts

This system provides an improved overall
level of frontal crash protection to front
seat occupants and is designed to help
further reduce the risk of airbag-related
injuries. The system analyzes different
occupant conditions and crash severity
before activating the appropriate safety
devices to help better protect occupants
in a variety of frontal crash situations.

Your vehicle's Personal Safety System
consists of:
•

Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag
supplemental restraints.

•

Front seat outermost seatbelts with
pretensioners, energy management
retractors and seatbelt usage sensors.

•

Front passenger sensing system.

•

Passenger airbag off and on indicators.

•

Front crash severity sensors.

•

Restraints control module with impact
and safing sensors.

•

Restraint system warning light and
tone.

•

The electrical wiring for the airbags,
crash sensors, seatbelt pretensioners,
front seatbelt usage sensors, front
passenger sensing system and
indicator lights.

How Does the Personal Safety
System Work?

The Personal Safety System can adapt the
deployment strategy of the safety devices
according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and
occupant sensors provides information to
the restraints control module. During a
crash, the restraints control module may
deploy the seatbelt pretensioners, one or
both stages of the dual-stage airbags
based on crash severity and occupant
conditions.

Personal Safety System™

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

WARNING:

Airbags do not inflate

slowly or gently, and the risk of injury
from a deploying airbag is the greatest
close to the trim covering the airbag
module.

WARNING:

All occupants of your

WARNING:

Even with advanced

restraints systems, properly restrain
children 12 and under in a rear seating
position. Failure to follow this could
seriously increase the risk of injury or
death.

WARNING:

Do not place your arms

on the airbag cover or through the
steering wheel. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury.

WARNING:

Keep the areas in front

of the airbags free from obstruction. Do
not affix anything to or over the airbag
covers. Objects could become projectiles
during airbag deployment or in a sudden
stop. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death.

WARNING:

Airbags can kill or injure

a child in a child restraint. Never place a
rear-facing child restraint in front of an
active airbag. If you must use a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
seat, move the seat upon which the child
restraint is installed all the way back.

WARNING:

Do not attempt to

service, repair, or modify the
supplementary restraint system or
associated components. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death.

WARNING:

Several airbag system

components get hot after inflation. To
reduce the risk of injury, do not touch
them after inflation.

WARNING:

If a supplementary

restraint system component has
deployed, it will not function again. Have
the system and associated components
inspected as soon as possible. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death.

The airbags are a supplemental restraint
system and are designed to work with the
seatbelts to help protect the driver and
right front passenger from certain upper
body injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;
there is a risk of injury from a deploying
airbag.

Note:

You will hear a loud bang and see a

cloud of harmless powdery residue if an
airbag deploys. This is normal.

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
(to lubricate the bag) or sodium
compounds (for example, baking soda)
that result from the combustion process
that inflates the airbag. Small amounts of
sodium hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but none of
the residue is toxic.

Supplementary Restraints System

Ford Explorer (2024 year). Manual in english - page 1