Supplementary Restraints System 2018 Ford F-350

Owner’s Manuals 2018 Supplementary Restraints System

Supplementary Restraints System

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.

All occupants of your vehicle, including the driver, should always properly wear their safety belts, even

when an airbag supplemental restraint system is provided. Failure to properly wear your safety belt could seriously increase the risk of injury or death.

Always transport children 12 years old and under in the back seat and always properly use appropriate

child restraints. Failure to follow this could seriously increase the risk of injury or death.

Never place your arm over the airbag module as a deploying airbag can result in serious arm fractures or

other injuries.

Airbags can kill or injure a child in a child seat. Never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag.

If you must use a forward-facing child seat in the front seat, move the seat upon which the child seat is installed all the way back.

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag supplemental restraint systems or its fuses as you

could be seriously injured or killed. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.

Several airbag system components get hot after inflation. To avoid risk of injury, do not touch them after

inflation.

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 crash.

The airbags are a supplemental restraint system and are designed to work with the safety belts 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.

While the system is designed to help reduce serious injuries, contact with a deploying airbag may also cause abrasions or swelling. Temporary hearing loss is also a possibility as a result of the noise associated with a deploying airbag.

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. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly restrained as far away from the airbag module as possible while maintaining vehicle control.

Routine maintenance of the airbags is not required.

Never place your arm over the airbag module as a deploying airbag can result in serious arm fractures or

other injuries.

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 seat is installed all the way back.

Passenger Airbag On and Off Switch (If Equipped)

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.

The front passenger airbag is not designed to offer protection to an occupant in the center seating

position.

Your vehicle may have an airbag deactivation switch. Before driving, always look at the switch to make

sure it is in the appropriate position. Failure to put the switch in the proper position can increase the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.

The driver and front passenger airbags deploy during significant frontal and near frontal crashes.

The driver and passenger front airbag system consists of:

Driver and passenger airbag modules.

Crash sensors and monitoring system with readiness indicator. See Crash Sensors and Airbag

Indicator (page 54).

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The front passenger airbag on and off switch has indicators that illuminate, indicating that the front passenger frontal airbag is either on or off. The indicator lamp is near the center of the instrument panel.

Note: The passenger airbag status indicator OFF and ON lamps illuminate for a short period of time when you switch the ignition on to confirm it is functional.

Switch position	Passenger airbag status indicator	Passenger airbag
Off	OFF: Lit	Disabled
	ON: Unlit
On	OFF: Unlit	Enabled
	ON: Lit

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The front passenger airbag on and off switch has an indicator that illuminates and stays lit to remind you that the front passenger frontal airbag is off. The indicator lamp is near the center of the instrument panel.

Note: The indicator lamp illuminates for a short period of time when you switch the ignition on to confirm it is functional.

WARNINGS

If the light does not illuminate when the passenger airbag switch is off and you switch the ignition on, have

the passenger airbag switch serviced immediately by a qualified technician.

To avoid switching on the airbag, always remove the ignition key with the switch in the off position.

If your vehicle has rear seats, always transport children who are 12 and younger in the rear seat. Always use

seatbelts and child restraints properly. Do not place a child in a rear facing infant seat in the front seat unless your vehicle is equipped with an airbag on and off switch and the passenger airbag is turned off. This is because the back of the infant seat is too close to the inflating airbag and the risk of a fatal injury to the infant when the airbag inflates is substantial.

The passenger airbag on and off switch is in the glovebox.

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Insert the ignition key, turn the switch to OFF and hold in OFF while removing the key.

When you switch the ignition on, the passenger airbag off light illuminates briefly, momentarily shuts off and then turns back on. This indicates that the passenger airbag is deactivated.

The seatbelts for the driver and right front passenger seating positions are specifically designed to operate

together with the airbags in certain types of crashes. When you switch off your airbag, you not only lose the protection of the airbag, you also may reduce the effectiveness of your seatbelt system. If the passenger does not meet the requirements stated in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or Transport Canada deactivation criteria, switching off the airbag can increase the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.

If your vehicle has rear seats, always transport children who are 12 and younger in the rear seat. Always use

If the passenger airbag off light is illuminated when the passenger airbag switch is on and the ignition

is on, have the passenger airbag switch serviced immediately by a qualified technician.

The passenger airbag remains off until you turn it back on.

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Insert the ignition key and turn the switch to ON.

The passenger airbag off light will briefly illuminate when you switch the ignition on. This indicates that the passenger airbag is operational.

The passenger side airbag should always be on (the passenger airbag off light should not be illuminated) unless the passenger is a person who meets the requirements stated either in Category 1, 2 or 3 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or Transport Canada deactivation criteria which follows.

The vast majority of drivers and passengers are much safer with an airbag than without. To do their job and reduce the risk of life threatening injuries, airbags must open with great force, and this force can pose a potentially deadly risk in some situations, particularly when a front seat occupant is not properly buckled up. The most effective way to reduce the risk of unnecessary airbag injuries without reducing the overall safety of the vehicle is to make sure all occupants are properly restrained in the vehicle, especially in the

front seat. This provides the protection of seatbelts and permits the airbags to provide the additional protection they were designed to provide. If you choose to deactivate your airbag, you are losing the very significant risk reducing benefits of the airbag and you are also reducing the effectiveness of the seatbelts, because seatbelts in modern vehicles are designed to work as a safety system with the airbags.

WARNING

This vehicle has special energy management seatbelts for the driver and right front passenger. These

particular seatbelts are specifically designed to work with airbags to help reduce the risk of injury in a crash. The energy management seatbelt gives or releases additional seatbelt webbing in some accidents to reduce the concentration of force on an occupant's chest and to reduce the risk of certain bone fractures and injuries to underlying organs. In a crash, if the airbag is off, this energy management seatbelt might permit the passenger wearing the seatbelt to move forward enough to have a serious or fatal injury. The more severe the crash, and the heavier the occupant, the greater the risk. Make sure the airbag is on for any passenger who does not qualify under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration deactivation criteria.

Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old) must ride in the front seat because:

The vehicle has no rear seat;

The vehicle has a rear seat too small to accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or

The infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant's physician, makes it necessary for the infant to ride in the front so that the driver can constantly monitor the child's condition.

Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 must ride in the front seat because:

The vehicle has no rear seat;

Although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the rear seat(s) whenever possible, children ages 1 to 12 sometimes must ride in the front because no space is available in the rear seat(s) of the vehicle; or

The child has a medical condition which, according to the child's physician, makes it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so that the driver can constantly monitor the child's condition.

Medical condition. A passenger has a medical condition which, according to his or her physician:

Causes the passenger airbag to pose a special risk for the passenger;

Makes the potential harm from the passenger airbag in a crash greater than the potential harm from turning off the airbag and allowing the passenger, even if belted, to hit the dashboard or windshield in a crash.

WARNING

This vehicle has special energy management seatbelts for the driver and right front passenger. These

Infant: An infant (less than 1 year old) must ride in the front seat because:

My vehicle has no rear seat;

The rear seat in my vehicle cannot accommodate a rear-facing infant seat;

The infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant's physician, makes it necessary for the infant to ride in the front seat so that the driver can monitor the infant's condition.

Child age 12 or under: A child age 12 or under must ride in the front seat because:

My vehicle has no rear seat;

Although children age 12 and under ride in the rear seat whenever possible, children age 12 and under have no option but to sometimes ride in the front seat because rear seat space is insufficient;

The child has a medical condition that, according to the child's physician, makes it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so that the driver can monitor the child's condition.

Medical condition: A passenger has a medical condition that, according to his or her physician:

Poses a special risk for the passenger if the airbag deploys; and

Makes the potential harm from the passenger airbag deployment greater than the potential harm from turning off the airbag and experiencing a crash without the protection offered by the airbag

Proper Driver and Front Passenger Seating Adjustment

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends a minimum distance

of at least 10 in (25 cm) between an occupant’s chest and the driver airbag module.

To properly position yourself away from the airbag:

Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably.

Recline the seat slightly (one or two degrees) from the upright position.

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seatbelts, it is very important that they continue to sit properly. Properly seated occupants sit upright, lean against the seat back, and center themselves 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 greatly increases.

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 seat is installed all the way back.

Children must always be properly restrained. Accident statistics suggest that children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating position. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of injury in a crash.

If two adults and a child occupy a Regular Cab, properly restrain the child in the center front unless doing so would interfere with driving your vehicle. This provides lap and shoulder belt protection for all occupants, and airbag protection for the adults. A child or infant properly restrained in the center front seat should not incur risk of serious injury from the airbags.

Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the airbag cover, on the side of the seatbacks

(of the front seats), or in front seat areas that may come into contact with a deploying airbag. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.

Do not use accessory seat covers. The use of accessory seat covers may prevent the deployment of the

side airbags and increase the risk of injury in an accident.

Do not lean your head on the door. The side airbag could injure you as it deploys from the side of the

seatback.

Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the airbag, its fuses or the seat cover on a seat containing an

airbag as you could be seriously injured or killed. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.

If the side airbag has deployed, the airbag will not function again. The side airbag system (including the

seat) must be inspected and serviced by an authorized dealer. If the airbag is not replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a crash.

The side airbags are located on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the front seats. In certain sideways crashes, the airbag on the side affected by the crash will be inflated. The airbag was designed to inflate between the door panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided occupants in side impact crashes.

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The system consists of the following:

A label or embossed side panel indicating that side airbags are found on your vehicle.

Side airbags located inside the seatback of the driver and front passenger seats.

·Crash sensors and monitoring system with readiness indicator. See Crash Sensors and Airbag

Indicator (page 54).

The design and development of the side airbag system included recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of injuries related to the deployment of side airbags.

Do not place objects or mount equipment on or near the headliner at the siderail that may come into

contact with a deploying curtain airbag. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.

Do not lean your head on the door. The curtain airbag could injure you as it deploys from the headliner.

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.

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.

To reduce risk of injury, do not obstruct or place objects in the deployment path of the airbag.

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 Safety Canopy deploys during significant side crashes or when a certain likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor. The Safety Canopy is mounted to the roof side rail sheet metal, behind the headliner, above each row of seats. In certain sideways crashes or rollover events, the Safety Canopy will be

activated, regardless of which seats are occupied. The Safety Canopy is designed to inflate between the side window area and occupants to further enhance protection provided in side impact crashes and rollover events.

The design and development of the Safety Canopy included recommended testing procedures that were developed by a group of automotive safety experts known as the Side Airbag Technical Working Group. These recommended testing procedures help reduce the risk of injuries related to the deployment of side airbags (including the Safety Canopy).

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The system consists of the following:

Safety Canopy curtain airbags above the trim panels over the front and rear side windows identified by a label or wording on the headliner or roof-pillar trim.

A flexible headliner which opens above the side doors to allow air curtain deployment

Crash sensors and monitoring system with a readiness indicator. See Crash Sensors

and Airbag Indicator (page 54).

Properly restrain children 12 years old and under in the rear seats. The Safety Canopy will not interfere with children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the doors along the side window opening.

Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle (including frame, bumper, front end body

structure and tow hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system, increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.

Your vehicle has a collection of crash and occupant sensors which provide information to the restraints control module which deploys (activates) the front safety belt pretensioners, driver airbag, passenger airbag, seat mounted side airbags, and the Safety Canopy®.

Based on the type of crash (frontal impact, side impact or rollover), the restraints control module will deploy 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. See Instrument Cluster (page 105). 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 the ignition is turned on.

The readiness light will either flash or stay lit.

A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat 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 safety belt 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, belt 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 safety belt pretensioners is to activate in frontal, near-frontal and side crashes, and in rollovers.

The design of the side airbags is to inflate in certain side impact crashes. 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.

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

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2018 Ford F-350 Owners Manual - Supplementary Restraints System

Supplementary Restraints System