Safety Belt System - 2nd Row: Overview

Safety Belt System - 2nd Row

Overview

WARNING: After a crash, all of the following second and third row safety belt components and attaching hardware must be inspected and tested to verify correct function:
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- ALR (Automatic Locking Retractor) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
- Inflatable safety belt systems

Components that do not operate correctly or pass all Functional Tests in the Component Tests must be replaced with new components.

Safety belt assembly attaching areas must be inspected. Damaged or distorted attaching areas must be restored to their original structural integrity and a new safety belt assembly with new attaching hardware must be installed.

Deployed inflatable safety belts must be replaced with new inflatable components (including retractors, buckles and inflators) and all parts in the service kit.

Failure to install new safety belt systems and attaching hardware increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.


On vehicles without inflatable safety belts, all of the second row belts are continuous-loop, 3-point systems. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common slip tongue and retractor.

The center safety belt is also a continuous-loop, 3-point system on all vehicles, with or without the inflatable safety belt system. The combination lap and shoulder belt (continuous-loop) uses a common slip tongue and retractor.

On vehicles with inflatable safety belts, each outboard seating position has a 3-point system which consists of a lap belt and retractor, and a shoulder belt and retractor. The two are joined together at the buckle tongue and can be separated for service. The buckle tongue is unique to the inflatable safety belt system and is part of the inflatable shoulder belt and retractor.

When replacing safety belt buckles and/or retractor assemblies, use only the replacement parts specified in the Ford Catalog Advantage or equivalent.