Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Safety Belt System: Notes
- Retractors
- Buckles
- Belt tension sensor (BTS) (if equipped)
- Front safety belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar) (if equipped)
- Safety belt shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped)
- Child safety seat tether bracket assemblies
- Automatic locking retractor (ALR) feature for child safety seats (passenger seating positions only)
If any safety belt assembly is damaged, does not operate correctly or does not pass all of the Functional Tests in the Diagnosis and Testing portion of this service information, a new safety belt assembly must be installed. If any safety belt assembly attaching areas are damaged or distorted, the sheet metal must be restored to its original structural integrity and new safety belt assembly and attaching hardware must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt assemblies and attaching hardware may increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
After any crash that results in deployment of the driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt pretensioners, new driver and/or front outboard passenger safety belt systems (including retractors, buckles and height adjusters) must be installed. Failure to install new safety belt systems increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.
When installing any new active occupant restraint components, use only Ford specified service parts.
The active restraint system consists of the following serviceable items:
- Front safety belt shoulder height adjusters
- Front row safety belt buckles attached to the inboard side of the seats
- Front row safety belt retractors and pretensioners located behind the lower B-pillar trim panels
- Rear center safety belt retractor, attached to the parcel shelf sheet metal and LH safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the floor pan under the rear seat cushion
- Rear dual safety belt buckle assembly, attached to the floor pan under the seat cushion
- Child safety seat tether anchors attached to the parcel shelf sheet metal at all 3 rear seating positions
- Lower anchors and tethers for children serviced with the rear seat backrest pivot assemblies
The lower anchors and tethers for children at the inboard side of the LH rear seat position is welded to the floor pan below the rear seat cushion and is not serviceable.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.