Ford Taurus Owner's Manual page 247

Driving
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See the Switching off AdvanceTrac
section below.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle's directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. Electronic stability control operates
by applying brakes to one or more of the wheels individually and, if
necessary, reducing engine power if the system detects that the vehicle
is about to skid or slide laterally.
During ESC events the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
• Taking a turn too fast
• Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
• Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
• Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
• Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice versa
• Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
• Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer to Trailer
towing in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter).
Switching off AdvanceTrac
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac system may be
beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This will restore full
engine power and will enhance momentum through the obstacle.
To switch off the AdvanceTrac system, press the stability control
switch. Full features of the AdvanceTrac system can be restored by
pressing the stability control switch again, or by turning off and
restarting the engine.
When the AdvanceTrac system is
off, the stability control off light will
illuminate steadily. Pressing the
AdvanceTrac control switch again
OFF
will turn off the stability control light.
In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction
control features will continue to function; however, ESC is disabled.
247
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 2nd Printing
USA (fus)