Ford 2006 Escape Hybrid Owner's Manual page 145

Front passenger sensing system
The front passenger sensing system will turn off the front passenger's
frontal airbag under certain conditions. The front passenger
seat-mounted side airbag (if equipped) will be deactivated if the sensor
detects an empty seat; otherwise, the seat-mounted side airbag will be
enabled. The front passenger sensing system works with sensors that are
part of the front passenger's seat and safety belt. The sensors are
designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and
determine if the front passenger's frontal airbag should be enabled (may
inflate) or not.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to meet the regulatory
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208
and is designed to turn off the front passenger's frontal airbag if:
• the front passenger seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in
the front seat,
• the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant
seat that is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions,
• the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing
child restraint that is installed according to the manufacturer's
instructions,
• the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
• a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of
time,
• A smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints,
or a small adult occupies the front passenger seat.
Even with the front passenger sensing system, children 12 and
under should be properly restrained in the back seat.
When the front passenger seat is
occupied and the sensing system
has turned off the passenger's
frontal airbag, the passenger airbag
off or pass airbag off indicator will
light and stay lit to remind you that
the front passenger frontal airbag is
off. When the front passenger seat is
not occupied (empty seat) or in the event that the front passenger
frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate), the indicator light will be unlit.
Seating and Safety Restraints
145