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.
SOS POST-CRASH ALERT SYSTEM™
The system flashes the turn signal lamps and sounds the horn
(intermittently) in the event of a serious impact that deploys an airbag
equipped on your vehicle, such as front, side, side curtain or Safety
Canopy®.
The horn and lamps will turn off when:
•
the hazard control button is pressed
•
the panic button (if equipped) is pressed on the remote entry
transmitter, or
•
your vehicle runs out of power.
50
Supplementary Restraints System
2013 Explorer
(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 4th Printing, November 2012
USA
(fus)
