2005 Ford Five Hundred Owner's Manual - Page 115

Seating and Safety Restraints Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat back reclined too far can take off weight from the seat cushion and affect the decision of the passenger sensing system, resulting in serious injury or death in a crash. Always sit upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor. The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the passenger airbag is disabled, the pass airbag off light may or may not be illuminated according to the table below. Objects Pass Airbag Off Indicator Light Unlit Unlit Passenger Airbag Disabled Disabled Empty seat Small (i.e. 3 ring binder, small purse, bottled water) Lit Medium (i.e. heavy briefcase, fully packed luggage) Empty seat, Small or Lit medium object with safety belt buckled Disabled Disabled In case there is a problem with the passenger sensing system, the airbag readiness light in the instrument cluster will stay lit. DO NOT attempt to repair or service the system; take your vehicle immediately to the dealer. The front passenger airbag is not designed to offer protection to an occupant in the center seating position. An out of position front center occupant could affect the decision of the front passenger sensing system. 115 2005 Five Hundred (500) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA (fus)