Expert: Douglas Gan - 2/9/2012

Question
Hi please can you let me know if there is a way of disabling the passenger side airbag on our V Reg Ford Fcous Zetac Estate?
or, failng that, is it possible to move the seat far enough back so our small 9-year old son will be outside the deployment zone?


Thanks a lot

Jennie Appleyard

Answer
Hi Jennie:

You do not say what year the vehicle is, but it may not matter.  Beginning in about 2008, Ford uses a seat sensor system to switch the airbag on or off and change the deployment of the passenger airbag if it is someone small.  If your vehicle is earlier than that, it does not have that system.
There are aftermarket switch kits available to interrupt the passenger airbag, but a technician would have to install it.  You should be able to find them on the web (look for 'airbag on-off switch kit')
Short of that, the US government suggests that smaller children (under 60 lbs) be seated in the back.  
I hope that helps
Goug