Hill Descent Control

About Hill Descent Control

~1min read

Hill Descent Control allows the driver to set and maintain vehicle speed while descending steep grades in various surface conditions.

The system can maintain vehicle speed on downhill grades in the range of 3-20 mph (5-32 km/h km/h). Above 32 km/h, the system stays on but the descent speed cannot be set or maintained. The system requires a cooling period after sustained use. The time the system can remain active before cooling varies depending on conditions. The system displays a warning in the message center and a chime sounds when the system is about to turn off to cool down. During this time, manually apply the brakes if necessary to maintain descent speed.

Turning Hill Descent Control On and Off

Press the button on the center console. When the system is active, the indicator light on the control panel illuminates and a chime sounds.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.