All-Wheel Drive

All-Wheel Drive uses all four wheels to propel the vehicle. This increases traction and allows you to drive in terrain and road conditions where a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. The All-Wheel Drive system engages as needed and requires no input from you.

Do not use a spare tire of a different size than the provided tire. If the temporary spare tire is installed, the All-Wheel Drive system may shut down automatically and enter front-wheel drive only mode to protect the driveline components. This condition will be indicated by a warning message in the information display. If a warning message is displayed in the information display due to use of the spare tire, this indicator should turn off after the repaired or replaced regular road tire is reinstalled and the ignition is turned off and back on. It is recommended that the repaired or replacement road tire be reinstalled as soon as possible. Significant differences in tire size between the front and rear axles may cause the All-Wheel Drive system to stop functioning and default to front-wheel drive, or may damage the All-Wheel Drive system.

Driving in Special Conditions with All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

All-Wheel Drive vehicles are designed for driving on sand, snow, mud, and uneven roads, and have handling characteristics that differ somewhat from conventional vehicles both on and off the road.

Under severe operating conditions, the air conditioning may cycle on and off to protect the engine from overheating.

Basic Rules for Driving in Special Conditions

• Reduce speed in strong crosswinds, which may affect the normal steering characteristics of your vehicle.
• Use extreme caution when driving on road surfaces made slippery by loose sand, water, gravel, snow, or ice.

If your vehicle has run off the edge of the pavement

• If your vehicle leaves the edge of the paved road surface, reduce speed, but avoid heavy braking. Return to the paved surface only after reducing speed. Do not turn the steering wheel sharply when returning to the road surface.
• It may be safer to remain on the shoulder or roadside and decelerate gradually before returning to the road. You may lose control if you do not reduce speed or if you turn the steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It may often be less risky to strike small objects, such as road reflectors, causing minor vehicle damage, than to attempt a sudden return to the road surface, which may cause the vehicle to become uncontrollable, slide sideways, or roll over. Remember, your safety and the safety of others must be your primary concern.

If Your Vehicle Is Stuck

If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud or snow, you can rock it by shifting between Forward and Reverse, pausing between shifts, in a steady manner. Apply light pressure to the accelerator pedal in each gear.

If your vehicle is equipped with AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, it may be helpful to turn off AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ while attempting to rock the vehicle.

Emergency Maneuvers

• In an unexpected emergency where a sudden sharp turn must be made, remember to avoid "over-steering" your vehicle (i.e., turn the steering wheel only as quickly and as far as necessary to avoid the emergency). Excessive steering will result in less control of the vehicle, not more. In addition, smooth variations of accelerator and/or brake pedal pressure should be used if a change in vehicle speed is required. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration, or braking, which may increase the risk of losing control of the vehicle, vehicle rollover, and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop, avoid tire skidding and do not attempt any sudden steering inputs.
• If the vehicle transitions from one type of surface to another (e.g., from concrete to gravel), there will be a change in how the vehicle responds to maneuvers (steering, acceleration, or braking). Again, avoid these abrupt inputs.

Sand

When driving on sand, try to keep all four wheels on the firmest part of the track. Avoid lowering tire pressure, but shift to a lower gear and drive smoothly through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly and avoid wheel spin.

Do not drive a four-wheel drive vehicle into deep sand. This will cause the four-wheel drive system to overheat. After the system has cooled down, normal four-wheel drive operation will return.

Under severe operating conditions, the air conditioning may cycle on and off to protect the engine from overheating.

Avoid excessive speed, as the vehicle momentum may work against you and cause the vehicle to become stuck at a time when assistance from another vehicle may be required. Remember, you may be able to back out the way you came if you proceed with caution.

Mud and Water

If you must drive through flood water, drive slowly. Traction or braking performance may be limited.

When driving through water, determine the depth; avoid water above the bottom of the wheel hubs (for passenger vehicles) or the bottom of the axle hubs (for trucks) whenever possible and proceed slowly. If the ignition system gets wet, the engine may stall.

After driving through water, always test the brakes. Wet brakes will not stop the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by driving slowly and applying light pressure to the brake pedal.

Be careful of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when driving in mud. Even four-wheel drive vehicles can lose traction on slippery mud. As when driving on sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid wheel spin. If the vehicle slides, steer in the direction of the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.

After driving through mud, clean off any residue that sticks to the rotating driveshafts and tires. Excess mud buildup on the tires and rotating driveshafts causes imbalance, which can damage driveline components.

If the front or rear axle has been submerged in water, have the power transfer unit (PTU) or rear axle serviced by an authorized dealer.

"Leave No Trace" is an educational program designed to raise public awareness of land use rules and responsibilities in the wilderness of our nation. Ford Motor Company joins the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forests and other public and private lands by "treading lightly."

Driving on Hills or Inclined Terrain

Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to drive diagonally up or down a hill or steep slope, you should always try to drive straight up or straight down.

When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a low gear rather than shifting down from a higher gear once the climb has begun. This reduces engine load and the possibility of stalling.

If you become stuck, do not attempt to turn around because you may roll over. It is better to return to a safe location.

Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of vehicle control.

Descend the hill in the same gear you used to climb it to avoid excessive braking and brake overheating. Do not coast in neutral; instead, disengage overdrive or manually shift to a lower gear. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden braking as much as possible to prevent loss of control. The front wheels must be turned to steer the vehicle.

Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system, so apply the brake pedal smoothly. Do not "pump" the brakes.

Driving on Snow and Ice

Four-wheel drive vehicles have an advantage over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice, but they can skid like any other vehicle.

If you begin to skid while driving on snow-covered or icy roads, steer in the direction of the skid until you regain control.

Avoid sudden applications of power and rapid changes of direction on snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting from a complete stop.

Also avoid sudden braking. Although a four-wheel drive vehicle may accelerate better than a two-wheel drive vehicle on snow and ice, it will not stop any faster because braking occurs on all four wheels, as with other vehicles. Do not be overconfident about road conditions.

Make sure you leave enough distance between your vehicle and other vehicles to stop. Drive slower than normal and consider using one of the lower gears. In an emergency stop, apply the brakes steadily. Because your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes.

Maintenance and Modifications

The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle were designed and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or unloaded and to carry rated load capacity. For this reason, Ford Motor Company strongly recommends that you do not make modifications, such as adding or removing parts (for example, lowering kits or stabilizer bars), or using replacement parts that are not equivalent to original factory equipment.

Any modifications to the vehicle that raise its center of gravity may make it more likely that the vehicle will roll over as a result of loss of control. Ford Motor Company recommends exercising caution when carrying any heavy load or device (such as a ladder or roof rack) on the vehicle.

Failure to follow proper vehicle care procedures may void the warranty, increase repair costs, reduce vehicle performance and capability, and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of the chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is operated off-road.