2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Safety Features

By: Kara Gilmour
Staff Writer
Published: Aug 5, 2009

Safety Features For 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Vehicle

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid has many impressive safety features that come standard. The Fusion comes standard with seven airbags, dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side airbags, driver's knee airbag, 1st- and 2nd-row side air curtains. This is one more airbag than any other Ford vehicle. Now that is full body coverage. However, don't forget that airbags are designed to be used in conjunction with safety belts. Using a seatbelt will reduce the chances of an occupant sliding too close to a deploying airbag.

The next Ford safety feature is the inside trunk safety release. I know you are probably thinking I would never use that. Do you know how many movies I've seen where people really could have used this feature? Should it happen that someone gets locked inside the trunk, with just a pull on this cord it will unlock the trunk?

Electronic Stability Control

One of my favorite features is the Ford Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The ESC is a computerized technology that improves the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When this system detects loss of steering control, ESC automatically applies the brakes to help to steer the Fusion where the driver means to go. Braking is automatically applied to individual wheels, such as the outer front wheel to counter over-steer, or the inner rear wheel to counter under-steer.

Remember the Electronic Stability Control does not improve a vehicle's cornering performance. It does, however, help to minimize a loss of control. About 10,300 lives would be saved and up to 252,000 injuries would be prevented if all US light vehicles were equipped with this system. The Electronic Stability Control system was introduced in 1995. The first vehicle to ever have this system was the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class model.

Child Safety

For all parents out there, this is most likely one of the more important features you might be looking for. This feature is the LATCH (lower anchor and tethers for children) system. LATCH is designed to make proper installation of child safety seats easier. This system has two permanent anchors at the base of vehicle's rear seats and a top anchor behind each seating position in all vehicles.

These anchors are specifically designed for car seat tethers and hooks. This 2010 Fusion feature is standard in all cars that were manufactured after September 1, 2002. It eliminates the need for the use of passenger seatbelts to secure the car seat. If you do not have a new car, you may be able to install a tether anchor mounting in your older vehicle. Contact your vehicle manufacturer for a tether anchor kit.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), is being used on more and more new vehicles. A lot of people do not realize how potentially dangerous low tires could be. A tire with low pressure is a blowout waiting to happen under certain conditions such as heat. Most people do not check their tires regularly, this is why Tire Pressure Monitor Systems are becoming more common.

Seatbelt Pretensions

Seatbelt pretensions remove slack from the shoulder belt in the event of a frontal crash, at this point of impact. This intern will prevent the driver/passengers from traveling too far forward prior to being restrained. These seatbelt features in the 2010 Fusion hybrid include pyrotechnic devices that are triggered by Ford safety crash sensors.