Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While coming to a stop and the intersection of longstreet and highway 82. I pressed on the brake peddle and the brakes locked up and I sled through the intersection into a ditch. I was traveling the speed limit of 50 MPH. The passenger air bag deployed but the drivers did not deploy. I have a broken nose from hitting steering wheel. Seat belts were on front seat driver and passenger.
Dt:consumer stated that since t she bought vehicle it had electrical problems. Dealer told consumer had consumer to take vehicle to a special shop, they would try to figure out the problem. Consumer said that within the first three months vehicle had two ignition switches installedt hat consumer did not have to pay for. Vehicle had several other electrical problems. Consumer said that without the key in ignition the windshield wipers /radio came on, and the air bag deployed. Sometimesm the windows would not role back up after being rolled down. Consumer arrived home after driving vehicle all day. Consumer parked and went inside the house. About five minutes later, found out that vehicle was on fire. Firemen stated they could not tell what caused the fire.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While driving 35 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver was transported to the hospital and suffered injuries to his head. A police report was filed. The road conditions were dry. The current and failure mileages were 155,000. The consumer provided pictures of the vehicle. Updated 09/05/07 updated VIN. 09/05/07.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact was traveling 35 MPH and crashed into the rear of a tow truck. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed by the tow truck to the contacts place of residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 199,000.
Air bags failed to deploy after auto left road jumping culverts and landing forcefully in a large ditch at approx 50 MPH. Vehicle suffered extensive damage to left and right sides including front damage. Wreck caused damage to steering column and engine. Vehicle is located at bates custon collision in baytown, texas.
On dec. 08, 2005 the washer fluid like blinked rapidly and loudly from what sounded to be a relay under the dash. The airbag light came on and the speedometer stopped working. The dealer advised me that the truck was attempting to start itself. Dealer rep name is gary wells at bondy's Ford in dothan, al.
Airbags did not deploy and the passenger side seat belts did not prevent the passenger from being propelled forward and hitting the windshield when the brakes were applied and the vehicle struck a wall. The engine sustained extensive damage and the frame was twisted.
When vehicle rearended by another vehicle traveling about 30 MPH there was no deployment of the air bags. Also, the seat belt did not prevent the driver from going forward; head hit steering wheel. The vehicle is being repaired.
While attempting to pull into a parking lot driver stepped on brake and vehicle accelerated out of control, crashing into a bank. Driver's shoulder harness did not work, and air bag failed to deploy, resulting in an injury.
Driver lost control of vehicle, ran off the road into an embankment and driver was ejected out of vehicle. The airbag didn't deploy. Also, transmission shift indicator has a lot of play and is off when selecting a gear.
Airbag complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Ford Expedition, 3% of the model year's 853 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford Expedition airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Ford Expedition, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Expedition airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 125,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 1 fire and 16 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.