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 2000 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving slowly (35mph), regular speed limit on that road is 60. Roads were snowy and icy, another vehicle driving extremely fast for the road conditions, started to swerve head on in to my lane, I swerved to avoid a head on collision. In doing so, I hit ice, started doing a 360, the front end and the drivers side door of my vehicle hit an irrigation ditch where it goes under a street, it caught my vehicle on the drivers side and I started rolling. I rolled 3 or 4 times and finally landed right side up. My roof was caved in and resting on the top of my head, shoulder and neck. However, none of my airbags deployed ( see pictures), even though I hit the irrigation ditch head-on. Vehicle can be inspected if needed. The vehicle is totaled as they had to cut the doors off to extract me. …
Driving at the correct speed limit swerved to avoid hitting deer that ran out into the road hit a covert had seatbelt on airbags came out before that something hit me in side of my right arm it hit my elbow so hard and fast my arm was flung outwards and upwards which broke out the passenger side window the top of my elbow is broken that gave me a large purple bruise I got 2 pretty good size gashes on my arm also one on the bottom of my forearm and on the back side of my arm. Refer to request 1500509 and Request 1500511.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver was traveling 65 MPH and crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and was killed. A witness stated that the driver was ejected from the driver's side door. A police report was filed of the incident. The contact was unaware of the exact cause of the crash but after reviewing several pictures of the crash site, the contact noticed that the air bags failed to deploy. The occupants of the second vehicle were not injured. The contact's vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the air bag failure and the vehicle was not inspected. The failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owned a 2000 Ford Explorer. While driving at an unknown speed in inclement weather, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle causing it to crash into a second vehicle. As a result, the air bags deployed and emitted metal, glass, and fiberglass fragments. The contact sustained shoulder, face, mouth, left arm, and breast injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 09/01/2015 updated 9/20/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the warning indicator for the side air bags was illuminated for an extended period of time. The dealer was notified of the failure and indicated that the side crash sensor would need to be replaced with a revised designed part. The contact was to check with the manufacturer to determine a solution to repair the vehicle or it would not be able to pass inspection. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 00V179000 (air bags). The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. ....updated 08/29/16
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 58 MPH on normal road conditions, the vehicle was involved in a rear side impact collision with another vehicle and both front air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries made mostly by the seatbelt that was worn during this accident. The air bag warning light was not illuminated prior to the incident. The contact took pictures, and no police report was taken. The vehicle was currently at an independent body shop for further examination and repairs. No repairs had currently been made.
While merging onto a ramp at 25-35 MPH consumer allowed a vehicle to pass. Sitting at a stand still at the top of the ramp was another vehicle that consumer's vehicle rear ended. Consumer was wearing seat belts, but none of the air bags deployed. Police did arrive on the scene and no one was cited.
In avoidance of hitting a cow, I rolled my Ford Explorer at least 3 times and none of the airbags deployed, front nor the side curtain airbags. My husband and myself were fortunate to come out with minor injuries. I have contacted Ford motor company and the have not yet offered to settle.
Vehicle was involved in a head on collision while driving at 35 MPH.upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Three persons were injured, and one was transported to the local hospital by ambulance. A private vehicle transported the other two. Dealer was notified.
While driving the airbag light came on and stayed on. I took it to a Ford dealer the same day and was told it was the side airbag problem. The testing code was 1998. They charged me $903.45 to fix it on August 30, 2007. On August 23, 2008 the airbag light started flashing while I was driving. I called the Ford dealer and took it right in. Was told the part they replaced had gone bad and needed to be replaced again. Of course they had to order the part and that took three days. I was told that when the light is on the airbags don?t work. This happened six days before the one year warranty ran out and the vehicle had only been 4,100 miles since the part was replaced. The part was replaced for the second time on August 27, 2008 under the one year warrant period. The work was performed so poorly that I have no faith the airbags will work if I ever need them. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
Vehicle description: 4-door sport utility vehicles equipped with side air bags. The subject vehicles have a revised level side crash sensor that could deploy the side air bag if the ignition key is in the "run" position and the seatbelt webbing is forcibly extracted from a locked retractor with a jerking motion.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side crash sensors with a revised design that will reduce the likelihood of an unexpected side air bag deployment.
Airbag complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Ford Explorer, 7% of the model year's 952 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Explorer airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-179 (side/window, Jul 5, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Explorer airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 28 crashes, 0 fires and 22 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.