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 2004 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's son owned a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her son was driving in the rain at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned as he rounded a corner. The vehicle slid into a ditch and hit a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's son and his friend were both transported to the hospital for their injuries. Her son was treated for soreness in various parts of his body and was released the same day. Her son's friend had to remain in the hospital overnight and his injuries were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the independent collision center where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired or destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
2004 Ford Explorer traveling 40-45mph on a rural road. Driver lost control of the vehicle at a "s" curve and hit an utility pole with the front end. The pole was snapped in half. Airbags did not deploy. Driver was the only person in the vehicle. 35 lb dog was on the passenger seat. Driver was wearing a seat belt. Driver hit his chest on the steering wheel bruising his lung. Driver also hit his head on the windshield causing a laceration (approximately 1.5") down to his skull. Driver was transferred via ambulance to the nearest hospital and admitted for 48 hours. The canine broke her back and had to be put down the following day.
My daughter was driving our Ford Explorer, had come to a complete stop and was waiting to exit the freeway, traffic in front of her had also stopped. She got hit from behind by a car who failed to stop and was going at unsafe speed, according to police report, and pushed our Explorer onto a truck. The front passenger airbag deployed but there was no other passenger in the car. The driver side airbag did not deploy and my daughter hit her face against the steering wheel. We have been the only owners of the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford Explorer. While the contact's son was driving 40 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree, a light post, and an electrical box. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's son was not injured. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and was deemed a total loss by the tow company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 291,000.
I've had two (2) accidents (rear-ended and front accident), in which the air bags did not deploy. I didn't think of it at the time, but both accidents sustained extensive damage to my vehicle, yet the air bags didn't deploy. I hit the wheel hard and went to the hospital for x-ray, but it wasn't an injury that required anything further. My concern is that the air bags don't work. What should I do? I'm the original owner.
The airbag on the drivers side did not deploy during the crash. The vehicle was traveling at 50 MPH as indicated on the speedometer. Vehicle was on the highway at the time of impact. This failure resulted in multiple injuries to the driver.
My wife was involved in a fairly severe side-impact collison that knocked our 2004 Ford Explorer, equipped with optional side-impact curtain airbags, 4 feet sideways, destroyed the driver's door (direct impact to the driver's door) collapsed it into the driver's seat, and resulted in $6,000 of insurance-estimated damage. The side curtain airbags failed to deploy. The local Ford dealer that has the vehicle for repairs indicated that they have no idea why the side curtain airbags failed to deploy, and that the on-board check system does not indicate any faults. My wife did knock her head on the driver's side window during the collision, but does not appear to have sustained any lasting injuries. I'm very concerned that this safety system we paid extra for does not operate as intended, and does not appear to afford the protection promised by Ford. …
This past weekend I was driving an 04 Ford Explorer when both side airbags spontaneously deployed. I was not in an accident. I was driving down a two-lane road at less than 35 miles per hour when the airbags deployed. I was able to pull over but not before sustaining an injury to my ear and not before the passenger sustained an injury to her right arm. I reported this to Ford, which advised to carry the vehicle to a dealership. Took it to the dealership, where the service manager was unconcerned with the fact that the airbags spontaneously deployed. He looked at the vehicle for two days only to report he was not aware of why the airbags deployed and stated there was nothing he could do about it. I repeat, I was not in an accident and the airbags deployed while driving. This is of course quite concerning to me but Ford does not seem to care. …
Takata recall I was traveling home on a local city street. I was coming to an intersection with cars stopped at the traffic light. I had to have been going no more than 35 MPH at the most when the "side" airbags deployed. The drivers and dash airbags did not deploy. Only the four side airbags deploy. The road was smooth and not bumpy. I did not hit the brakes hard. I did not hit anything nor did anything hit me. I do not know what caused them to deploy. No accident happened because of the deployment because I was not traveling at a speed that would cause an accident. I have made calls to Ford and my VIN number is not one listed for the recall at this time.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, another vehicle hit the rear. The crash caused the air bag light to flash on the instrument panel. The contact drove the vehicle to an authorized dealership to have the air bag light inspected. The dealer informed the contact that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. Upon starting the vehicle, the engine malfunctioned and the vehicle became completely inoperable. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. Updated 11/03/10.
Airbag complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Ford Explorer, 3% of the model year's 1,304 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford Explorer airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Ford Explorer. 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 2004 Ford Explorer airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 0 fires and 33 injuries 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.