Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2025 | 5 | 5% | 28,000 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% | 40,000 miles |
| 2023 | 4 | 4% | 43,000 miles |
| 2022 | 7 | 3% | 36,000 miles |
| 2021 | 6 | 1% | 10,000 miles |
| 2020 | 5 | 0% | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2018 | 11 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2017 | 34 | 2% | 45,000 miles |
| 2016 | 99 | 4% | 52,000 miles |
| 2015 | 84 | 5% | 65,000 miles |
| 2014 | 47 | 3% | 65,000 miles |
| 2013 | 18 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 2012 | 27 | 3% | 60,000 miles |
| 2011 | 44 | 4% | 69,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 5% | 33,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% | 50,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% | 166,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 6% | 81,000 miles |
| 2006 | 8 | 1% | 103,000 miles |
| 2005 | 15 | 3% | 65,000 miles |
| 2004 | 39 | 3% | 109,000 miles |
| 2003 | 50 | 4% | 101,000 miles |
| 2002 | 162 | 5% | 74,000 miles |
| 2001 | 28 | 7% | 59,000 miles |
| 2000 | 62 | 7% | 58,000 miles |
| 1999 | 97 | 7% | 70,000 miles |
| 1998 | 40 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 1997 | 27 | 2% | 105,000 miles |
| 1996 | 41 | 3% | 165,000 miles |
| 1995 | 27 | 3% | 115,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owned a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was making a right turn into a resident carport, the vehicle surged forward and crashed into the house at approximately 10-15 MPH. The brake pedal was depressed during the failure. The contact was following his wife at the time and became aware that the brake pedal was being depressed. The air bags deployed on the driver's and passenger's sides, steering, curtain, and footwell. The driver sustained bruises from the air bag and seat belt. The vehicle was towed. The EMT provided medical attention at the scene. A Police report was filed but the police report number was not available. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and opened a case. The vehicle was inspected and totaled by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 27,954.
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle crashed into the driver's side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact was transported to the local medical center for medical attention. The contact sustained bruises and contusions during the crash. The contact sustained a continuous headache after the crash. The contact was receiving continuous medical treatment. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was scheduled for an inspection by the insurance company within days. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle did not stop at a stop sign and crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. All of the air bags deployed. The contact's boyfriend suffered bruising to the wrist and left upper arm and redness on the right hand. The front passenger-side curtain air bag caused the contact second-degree chemical burn on the right side of the stomach when it burned through two layers of clothing. The contact also suffered from a sprained left foot and left hand and lacerations from the shoulders and elbows from the air bag deployment. The contact and her boyfriend were transported to the hospital via ambulance and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard but was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. …
As the passenger, following a passenger side impact, (T bone) I sustained 1st and 2nd degree burns extending from my ribs to my hip. To my knowledge the only airbags that inflated were the curtain air bags. Immediately upon impact I had a burning sensation on my right side that slowly began to spread. Once out of the car it was discovered that something had burned through 3 layers of clothing with the singed edges sticking to my skin. My vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a body shop. I spoke to the insurance company about the incident as I am receiving medical treatment for the burns. No one was interested in investigating the air bag.
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph when another vehicle suddenly pulled in front of their vehicle causing them to hit the driver's side of their vehicle. The contact's vehicle had damage to the front bumper and passenger side of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. The seat belt failed to lock causing the contact to slam into the steering wheel. The contact injuries to their left shoulder, left foot, head, neck, back, and stomach area. Medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred them to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 12,994.
The contact rented a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 65 mph, attempting to slow down, he crashed into a deer. There were no warning lights illuminated. The passenger-side front knee air bag was partially deployed. The passenger sustained bruising to her lower leg. There was a plastic substance released from the air bag which cut her ankle. The passenger was taken to the hospital where medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. A police report was filed. There were no reported fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that he was driving approximately at 55 MPH when a deer jumped out in front of his vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the deer and the air bags did deploy, however when it did it was very aggressive. The contact stated that he and his wife were both sustained multiple injuries caused by the airbags. The contact stated the passenger suffered injuries to both her eyes causing blindness and isn't certain if it would be permeant. The contact stated that he sustained injuries to his wrist, neck, and leg. The contact stated the ambulance was called and took them to the hospital where they received treatment. The contact stated the vehicle was towed to a junkyard service, and from there towed to the dealer where it remains currently. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated the adaptive cruise control and the collision avoidance systems would malfunction. The vehicle would suddenly deactivate the cruise control and the collision avoidance would detect a non-existing object and stop the vehicle from also turning to avoid the crash. The contact stated that while idled at a stop light when the vehicle suddenly accelerated rear-ending the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy however the acceleration did not reach high enough speeds for such a response. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer however the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
Related recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. The active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, preventing the air bag from deploying properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during the deployment of the side air bag, resulting in an improper deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side air bag assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 10, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags › Critical fasteners
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag and/or seat back module attachments may not have been properly tightened in the front seat backs.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove front seat back panels from one or both front seats (VIN-specific) and verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened, free of charge.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Airbag system's light dysfunctional
There is no summary currently available
Inoperative air bag system
Mis-assembled airbag clockspring
In July 2001, Ford issued a special service message announcing that some air bagclockspring devices May produce noise when the steering wheel is turned full left or right.Ford was aware that some clocksprings May have been improperly installed.the improper installation May also cause an open circuit and the air bag warning light to illuminate.starting with vehicles produced in September 2001, Ford adding length to…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2002 (162), 2016 (99), 1999 (97), 2015 (84) and 2000 (62) model years. Airbag complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2002.
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer airbag problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 26V-581 (frontal, Sep 9, 2026); 21V-652 (curtain, Aug 23, 2021); 20V-497 (critical fasteners, Aug 21, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Explorer airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles; 33% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (210 mentions), followed by the side/window (37).
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.