RoadVitals

2017 Ford Expedition Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Apr 25, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 354 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 25, 2026
Crash reported

I was in a head on collision and my airbags did not deploy. Also when I looked at my seat belt after the crash it was fully extended out and did not retract.

NHTSA ID
11733739
Incident
Apr 24, 2026
AirbagsEngine
Filed Dec 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the occupancy sensors and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the occupancy sensors and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The failure reoccurred again on two other occasions, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact research and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11706554
Incident
Dec 22, 2023
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2024
Crash reported1 injury reported

I was in a motor vehicle accident where someone pulled out of a parking lot in front of me. I was doing about 45 at the time(which is the speed limit) on that road. I seen it coming but all I could do was try to veer right in order not to hit her door head on. Ours cars are totaled. My air bag never deployed out of the steering wheel however er I did see dust or smoke. This caused me to have chest pain and shoulder and neck pain. Which I am seeking doctors at this time.

NHTSA ID
11572073
Incident
Jan 30, 2024
AirbagsBody & structureSeat belts
Filed Oct 18, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

July 30, 2023, I was in car wreck with my Ford Expedition, 2017. The other car ran red light and hit my Ford in left front ahead of front wheel. Other car traveling approx 35 mph, by police report. Side airbag fizzled with smoke an did not deploy. Neither front airbag deployed. No airbags deployed. Ford was considered a total loss by both insurance companies involved. This vehicle has 5 star safety rating and that was considered in my purchase. I purchased Ford in Oct 2016, new. It was always serviced by Ford dealer here. This vehicle does not deserve 5 star rating.

NHTSA ID
11550675
Incident
Jul 30, 2023
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 25, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

I was in an accident where i rear ended the vehicle in front of me and sustained a lot of damage. My my airbag light came on but the airbags failed to deploy. The seatbelt tightened upon first impact and then as i was thrown foward it released and threw me into my steering wheel and did not tighten again

NHTSA ID
11448743
Incident
Jan 24, 2022
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Feb 18, 2021
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, A VEHICLE DRIVING AT 60 MPH FAILED TO YIELD AT THE RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. PUSHING THE CONTACTS VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVED BACK WARDS INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACTS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED INJURY TO HEAD, RIGHT CHEEK BONE, NECK, ELBOW, AND BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER, NECK, ELBOW, RIGHT ARM, AND BACK. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,057. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11396843
Incident
Feb 14, 2021
Mileage
102,057 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2020
Crash reported

FRONTAL CRASH WITH CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. APPEARS AIR BAGS ATTEMPTED TO DEPLOY AS CAB FILLED WITH GAS AT IMPACT, AND DEPLOYMENT SITES APPEAR DAMAGED (MELTED, BURNED, ETC), BUT NO BAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF VEHICLE 1 CROSSING PATH OF 2 WHILE BOTH TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AT 65+ MPH ON I-285 IN ATLANTA,GA, UNTIL DRIVER 1 FELL ASLEEP FAILING TO MAINTAIN THEIR LANE CROSSING IN FRONT OF AND IMPACTING VEHICLE 2.

NHTSA ID
11302408
Incident
Jan 27, 2020
Mileage
45,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 25, 2019
Crash reported

I HIT A DEER GOING 65 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11282341
Incident
Nov 23, 2019
Mileage
36,869 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 23, 2019
Crash reported3 injuries reported

MY HUSBAND HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON 2/22/2019 WITH A DODGE TAM. THE RAM HIT MY HUSBANDS EXPEDITION AND NON OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING AT A TURN SITE. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS DRIVING TOWARDS MY HUSBAND AND HIT HIM WITH HIS TRUCK. MY HUSBAND ESTIMATES THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. THE OTHER DRIVER SMASHED INTO MY HUSBAND AS HE WAS IDLE WAITING TO TURN. MY KIDS ARE HURT AND MY HUSBAND IS HURT AS WELL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL!

NHTSA ID
11182121
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
Mileage
51,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 3, 2018
Crash reported

I WAS TURNING LEFT IN AN INTERSECTION GOING ABOUT 5-10 MPH, A CAR RAN A LIGHT AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE BACK DOOR, FRONT DOOR, AND FRONT PANEL WERE AFFECTED. THE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. MY VEHICLE WAS MOVED SIDEWAYS ABOUT 10+ FEET. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WOULD EXPECT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS TO HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THAT SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11105412
Incident
Jun 20, 2018
Mileage
26,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 30, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH VEHICLE IN FROM AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT

NHTSA ID
11104874
Incident
Jun 5, 2018
Mileage
18,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .