RoadVitals

1996 Ford Explorer 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.
41
Latest May 9, 2017
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 1,450 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.
36
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
37

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 1996 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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

The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words

AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed May 9, 2017
Crash reported5 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER AND MY TIRE ON THE DRIVER FRONTSIDE WENT OUT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND THEN MY VEHICLE HIT THE CURVE AND FLIPPED OVER 15 OR 16 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED I WAS FEELING ALL OVER THE ROAD I HAD MY SET BELT ON BUT MY AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT AND I WAS ONLY GOING 25 OR 30 AND I WAS ON A CITY STREET TURNING INTO THE NEXT LANE WHEN THE TIRE WENT OUT AND MY VEHICLE FLIPPED YES POLICE ACCOUNT REPORT #170042354 I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED I WAS IN SHOCK THAT IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE A LIVE MY FORD EXPLORER IS TOTALLY DESTROYED.

NHTSA ID
10984405
Incident
May 4, 2017
Mileage
114,855 mi
AirbagsTires & wheels
Filed Sep 6, 2009
Crash reported

ON 8 AUG 09, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE GOING NORTH ON I95 AT EXIT 132 NEAR ROCKY MOUNT, NC. MY SUV FLIPPED OVER A FEW TIMES AND MY DAUGHTER AND I ENDED UP UPSIDE DOWN LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC. I NOTICED THAT MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283021
Incident
Aug 8, 2009
Airbags
Filed Jun 7, 2005
Crash reported

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF HIS AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END. *TT

NHTSA ID
10124524
Incident
Jun 6, 2005
AirbagsBody & structureSeat belts
Filed Oct 4, 2004
Crash reported3 injuries reported

BOUGHT FORD EXPLORER IN 1996, NEW. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BBB REGARDING PROBLEMS. NOTHING WAS ACHIEVED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, NOR DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURIES TO MYSELF. BROKEN NECK (C-2, TBI TRAMIC BRAIN INJURY AND BROKEN BONES. I BELEIVE THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT, ROOF STABILITY AND AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION CAUSED MY INJURIES. THE DRIVER AND OTHER OCCUPANT RECEIVED NO SERIOUS INJURIES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE NUMEROUS LAW SUITS AGAINIST FORD MOTOR CO. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093592
Incident
Nov 2, 2002
Airbags
Filed Aug 5, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND TO ROLL OVER. CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. *LA THE VEHICLE WAS PRONOUNCED A TOTAL LOSS. *SC

NHTSA ID
10074417
Incident
May 17, 2004
AirbagsTires & wheels
Filed Mar 3, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE AND ROLL ONCE. VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061258
Incident
Mar 3, 2004
Mileage
165,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 45 MPH, CONSUMER RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO ONE WAS HURT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017134
Airbags
Filed Apr 25, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON 4/16/02 AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND CROSSED MY PATH. WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAG INFLATE? I HAVE SEVERE BRUSING AND CONTUSIONS ON MY CHEST AS A RESULT OF BEING THRUSTED FOREWARD HITTING THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

NHTSA ID
761196
Incident
Apr 16, 2002
AirbagsSeat beltsTires & wheels
Filed Mar 11, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS GOING 30-35MPH AND FLIPPED OVER DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULDN'T UNLOCK, LEAVING CONSUMER IN A UPSIDE DOWN POSITION. CONSUMER USED A SCREW DRIVER TO UNLATCH THE SEAT BELT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. SEAT BELT PART# TRW TC077. *AK THE AIR BAG ALSO FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE CAUSE FOR LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO THE TIRE WHICH ROLLED OFF FROM THE SAFETY RIM. *YH

NHTSA ID
8005352
Incident
Oct 9, 2001
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Dec 17, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND ROLL. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER DOOR CAME OPEN AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME LOOSE. THE DRIVER DIED INSTANTLY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY.(SISTER ON BEHALF OF DECEASED BROTHER) *YH

NHTSA ID
563868
Incident
Apr 22, 1998
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 1, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

ON 09/23/01 MY 24YR. OLD SONINLAW WAS KILLED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A MEIDIAN AND TREE WAS ON TWO TIRES THEN WENT 30FT THRU THE AIR BEFORE THE EXPLORER HE WAS DRIVING ROLLED AND THREW HIM OUT THE DRIVER WINDOW. HE WAS WEARING SEAT BELT WHICH HE HAD HAD TROUBLE WITH SINCE PURCHASE FAILED AND HE WAS EJECTED ALSO HIS BROTHER IN PASSENGER SIDE COULDNT GET HIS BELT TO LATCH BUT HE WAS LUCKY AND WALKED AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES WHICH DIDNT DEPLOY EITHER. MY SON IN LAW DIED THAT NIGHT WHEN HE WAS EJECTED AND THE TRUCK LANDED ON HALF OF HIS FACE. HE LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND 2SONS AND A 1 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. THESE EXPLORERS ARE DEATH TRAPS PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ONE.*AK

NHTSA ID
752765
Incident
Sep 23, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE FORD EXPLORER WAS HIT ON THE FREEWAY IN THE FRONT RIGHT SECTION WHICH PUSHED THE CAR LEFT THE CAR WAS THEN BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER CAR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDED DOOR FLEW OPEN IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT MY SON HAD ON HIS SEATBELT SO HE WOULD NOT BE THROWN FORM THE CAR, BUT WITH THE DOOR FLYING OPEN HIS ARM, LEG OR HEAD COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERILY DAMAGED IF IT HAD BEEN IN THE WAY WHEN THE DOOR FLOEW BACK TO CLOSE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER, IT SEEMS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SINCE THE BOTH HITS WERE AT SPEEDS OF APPROX. 55 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
749277
Incident
May 26, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 6, 2001

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK

NHTSA ID
889887
Incident
May 25, 2001
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2001
Crash reported

DURING A SPIN OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, A 1998 FORD EXPLORER IMPACTED A CONCRETE DIVIDER ON THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND TIPPED OVER ONTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO MAINTENANCE HAS EVER BEEN DONE ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, NOR HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
745719
Incident
May 19, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED A STOP SIGN AND CONSUMER STRUCK OTHER VEHICLE IN MIDDLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED, BUT NEITHER OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
883563
Incident
Mar 6, 2001
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Feb 23, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN IT ROLLING OVER 3 1/4 TIMES, THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN NECK, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL 00V-402 FOR FRONT SWAY BARS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT AND WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED, DURING THE ACCIDENT NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NLM

NHTSA ID
559917
Incident
Sep 10, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jan 7, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, HIT IN REAR BY CAR TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, CAR PUSHED FORWARD INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THIRD CAR PUSHED INTO FOURTH, FOURTH INTO FIFTH, AND FIFTH INTO SIXTH CAR. FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS DESTROYED, SIGNIFICANT FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
738944
Incident
Jan 3, 2001
AirbagsBody & structureInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Nov 13, 2000

I BOUGHT THIS SUV USED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A GREAT VEHICLE, BOY WAS I WRONG. IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS SUV. PLEASE CHECK ALL OF MY COMPLAINTS THIS IS AN INTERIOR PROBLEM, THESE THINGS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY EVEY DAY USE. THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ARE, BACK SEAT DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKE, THE SPARE TIRE RELEASE BROKE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND CAUSED AN INCONVIENCE TO MY FAMILY, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ALINGMENT HASEN'T BEEN RIGHT SENSE I'VE OWNED IT, THE BACK SEAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT RELEASE TO FOLD FORWARD, AND THE MOTOR ON THE HATCH HASEN'T WORKED PROPERLY FROM DAY ONE OF MY OWNERSHIP. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK FOR ALL YOU DO. MARGIE HULSEY. ML

NHTSA ID
736209
Incident
Jun 12, 1999
AirbagsTires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2000
Crash reported

DRIVING 65MPH & HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AGAINST VEHICLE. IT STARTED TO FISHTAIL. DRIVER LOST CONTROL. IT VEERED HARD TO RIGHT & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH FRONT , AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WENT TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD & THEN FLIPPED & ROLLED OVER TWICE. VEHICLE LANDED ON ITS ROOF. LEFT REAR TIRE HAD ITS TREAD PEELED COMPLETELY OFF. HAVE THE TIRE & TREAD. ALSO HAVE COPY OF POLICE REPORT. VEHICLE REGISTERED IN TEXAS, BUT PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. FIRESTONE, RADIAL ATX, P235/75R15 DOT VDHL WITH 46,000 MILES ON THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
870171
Incident
Aug 4, 2000
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed May 8, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKING/THROTTLE BODY FAILURE, VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM ACCELERATION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552159
Incident
Jul 23, 1999
Airbags
Filed Oct 12, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOY EVEN WITH THE TOTAL LOST OF THE EXPLORER IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLITION WITH ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 35MPH PLEASE INVESTIGATE SO OTHER PEOPLE DOES NOT GET INJURED THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION TO THIS MATTER

NHTSA ID
713212
Incident
Oct 9, 1999
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 7, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH CONSUMER TRIED TO REDUCE SPEED OF CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL, BUT ABS LOCKED UP, MAKING THE VEHICLE TURN/ROLL OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NO TDEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
847062
Incident
Aug 3, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jun 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
840426
Incident
Apr 9, 1999
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON ICY SURFACE WITH TEMPERATURE OF 30F, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND VEERED INTO A GUARD RAIL ON MEDIAN, BOUNCED OFF AND HIT GUARDRAIL ON SIDE OF ROAD HEAD_ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DRPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
836732
Incident
Dec 30, 1998
AirbagsSteering
Filed Mar 5, 1999
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO HITTING A DEER. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS TOP. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
835505
Incident
Mar 4, 1999

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 .