Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The airbag warning light keeps coming on after continued checks and fixes. The dealership zip tied connector c211 and the light went off for a bit then came back on, the seat belt has been replaced but the light came back on, and all other components have been checked but no matter what the fix the light stays on. This is an issue many people have and Ford should be responsible for fixing it.
Driver side window panel flew off during my drive on the interstate directly after I noticed it being loose for the first time. 3rd row seatbelts leak when it rains on both sides. Rear backup camera is opposite/flipped and goes in and out. Trunk will close on you after opening it up with the car not running. It will not sense movement when the car is off and continues to shut resulting in harm.
MY AIR BAG CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON 3 YEARS, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP A D THEY DISCOVERED THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER HAD SHORTED OUT. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND THE SAME LIGHT IS BACK ON FOR WHAT I IMAGINE IS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AGAIN! THE LIGHT STAYS ON FROM THE TIME THE CAR IS STARTED TILL IT'S TURNED OFF.
WHEN IT RAINS, THE RAIN COMES IN THE TRUCK AND SEEPS THROUGH THE SEATBELTS, THE FRONT PASSENGER INTERIOR HANDLE, THE TWO LIGHTS IN THE TOP OF THE TRUCK (ABOVE THE CONSOLE), THE STERIO IN THE BACK, THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE DASHBOARD, THROUGH THE TRIM OF THE WINDOWS ON DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND INSIDE THE SUNROOF (YES, THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF IS CLOSED). THIS HAPPENS IF THE TRUCK IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, AND WHEN DRIVING. MY GUESS IS THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BEING MADE.
2011 FORD EXPLORER THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 03/2011 AND THAT HAS AN ISSUE ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON AND OFF AT THE VERY FIRST MONTH OF THE CAR PURCHASE IT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY CHECKED AND FIXED FOR FREE WITHIN THE TIME WARRANTY. THEN I HAVE TO COME AND PAY ALMOST EVERY YEAR TO FIX THE AIRBAG LIGHT.
RESTRAINTS INDICATOR LAMP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SETUP THIS FRIDAY WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, BUT WHEN I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE, I FOUND THAT A TON OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. A MAJORITY WERE RESOLVED BY FIXING A CONNECTION UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED HEAD, BACK, NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
DIAGNOSE AND ADVISED THAT DRIVER PRETENSIONER IS FAULTY. I HAVE TO PAY $400 PLUS TO HAVE THIS REPLACEMENT. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON WITH FAULTY PRETENSIONER IT MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT.
2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT: THIRD ROW SEAT BELT COMPARTMENT ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES, LEAKING WATER. SEATS ARE LEATHER. NOTICED WHEN CHILD BOOSTER SEATS WERE SOAKED AFTER IT RAINED. NOW CONCERNED IF METAL HAS RUSTED IN ANY OF SEAT BELT MECHANISMS. VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM FORD DEALER, FORD VERIFIED USED VEHICLE. PURCHASED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. ISSUE OCCURRED AT 105,000 MILES
I HAVE MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASH, AND MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS CAR IS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS. MY PASSENGER BACK SEAT BELT CASE IS BROKEN AS WELL. THE STITCHING ON THE SEAT BELT SEEM TO BE TEARING. THIS IS ONLY A 2011 FORD EXPLORER IT IS WAY TO YOUNG FOR ALL THESE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. MY MECHANIC CANT FIGURE IT OUT.
VEHICLE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND EXTINGUISHED SPORADICALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE STAYING ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATE FAILURE OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. TROUBLESHOOTING, RESEARCH, AND DIAGNOSTICS HAVE REVEALED POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AT VARIOUS CONNECTORS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR THE SRS SYSTEM. DEALER SERVICE HAS INDICATED POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM TO PERFORM ITS FUNCTION (PRE-TENSIONERS, AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ETC) IF THIS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
A SEAT BELT/AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE DEALERS COULD ONLY INVESTIGATE THIS WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON. AS IT COMES AND GOES, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WHEN I DID, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY AND I WOULD BE CHARGED ABOUT $450. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IF I DID NOT GET IS CORRECTED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY THEREBY EXPOSING ME TO RISK. IT SEEMS THAT A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER INDEFINITELY OR ARE THEY WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WILL NOT BE INJURED FOR AN ERROR ON THEIR PART IN MANUFACTURE. I HAD THE DEFECT REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION OPENED AND POSSIBLE CHARGES AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND POSSIBLY EVEN THEIR DEALERSHIP NETWORK.
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, AS I WAS BRAKING THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING, AS I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE, JUST BEFORE THE CAR HIT THE GARAGE DOOR WHICH WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ENGAGED, FULLY, STOPPING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ONLY, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND INSTEAD OF HITTING THE GARAGE DOOR IT STRUCK A CONCRETE COLUMN TO THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT OF THE GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR DID NOT ENGAGE SO I WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. WE CONTACTED FORD, FILLED OUT AND RETURNED THE PAPERWORK THEY REQUESTED, AFTER ALMOST FOUR MONTHS OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON FORD THEY DECIDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY COULD COME UP WITH THAT ASSUMPTION AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP FORD NEVER CHECKED IT. WE HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE ONE SKID MARK FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND NONE FROM THE OTHER THREE TIRES. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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