Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
Airbag lights kept going on and off and now stays on giving code B1212. It is a safety issue since it has to do with the Driver seatbelt buckle pretensioner circuit. Airbags may not deploy incase of an accident. Apparently it is a problem with ford explorer vehicles which ford has failed to rectify or have a recall for it. I need to know the fix or resolution for this before anything unfortunate happens.
Airbag light suddenly comes on for the last few weeks. I did some research and found that when the airbag light is on that it is disabled. If the vehicle was to be involved in an accident the airbag would not deploy. I am concern that this vehicle is a family vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to two Ford Dealership and was told they are so backed up that it would take at least two weeks before I can get an appointment. One of the service tech even joke about making sure to wear my seatbelt because the airbag is not working. I tried looking for a recall but have not found one. I also learned this is a very common problem with most Ford vehicle and there is not permanent fix.
Air bag light on dash is on. Comes on and have taken it in several times to be fixed only to come back on
2/17/21 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON... BUT WHEN I LOOKED FOR A RECALL OR WHAT TO DO IT SAYS I DON'T HAVE A RECALL....
WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHTS GO OFF BUT COME BACK ON AND STAYS ON. THIS STARTED A MONTH AGO AND THE WARNING LIGHT STILL SWITCHES ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WEEK NOW. TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE WIRING IS MALFUNCTIONING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2012 MODELS. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. NOW I AM HAVING TO PAY UPWARD OF $400 TO REPAIR.
TAKATA RECALL
AIRBAG LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND OFF ON MY CAR FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. FORD FIXED ISSUE ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY. FAULTY WIRE CONNECTION IS WHAT I WAS TOLD AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FINE, ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERSHIP. MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON ONCE AGAIN AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORERS. IT SEEMS THAT 2011-2018 ARE AFFECTED BY SOME SORT OF AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. FORD IS NOT HELPING ANYONE AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING FORD HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO STILL EXIST. IT IS WIDE SPREAD AND NOT JUST AN ISSUE IN CERTAIN CLIMATES. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE MANUFACTURER BECOME LIABLE FOR FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT? WE ARE ALL BEING TOLD THAT OUR AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF IN ANY ACCIDENT, LARGE OR SMALL, AND TO ME THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. HOW MANY LIVES NEED BE LOST OR IN JEOPARDY BEFORE SOMEONE CAN HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OBVIOUS DEFECT? THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY VEHICLE DAILY AND NOW I FEEL THEIR LIVES ARE AT RISK WHENEVER WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. I DON'T HAVE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP DUMPING INTO MY VEHICLE FOR A REPAIR THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THEMSELVES. THERE ARE A FEW TSB'S OUT AT FORD CURRENTLY FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEMS AND THEY SEEM TO BE PRIMARILY AN ISSUE WITH NEEDING DIELECTRIC GREASE ADDED AT THE CONNECTORS. I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME CONCERNS AND RECEIVING LITTLE TO NO HELP FROM FORD. IT'S A MATTER OF THEM SAYING 'OH WELL' OR 'THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO'. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND QUITE FRANKLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT IT'S HAPPENING ON A 40K CAR. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE ALSO STATED THAT A SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD BE A RECALL.
THE SAME COMMON PROBLEM WITH EVERY SINGLE 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND POSSIBLY DISABLED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO HUNDREDS OF EXPLORER OWNERS THIS ISSUE IS AN ENDLESS MONEY PIT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX AND FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE COST FOR TURNING OFF THE LIGHT AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WILL BE UPWARDS OF $400 AND WILL ONLY TURN THE AIRBAG LIGHT OFF FOR A SHORT WHILE. I WAS PROMISED BY LOCAL FORD DEALER "THERE'S A HIGH PROBABILITY I'LL HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN FOR THIS ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD AND THEIR APOLOGIES BUT THERE'S NOTHING FROM FORD TO HELP ME COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR". UNSAFE RIP OFF.... PURE AND SIMPLE
ON 4/17/2019 MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ITS NOT BLINKING JUST SOLID ITS BEEN ALMOST A WEEK AND LIGHT IS STILL ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY FORD YEAR AND MODEL. FROM WHAT I RESEARCHED NONE OF THE FORD REPAIRS HAVE PERMANENTLY REPAIRED THIS ISSUE. FROM I HAVE READ IN THESE COMPLAINTS IS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON WONDERING WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I AM NOT TAKEN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A TEMPORARY FIX THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP.
THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - AIR BAGS COULD MALFUNCTION AT ANYTIME DUE TO MISCOMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AIR BAGS CAN DEPLOY AT ANYTIME OR CAN FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN NECESSARY. AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON. ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED, AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MODULE REPLACED, PROGRAM CONTROL MODULE AIR BAG REPROGRAMED. LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON. HAS A WIRE HARNESS ISSUE L/F DOOR MODULE SRS - WIRING LOOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE BY THE DEALER BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE THAT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRETENSIONER HAS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN CREATED ON FORD'S END BLAMING THE CONNECT. SEE TSB 12-5-11. IT TELLS THE MECHANIC TO INJECT DIELECTRIC GREASE AS A FIX.
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES SOON AFTER BEING FIXED AT DEALER. LITERALLY WENT ON PRIOR TO DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND BRING IT BACK. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST YEAR. NO ONE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION: IS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM DISMANTLED WHILE ON? IF YOU TURN CAR OFF AND ON IT WILL DISAPPEAR AND COME ON SOON AFTER. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. BEEN DEALING WITH THIS CONSTANTLY SINCE PRIOR TO AUGUST 2017
THE WIPERS WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS OFF. I HAVE FOUND THAT I HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON TO THE HIGHEST SETTING THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN THEM OFF YOU GET THE WIPERS TO STAY OFF. MY SECOND PROBLEM IS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I CAN GO WEEKS OR MONTHS WITH OUT IT TURNING ON BUT I CAN ALSO GO WEEKS WITH IT STAYING ON 24/7. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS 'WE ARE NOT SURE WHY IT'S DOING IT BUT JUST PUT A TOWEL ON THE DASH TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING HOT AND THAT SHOULD FIX IT MAYBE'. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHILE DRIVING IF MY WIFE TURNS AROUND TO GET/GIVE SOMETHING TO OUR CHILD THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON WHEN SHE FULLY SITS BACK DOWN.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. IT DOES NOT FLASH IT'S JUST ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME AND WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS COVERED THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY AND ASKED ABOUT BRINGING IT IN AND ERIC AGAIN SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL OR ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THERE ARE OVER 850,000 FORDS WHO HAVE A RECALL DUE TO THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONING. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE.
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS THE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS COME ON, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE SOLUTION WAS TO APPLY SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE TO THE ELECTRIC CONNECTORS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS FIX WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS ON THE 3RD THEY AGREED TO APPLY THE GREASE AT NO COST TO ME. MY SERVICE CENTER HAS TOLD ME THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. WONDERING WHY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS AN AIRBAG HAS LOOSE CONNECTORS WHICH HANG DOWN UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT, SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW? WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LOMBARD FORD, INC LOCATED AT 385 NEW HARTFORD RD, BARKHAMSTED, CT 06063; (860) 379-3301) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-12821614. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,149.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY DESPITE BEING CHECKED. I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING UNDER MY SEAT TO AFFECT THE UNITS BEING UNPLUGGED
VEHICLE HAS AN ILLUMINATED AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OR A FAULTY DRIVERS SEATBELT TENSIONER. APPARENTLY THIS WILL RESULT IN THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING DURING A CRASH. FORD DEALERS HAVE SERVICED OTHER PARTIES EXPLORER'S WITH THE ISSUE BY CHECKING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND ADDING DIELECTRIC GREASE OR BY REPLACING THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT TENSIONER. THIS REPAIRS USUALLY RESULT IN UPWARDS ON 5 HOURS OF LABOR PLUS PARTS WHICH THE OWNERS WERE CHARGED. THESE FIXES ARE ONLY TEMPORARY AS THE PROBLEM TYPICALLY RETURNS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE RESULTING FROM POOR MANUFACTURING OR INSTALLATION OF PARTS AND NUMEROUS EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2012 AND 2016 ARE EXPERIENCING IT. OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED FOR THE INCOMPETENCE OF MANUFACTURING PROCESSES OR LACK OF PLANNING ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATED.
MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T TURN. WHAT I HAVE READ IS ONCE IT ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY I'M CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FORD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT TRYING TO FIX THIS IS VERY UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE.
AIR BAG CONNECTOR CORROSION. MULTIPLE CONNECTORS. HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCT, 2012. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES YEARLY. HAS TO GO BACK AGAIN DUE TO INSPECTION DUE. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, STATIONARY OR PARKED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT MADE KNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,743. UPDATED 10/05/16*LJ *JS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AT HTTP://WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-SEAT-BELT-WARNING.349429/ THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL OF THE FIFTH GENERATION FORD EXPLORERS. ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS UNDER THE SEATS THAT RUN TO THE SEAT WEIGHT SENSORS ARE HAVING CONTINUITY ISSUES AND CAUSING AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY.
THE SEAT BELT SIGN KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THEY HAVE CORRECTED "THE PROBLEM" ALL 3 TIMES AND THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE SEAT BELT SIGN TURNS OFF BUT COMES BACK ON WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
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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