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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,058 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Ford Explorer seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2017 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #20

Jun 172023

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Before the safety recalls for the rear suspension the vehicle made a loud noise almost like helicopter blades from the rear. It stopped after the recall was fixed but has started again. The air bag light has been on since about a month after I bought the vehicle. After about 9 attempts of taking it to the ford dealership for them to look at it with no luck I believe it-??s due to a broken seatbelt in the rear that nobody has a part for.

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #19

Oct 102022

Explorer

  • 114,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air bag connectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.

- Imlay City, MI, USA

problem #18

Oct 142022

Explorer

  • miles
Husband returning home, pulled into carport and as he removed foot from accelerator to brake, accelerator pedal kept accelerating. This caused explorer to hit carport awning, classic 65 mustang, 2007 Harley and shed. Airbags did not work. Accelerator is still pressed to floorboard.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #17

Feb 262020

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light illuminated on dash board. No airbags in vehicle working. Have taken vehicle to the dealership 7-9 times to be serviced, always told it is a sensor that is loose or a seatbelt. This was not reported on the Carfax when I got the vehicle and started shortly after. I was once told none of the airbags in the bag of the vehicle were functioning but taping the senor (under the seat) with electrical tape fixed it. So many recalls on this vehicle, too dangerous to drive with no working airbags. Also the recall on the roof racks cause my vehicle to leak when it rained, ford service told me this was not possible. never looked at the problem and after the recall was fixed (after I asked twice) the vehicle stopped leaking, now the sunroof does not work. I have contacted Ford Cooperate about these issues also and they refused to help.

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #16

Dec 062021

Explorer

  • miles
The airbag light on driver's side goes on randomly, seems with automatic movement of seat each time I get in and out of the car. If the airbag doesn't work it impairs my degree of safety in involved in an accident. The vehicle has not yet been inspected as it is $125 per hour to have it looked at. No other warning lamps or signals. It just randomly goes on and off - and stays on while driving.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #15

Apr 282021

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
My daughter and I had a car accident she was driving and I was in the passenger side on April 28 the car side swiped us tried to avoid from hitting her in the back the seatbelts locked but the airbags never deployed none of the recalls were fixed and Ford denied my claims for nothing will not send out an investigator to check the car my insurance said it-€™s a total loss so I did get hurt in the accident and I want to be compensated please call me [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lexington Park , MD, USA

problem #14

Aug 062019

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The rear suspension started with a lower noise in the rear passenger side, whenever I make turns or the road is a little rough. To this day is getting a lot worse, more noise and unstable when I take turns. Also the seat belt light come on, and I was told that the module is malfunction and need to reset or replace with a new one.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #13

Nov 162020

Explorer

  • 56,573 miles
Car pulled in my lane my car auto breaked, I also put on break then icon came on about airbag issue. Took to Ford run test. The pig tail that goes to airbags, need to sauter 21 pins that goes to connection of pigtail to airbag.

- Zavalla, TX, USA

problem #12

Sep 012020

Explorer

  • 46,500 miles
The SRS warning light on the dash is illuminated indicating that in the event of a collision the airbags will not deploy. Vehicle was taken to local Ford dealer where fault codes indicate that two wire harnesses or connectors need to be replaced. Cost of service was quoted as $1600. However, mileage (46,500) and age (4 years) would indicate that repair should be made under 5 yr / 60,000 mi warranty. Ford has denied warranty. Service department at local dealership and Ford customer care have been contacted by phone and email multiple times without resolution. They point to the wire harness as the root cause of the SRS system not working and claim that the wire harness is not covered by warranty.

- Pella, IA, USA

problem #11

Feb 062020

Explorer

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to salerno duane Ford 245 broad St, summit, NJ 07901 where the contact was informed that the air bag would not be covered under the extended warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 42,000.

- Chatham, NJ, USA

problem #10

Dec 162019

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When starting I noticed the front airbag light remained on indicating a malfunction further examination indicated a problem with passenger SRS not indicating proper illumination upon start up and that was the reason for the always on front airbag warning unless passenger occupying seat in other words if the indicator test at start up fails the system turns on the front airbag light until someone in seat/ it also means is a subsequent failure of the system will not be observed as the light has been already turned on for the earlier reason invalid VIN

- Charleston Sc, SC, USA

problem #9

May 022019

Explorer

  • 28,526 miles
Vehicle has an NHTSA recall notice#:19V435 and a Ford issued recall#:19S17 which indicates as follows: Recall description: Rear suspension toe link replacement. Risk to safety: A fracture of a rear toe link significantly diminishes steering control, increasing the risk of a crash! I have contacted 3 different deals in my area (ecino, ca, 91316) all said that the replacement parts are currently unavailable. In addition, on Thursday, June 27th, 2019 I have contacted Ford Motor Company to see if the issue can be resolved but I got the same answer. They said I have to wait until the parts are available and they are currently back ordered with no estimated time for the issue with the vehicle can be resolved. They have asked me if I would like Ford Motor Company to "lemon" the vehicle and buy it back, I replied: "absolutely yes". they have opened a case#: [xxx] I am seriously worried for my life when driving the Ford Explorer. I suffer from understeering whenever I attempt a left or right turn. At speed over 40 mph, the vehicle will start shaking giving me a sense of almost no grip to the road. In addition, I constantly have the "front airbag" light on (see picture attached) the dashboard, both when vehicle is in motion & stationary. This issue happened before and I took the car to a Ford dealer to resolve the issue (the service tech said that the sensor was malfunctioned and in a case of an accident, "front airbag" might not deploy!!! this is absolutely absurd. I here by certifie that my vehicle is serviced on time (see picture attached) and currently has 29,492 miles on it (see picture attached). I am not sure what is NHTSA part in all of this, but if you can help me deal with Ford Motor Company in resolving these issues and get rid of this vehicle, L will be very pleased and appreciative. Respectfully, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Encino, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 072019

Explorer

  • 47,000 miles
The second row seatbelt airbags continue to set off the airbag sensor on the control panel and Ford technicians can find nothing to correct. Sensor set off while driving and passenger belted into driver side second row seat belt that contains a seatbelt airbag.

- Kronenwetter, WI, USA

problem #7

Jul 072018

Explorer

  • 17,000 miles
Vehicle was traveling approximately 40-50mph on the highway, traffic stopped abruptly, collision warning system with brake support did not activate, driver attempted to make a hard stop, brakes engaged at initial push of the pedal then became unresponsive regardless of force applied to the pedal, vehicle rear-end another vehicle, air-bags did not deploy, sos post-crash alert system did not activate, 911 assist did not activate.

- Neptune, NJ, USA

problem #6

Sep 092016

Explorer

  • miles
I rented a 2017 from enterprise. I was in a bad car accident on a street doing maybe 20mph total loss front damage and the airbags never deployed I went inside another vehicle I never saw the airbag showing on while driving and I had on my seat belt. I now suffer with a spine problem cause of this accident. I cant believe after a hard impact that the air bags never deployed

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #5

Mar 282018

Explorer

  • 28,309 miles
Passenger side air bag does not stay on when someone is sitting in passenger seat. Goes from on to off

- Ellisville, MS, USA

problem #4

Jan 282018

Explorer

  • miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 55 mph, the contact became drowsy and passed out. The contact crashed into a ditch and a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed from the ditch and driven away. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

- Lakeville, MN, USA

problem #3

Sep 222017

Explorer

  • 8,000 miles
We were involved in accident 9/22/17 driving our Ford Explorer when a person ran red light and "T boned" us on driver side resulting in all air bags exploding. Driver has some hearing loss due to side door bags and chest injuries due to steering wheel bags. I was in right side front seat and air bags ripped up my legs below the knees! stitches, hematoma vain issues and still recovering after 4 months. I had a puncture wound from "screw" that held air bag below glove compartment" wondering if my air bags were defective"

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #2

Nov 102017

Explorer

  • 13,100 miles
Our 2017 Ford Explorer was involved in a bad accident. We were struck on the driver side while making a left turn. The strike occurred at the left front wheel back to the drivers door. Traveling rate of speed of the striking vehicle was approx. 50mph. The insurance adjuster advised the car is a total loss. My concern is while we walked away with minimal injury, not one airbag in the car went off. The adjuster advised that at the very least the side impact bags should have gone off. Wanting to get another Explorer but am concerned that the safety system does not function as it is designed to.

- Simpsonville, SC, USA

problem #1

Dec 102016

Explorer

  • 150 miles
Within the first 2 weeks of getting my vehicle the airbag light on the dash would come on and off randomly while driving. Restarting the car would sometimes fix it. Took it to the dealer took 5 days to fix it. Ended up being the drivers seat belt tensioner.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

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