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1997 Ford Explorer Airbags Problems

24 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

24
Complaints
22
Crashes
Jan 2002Dec 1998
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (24)

mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jan 2012

I WAS IN A FRONTAL CRASH ON 01/24/2012 THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.CAUSING INJURIES, SEAT BELTS WERE WORE. *TT

NHTSA #: 10445860
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY AND SNOWY. THE DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THERE WERE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT INJURED. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS REMOVED THE SEAT BELT AND THE OTHER PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT ON SO THAT THEY COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE PASSENGER REMOVED THE SEAT BELT FROM THE DRIVER AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE TOW SHOP PLANNED TO SELL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. ITWAS UNKNOWN WHETHER THERE WERE PICTURES TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A POLICE REPORT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS IN THE PAST. *AK

NHTSA #: 10181400
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH A VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SIDE AND FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SEPARATED THREE MILLILITERS AS IF THE AIR BAG WAS GOING TO DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA #: 10152109
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Apr 2004

CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 25 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *PH *MR

NHTSA #: 10066938
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 2003

ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LAST MONTH WHICH STATED CLOCKSPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA #: 10032191
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jul 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *NLM *TS *SCC *NLM

NHTSA #: 10017220
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Nov 2002

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BEEN IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS PRESENT TIME. MR

NHTSA #: 8022584
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HAD HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR

NHTSA #: 8020304
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HAD COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES. NLM

NHTSA #: 8020171
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jan 2002

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A BEAR WAS IN THE LANE, SHE HIT THE BEAR AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

NHTSA #: 8002738
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: May 2001

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN FEBRUARY THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. THE OTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND CAME INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS COMING FROM THROUGH IT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, CAUSING THE MAJORITY OF MY INJURIES. I HAD SEVERAL LACERATIONS ON MY CHEEKS, CHIN AND MOUTH. MY UPPER LIP WAS SPLIT OPEN AND I SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY TO MY JAW. ALL OF THESE INJURIES WERE CAUSED WHEN MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AS THE AIRBAG COVER POPPED BACK AND THE AIRBAG WAS INFLATING. THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT MY JAW PERMENANTLY INJURED. I AM AN 5' 5 1/2" TALL AND DO NOT SIT PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW WITH THE DESIGN OF THE AIRBAG.*AK

NHTSA #: 745295
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: May 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER WHEN IT CROSSED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT FRONTAL AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *NOTE: CONNSUMER'S WIFE WAS INJURED, SUFFERED BACK INJURIES.*AK *JB

NHTSA #: 887962
mediumAIR BAGS,TIRES
CrashFiled: Aug 2000

PE 00020: WHILE DRIVING 75MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. WAS PULLING TO SIDE WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT TOWARDS MEDIAN & HIT GUARDRAIL. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, GOT OUT & CHECKED. NOTICED NO TREAD ON LEFT REAR TIRE. NO SERIOUS INJURY. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE P235/75R15 WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT. DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE.*AK

NHTSA #: 867864
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: May 2000

WHEN TRUCK CRASHED INTO A HORSE HEAD-ON, TRAVELING ABOUT 38 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. DRIVER WAS INJURED. DAMAGES ESTIMATED AT $10,000 DOLLARS. *AK *ML

NHTSA #: 861242
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2000

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONT END COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA #: 856538
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Dec 1999

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT FENDER AREA. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED OF VEHICLE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YC

NHTSA #: 853655
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 1999

WHILE WAITING AT THE STOP LIGHT A VAN HAD FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY & REARENDED EXPLORER. VEHICLE THEN REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA #: 851435
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jul 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA #: 842634
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jun 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, EXPLORER RAN INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T PREVENT CONSUMER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD AND FALLING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, ALTHOUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID. *AK *ML

NHTSA #: 839838
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 1998

THE ABSENCE OF A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DISABLE SWITCH HAS FAILED THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF THE COUNTRY, MORALLY. I AM APPAULED THE MANUFACTURERS WON'T RECALL THESE VEHICLES, OR GIVE OWNERS THE OPTION FOR FREE DISABLE SWITCHES TO BE INSTALLED. IN ADDITION, WITH ALL THE REPORTS OF DEATHS TO INFANTS AND TEENS WITH DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS, I'M INSULTED THAT I NEED MY GOVERNMENTS PERMISSION TO INSTALL A DISABLE SWITCH TO PROTECT MY FAMILY. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, EVERYONE KNOWS IT. THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE. IT SHOULD BE A MASSIVE RECALL. NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE ALL MANUFACTURERS TO RETROFIT ALL VEHICLES WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WITH DISABLE SWITCHES. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.CONCERN ABOUT AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH. ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

NHTSA #: 701355
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Sep 1998

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING INJURIES. VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA #: 540765
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Mar 1998

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH.

NHTSA #: 532442
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Aug 1997

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH OWNER WAS IN DIRECT FRONTAL CRASH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERS. *AK

NHTSA #: 815107
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: Jun 1997

CAR WAS HIT IN THE RIGHT FRONT AT 50MPH AND THEN HIT IN REAR WHEN THE AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS DID NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA #: 813296

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