FaultScore

2001 Ford Expedition airbag problems

19 of the 739 complaints about the 2001 Ford Expedition are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 92,000 miles.

F

19

Complaints

12

Crashes

2

Fires

14

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 9 47.4%
Frontal 7 36.8%
Sensor/Control Module 1 5.3%
Side/Window 1 5.3%
Inflator Module 1 5.3%

Airbags across every Ford Expedition year

1997 27 9.0%
1998 20 6.7%
1999 19 6.4%
2000 35 11.7%
2001 19 6.4%
2002 16 5.4%
2003 59 19.7%
2004 49 16.4%
2005 10 3.3%
2006 16 5.4%
2017 11 3.7%
2019 18 6.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Washoe Valley, NV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Air Bags did not deploy Impact directly to drivers side of vehicle the other car was going 55 MPH caused me the driver to hit my head on the window hard. I was informed the air bags should have deployed by officer on site.

NHTSA complaint #11713268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Fortville, IN 1 injured

AIR BAGS

SIDE AIR BAG IN DRIVER SEAT DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND IN PARK WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OR IMPACT OF ANY TYPE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN RUNNING LESS THAN 30-45 SECONDS AND DRIVER WAS REACHING FOR SEAT BELT WHEN AIR BAG EXPLODED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE A HAND LACERATION AND TORN COLLATERAL LIGAMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10855183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 169,532 miles EL Paso, TX 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THIS VEHICLE WAS BEING USED TO PULL A STUCK TRUCK FROM THE SAND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INCHING FORWARD TRYING TO PULL THE STUCK TRUCK WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT THE DRIVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT NEAR ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND DID NOT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE DURING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10513364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Lilburn, GA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT T-BONED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BACK TO THE MIDDLE WHERE THE TIRES ARE LOCATED. THE CROSS MEMBER OF THE FRONT OF THE FRAME SPLIT IN HALF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, CHEST, AND KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10239613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Rialto, CA

AIR BAGS

1. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILS WHEN I TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND THE REAR END LOWERS TO THE GROUND. I HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME WITH THE IGNITION ON WHEN I AM PARKED FOR THE TRUCK TO RAISE UP. IT ALSO LOWERS WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR IT TO RAISE UP AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS THROUGHOUT EVERY DAY. I HAVE NOT TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. 2. WHEN IT RAINS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS GOES HAYWIRE. THE STARTER ENGAGES WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND WHEN THE TRUCK IS ALREADY RUNNING; THE LIGHTS FLICKER OR REMAIN ON; THE BLOWER TURNS ON WHEN THE TRUCK IS SHUT OFF; THE RADIO WON'T WORK; THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T WORK; WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING STAYS ON AND THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10217900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,327 miles AE, AE Crash

AIR BAGS

ON 2 FEBRUARY 2008, MY WIFE PUT OUR 2001 FORD EXPEDITION IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT THIS MOMENT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN EXTREME RATE OF SPEED BACKWARDS. MY WIFE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE GLANCED OFF ONE WALL INTO A SMALL VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE, RAN INTO ANOTHER SMALL VEHICLE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE, CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL OF A CHURCH, SPUN AROUND, AND LANDED ON THE PORCH OF A RESIDENTS HOME FOR FINAL REST, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RESIDENTS HOME. OUR 2001 FORD EXPEDITION IS TOTALED OUT. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES TO INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10217773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,166 miles Pixley, CA Fire 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG DEPOLYED,AND CAUSES SOME INJURIES, ON FEB. 5, 2007,

NHTSA complaint #10192514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merritt Island, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED THEN FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10183109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Whiteford, MD 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN THE 2001 FORD EXPEDITION AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE INTO THE PASSENGER, TWISTING HIM AROUND. THE CONTAC WAS IN FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10179401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Roma, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER BUT THE REASON WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALLED. UPDATED 01/19/07.

NHTSA complaint #10173407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Pataskala, OH

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION WITH OPTIONAL SIDE AIR BAGS. WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MY SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AS THE DRIVER STARTED THE CAR. NOTHING WAS DONE YET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10152010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY FORD EXPEDITION WAS REAR ENDED BY A LARGE GARBAGE TRUCK. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THAT HIT. MY TRUCK WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE AND AGAIN THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, BLACK EYE, BRUISED JAW, AND BRUISED TAILBONE. WHY DIDN'T MY AIRBAG GO OFF TO ALLEVIATE THE INJURIES TO ME?

NHTSA complaint #10107540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wylie, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SHEARED OFF. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #10056061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Lexington, KY Crash Fire 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB SCC

NHTSA complaint #10011101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raymondville, TX

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10009070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harvard, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT A SEMI-TRACTOR AND THEN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. AFTER ALL OF THESE COLLISIONS NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT WITH MINOR INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #565982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mokena, IL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE AT A STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8007709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winnettka, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A STORE PARKING LOT SWERVED VEHICLE TO MISS PEDESTRIAN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. ALSO, HIT CONCRETE BUS BENCH/ FIRE HYDRANT, AND WOODEN FENCE.HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #893218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bessemer, NC Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT WAS STOPPED, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #881016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Ford Expedition problems

← Full 2001 Ford Expedition report