FaultScore

1999 Ford Explorer Sport airbag problems

10 of the 127 complaints about the 1999 Ford Explorer Sport are about the airbag system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,750 miles.

F

10

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 4 40.0%
Frontal 2 20.0%
Sensor/Control Module 2 20.0%
Side/Window 2 20.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 102,000 miles Sacramento, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE, THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT JUST CRANKS AND CRANKS,BUT, WILL NOT TURN OVER.....AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT IS NOT. THERE ARE MANY TRICKS TO GETTING THIS THING TO START THOUGH. IF THE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP ALL OF THE WAY, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN BEFORE NOON, IT WONT START. IF I DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COOL OUTSIDE, IT WILL ALMOST ALWAYS START LATER IN THE DAY. IF I DON'T DRIVE IT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON, AND THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN LEFT DOWN AND IT IS PARKED IN THE SHADE, IT WILL ALMOST ALWAYS START. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 2 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY HAVE REPLACED RELAY SWITCH'S AND FUEL FILTER, BUT HAS NOT HELPED. I HAVE NOTICED THE "THEFT LIGHT" BLINKS RAPIDLY WHEN IT WONT START, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO THEFT DEVICE ACTIVATED IN THE VEHICLE!!! THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T ROLE DOWN HALF THE TIME, AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT "LOCK UP" EVERY TIME SOMEONE USES THEM TO THE POINT WHERE WHOM EVER IS USING IT HAS TO TAKE IT OFF AND LET IT RETRACT ALL THE WAY TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES DURING A TRIP IN THE CAR. I AM OVER ALL DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CAR AT THIS POINT, AND WOULD LOVE TO SELL IT, BUT, I CAN NOT PREDICT FROM DAY TO DAY IF IT WILL EVEN START FOR A BUYER TO TEST DRIVE IT!!!! THE STARTING ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS, THE OTHER ISSUES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10235583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Sacramento, CA

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE, THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT JUST CRANKS AND CRANKS,BUT, WILL NOT TURN OVER.....AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT IS NOT. THERE ARE MANY TRICKS TO GETTING THIS THING TO START THOUGH. IF THE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP ALL OF THE WAY, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN BEFORE NOON, IT WONT START. IF I DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COOL OUTSIDE, IT WILL ALMOST ALWAYS START LATER IN THE DAY. IF I DON'T DRIVE IT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON, AND THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN LEFT DOWN AND IT IS PARKED IN THE SHADE, IT WILL ALMOST ALWAYS START. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 2 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY HAVE REPLACED RELAY SWITCH'S AND FUEL FILTER, BUT HAS NOT HELPED. I HAVE NOTICED THE "THEFT LIGHT" BLINKS RAPIDLY WHEN IT WONT START, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO THEFT DEVICE ACTIVATED IN THE VEHICLE!!! THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T ROLE DOWN HALF THE TIME, AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT "LOCK UP" EVERY TIME SOMEONE USES THEM TO THE POINT WHERE WHOM EVER IS USING IT HAS TO TAKE IT OFF AND LET IT RETRACT ALL THE WAY TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES DURING A TRIP IN THE CAR. I AM OVER ALL DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CAR AT THIS POINT, AND WOULD LOVE TO SELL IT, BUT, I CAN NOT PREDICT FROM DAY TO DAY IF IT WILL EVEN START FOR A BUYER TO TEST DRIVE IT!!!! THE STARTING ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS, THE OTHER ISSUES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10235583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sinking Spring, PA

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT LIGHTS UP WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.

NHTSA complaint #10131337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deerfield Beach, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

ROLL OVER ACCIDENT INVOLVING 1992 FORD EXPLORER. *MR THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH HER GRANDSON AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY, HIT A TREE AND THE MEDIAN, FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, LANDED ON THE ROOF AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10083352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Long Beach, CA

AIR BAGS

PURCHASED A 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IN OCTOBER 2003. THE VEHICLE HAD 59303 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. WE FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT IS FAULTY ELECTRICAL AND OUR AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY. APPARENTLY OUR BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY (MINUS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) DOES NOT COVER SAFETY ITEMS. THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM WON'T HELP US. NOW WE ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10062451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Safety Harbor, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10040648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,750 miles Glen Allen, VA

AIR BAGS

BYPASS WIRING HARNESS FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT.

NHTSA complaint #10030739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Falls Church, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

I WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT AND MY CAR ALMOST ROLLED OVER. I HIT THE HIGHWAY RAILING AND MY CAR WAS DAMAGED PRETTY BADLY IN THE FRONT AND SIDE. THE CAR WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION HOWEVER, NO AIRBAG CAME OUT. THREE MONTHS LATER MY AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED ON. THE LIGHT REMAINS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10007875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson Heights, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIRBAG LIGHT REMIANS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIR HARNEST SYSTEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA complaint #8023439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Wylie, SC

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND NOT GO OUT. CONSUMER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM ONCE ALREADY, AND THEN AFTER DOING IT AGAIN, DEALER HAD THE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM REPLACED.*AK AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR THE THIRD TIME. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM FOR 2ND TIME.

NHTSA complaint #8010925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Ford Explorer Sport problems

← Full 1999 Ford Explorer Sport report