13 of the
243 complaints about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport are about the
airbag system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
83,000 miles.
F
13
Complaints
8
Crashes
1
Fires
9
Injuries
Exactly what failed
AIR Bags
861.5%
Frontal
538.5%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 111,150 milesWhite Plains, MDCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING AN ICE STORM AND LOST CONTROL OF HER 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT SUV AND STRUCK A TREE. SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT SUSTAINED MAJOR SHEETMETAL AND FRAME DAMAGE. THE RADIATOR WAS PUSHED IN AND DESTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #10446789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 123,057 milesOverland Park, KSCrash
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD, DRIVER 2 CARS AHEAD OF ME CAME TO A DEAD STOP. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HIT BRAKES HARD, I ALSO HIT MY BRAKES HARD, ON WET PAVEMENT. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT KICK IN, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP.MY CAR SLID INTO THE REAR END OF DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. AS I HAD JUST COME THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE WET PAVEMENT CAUSED MY CAR TO SKID QUITE A WAYS. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE INCLUDED THE ENTIRE BUMPER COVER BUCKLING, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WERE DAMAGED AND BROKEN OUT. NONE OF THE COMPONENTS WERE PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER WAS JOLTED FORWARD AND ALMOST HIT THE WINDSHIELD DESPITE HAVING SEAT BELT ON. I WAS JOLTED FORWARD AS WELL WITH SEAT BELT ON, AND MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10381949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesSutter, CA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING OFF AND ON. DON'T KNOW IF AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY OR NOT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FORD HAS A SAFEY MEMO OUT ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WON'T RECALL BECAUSE THEY SAY IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10322728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 milesEvansville, INCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE DIVIDER ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THE CRASH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE MANUFACTURER DISCONNECTED THE CALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
NHTSA complaint #10298572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, AL1 injured
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SRS LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10108669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maple Valley, WACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
WE WERE TRAVELING 35MPH IN SNOWY/ICYCONDITIONS. WE SLID INTO A TELEPHONE POLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND TOTALED THE SUV WITHOUT ANY AIRBAGS GOING OFF AND THE SEATBELTS COMING OUT OF THE LOCK. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD VIA TWO LETTERS BUT THE WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF IN THAT TYPE OF COLLISION EVEN WITH PHOTOS TO PROVE. WE NEED HELP. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT "SHOULD" HAVE HAPPENED IN THAT TYPE OF INCIDENT. WE RECEIVED HEAD INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10063891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eutawville, SC1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE INSIDE COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER WAS COMPLETELY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND HIS GLASSES WERE KNOCKED OF HIS FACE. *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesPort Orchard, WACrashFire1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER EXPERIENCING A SEIZURE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. A FIRE CONSUMED THE VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER'S BACK WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10042588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,000 milesMadison, WI
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, INDICATING AIRBAGS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AFTER EIGHT UNSUCCESFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, FORD REPLACED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10003328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesFort Benning, GACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISON WITH MY 01 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, IN WHICH THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. NEITHER MY DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OPENED. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED RECENTLY SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIDN'T OPEN WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE
NHTSA complaint #10000666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmdale, FL
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 70MPH IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
NHTSA complaint #8022930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, MICrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE ALMOST AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED MOMENTS AFTER IMPACT. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, AND PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON REARVIEW MIRROR. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #8012045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, MICrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE ALMOST AT A STOP, VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON, BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER OR PASSENGER. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGERS HEAD HIT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF AFTER IMPACT TO VEHICLE. THE DEALER RESET THEM BEFORE THEY COULD SEE THEM. THEY WERE RESET IMPROPER. THE BAG IS VISIBLE, NO ALARMS ARE WORKING AND THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE HANGING LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #8012046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.