27 of the 2,150 complaints about the 1997 Ford Explorer are about the airbag system — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 105,000 miles.
27
Complaints
25
Crashes
0
Fires
13
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
I WAS IN A FRONTAL CRASH ON 01/24/2012 THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.CAUSING INJURIES, SEAT BELTS WERE WORE.
NHTSA complaint #10445860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10181400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 complaint #10152109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 25 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10066938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LAST MONTH WHICH STATED CLOCKSPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10032191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *NLM *TS *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BEEN IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS PRESENT TIME. MR
NHTSA complaint #8022584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HAD HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #8020304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HAD COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8020171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
NHTSA complaint #8002738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 40 TO 50MPH, WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #891093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #745295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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
NHTSA complaint #887962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD STUCK WHILE DRIVING. THIS INCREASED SPEED OF VEHICLE WHILE GOING 60MPH. WAS TRYING STOP VEHICLE BY STEPPING ON BRAKES. BUT, VEHICLE HIT A BUILDING, TIRES WERE STILL SPINNING AFTER IMPACT. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #885614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #867864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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
NHTSA complaint #861242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONT END COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #856538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
NHTSA complaint #853655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #851435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #842634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
NHTSA complaint #839838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #701355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING INJURIES. VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #540765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
STARTED APPLYING BRAKES AFTER GOING 30MPH. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. REARENDED SEVERAL VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. PRIOR TO IMPACT, CV JOINT MADE KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE FOR KNOCKING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #822673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #532442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #815107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CAR WAS HIT IN THE RIGHT FRONT AT 50MPH AND THEN HIT IN REAR WHEN THE AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS DID NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #813296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.