There are 50 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The driver was driving down the expressway and her back tire blew out causing her vehicle to spiral out of control and the vehicle then flipped and started rolling downhill, the vehicle airbags did not deploy in the vehicle at all. The driver and her mother are in critical condition. Yes, the safety of others safety was put at risk. I did contact Ford Manufacturer on her behind of the airbags and they said there is nothing they can do for her with the vehicle being totaled out. But my main problem is why these airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is going to be inspected by her insurance company here in the next few days. There were no prior lamps, messages, or anything that would have indicated that the airbags were defective.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MOVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL.
THE PROBLEM THE SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO RETRACT CONSEQUENTLY GETTING ON THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO LOCK, TO STAY OPEN UNSECURED ALSO DAMAGING THE SEAT BELT, IT DOES NO HAVE A WAY TO INCREASE THE TENSION WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE. IT DAMAGED MY DOOR SEAL, MY LOCK MECHANISM AND THE BELT TOO.
ALL SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ACCIDENT. DEPLOYMENT HAPPEND WHILE MY WIFE AND 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MILES PER HOUR DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD IN LONG VALLEY NEW JERSEY. THIS ROAD IS SMOOTH, LEVEL AND FREE OF POT HOLES ETC. UNABLE TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE DOWNED AIRBAGS AND SMOKEY DUST LIKE MATERIAL FROM THE AIRBAGS SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS BEST SHE COULD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWDERY DUST FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG CLOUDED HIS VISION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR END THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION THAT INVOLVED FOUR VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND PAINS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD, FROM WHERE IT WAS LATER PICKED RETRIEVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,700....UPDATED 02/22/17 *BF *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE MEDIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION, A BRUISED STERNUM, BACK AND NECK PAINS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 319,000.
I LOST CONTROL AROUND A BEN GOING 35MPH AFTER IT GOT DONE RAINING AND GOT IN AN ACCIDENT HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND FARM POST AFTER SPINNING ABOUT 4XS CAR IS TOTALED AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF
I WAS DRIVING IN MINUS 20 DEGREE CELSIUS TO TAKE HIGHWAY 15 NORTH FROM JUST AFTER PANAMA BUS STATION. IN THE ENTRANCE, MY CAR START TO SLOW DOWN TO THE 5 KMPH. IN THE BACK OF MY CARS WERE ALL ON THEIR HAZARD LIGHT AND BEING MAD AT ME. SO I DRIVE BACK TO MY HOME TAKING THE NEXT EXIT. I WISH SOMEBODY COULD TAKE THE VIDEOS AND SENT TO THE FORD COMPANY TO LET THEM KNOW MY SITUATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK, ARM, AND KNEES. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED AN INFLAMMATION OF THE LOWER BACK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
MY FIANC AND I PUT OUR 10 MONTH OLD AND OUR 8 YEAR OLD IN THE SEATBELTS AND I GOT IN THE CAR (I AM PREGNANT) AND SHUT MY DOOR AND MY FIANC GOT IN AND SHUT HIS DOOR AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND THE BACK AIRBAGS. WE WERE IN PARK AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO THEY WON'T PAY ANYTHING. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER (WHO I JUST BOUGHT A $50,000 2015 FORD EXPLORER FROM HIM JANUARY 2015) AND HE SAID I COULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK WHO WAS NO HELP. STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. ANYONE I CAN CALL? THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!
MY DAUGHTER AND HER FIANC AND PUT THEIR 10 MONTH OLD AND THEIR 8 YEAR OLD IN THE SEATBELTS AND MY DAUGHTER GOT IN THE CAR (SHE IS PREGNANT) AND SHUT HER DOOR AND HER FIANC GOT IN AND SHUT HIS DOOR AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND THE BACK AIRBAGS. THEY WERE IN PARK AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THEY ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO THEY WON'T PAY ANYTHING. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER (WHO I JUST BOUGHT A $50,000 2015 FORD EXPLORER FROM HIM JANUARY 2015) AND HE SAID I COULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK WHO WAS NO HELP. STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. ANYONE I CAN CALL? THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!
THE PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO RETRACT THE HARNESS CAUSING TO STAY BY THE DOOR AND NOT CLOSING GOOD, IT MEANS THE BELTS IT IS BY THE DOOR MECHANISM JAMMING THE LOCK AND NOT LOCKING PROPERLY ON DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE, I HAD THE DOOR OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALSO DESTROYED MY DOOR SEAL TEARING UP, THE MANUFACTURE FORD DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND EVEN THE NEW ONES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I CHECK ALL THIS STUFF SINCE I WAS A FLEET MAINTENANCE MECHANIC, CAR INSPECTOR. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND FIX THE SAFETY HARNESS FOR GOOD TENSION. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING, ALSO PARKED THE DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY DUE THE HARNESS DID NOT RETRACTED.
I WAS LEAVING THE STORE PARKING LOT. I STARTED THE CAR, PRESSED THE BREAK, PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN SEPTEMBER 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT OR BUMPED IN ANY WAY. I WAS NOT BACKING OUT, I WAS IN DRIVE TO PULL OUT OF THE SPACE. *TR
THE PROBLEM THE SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPRING ACTION TO RETRACT CAUSING TO BE LAYING DOWN AND IT IS GETTING CAUGHT BY THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM MESSING THE BELT PLUS CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO LOCK PROPERLY, EITHER THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOOR CAME UNLOCK SINCE THE HARNESS DID NOT RETRACT. IT NEEDS ATTENTION AND BEING REPLACE BY THE DEALER OR BEING RECALL TO MAKE SURE IT IS REPLACE. THE BELT IS GETTING DAMAGE.
AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS WHEN STARTED AND THEN REMAINS ON. I HAVEN'T HAD IT CHECKED OUT YET BUT I WAS SEEING IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TO SEE IF IT WOULD COVER THE COST TO FIX. *TR
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF DECEMBER 11, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN WITHOUT WARNING BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AND THERE WERE NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO DAMAGE ANYWHERE TO THE VEHICLE. AS OF NOW THERE IS NO REASON WHY THEY DEPLOYED. *TR
FRONT END ACCIDENT DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER AIRBAG,HOWEVER PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO OCCUPANT IN SEAT. *TR
THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH RETRACTION FORCE LIKE IT USED TO BE, THEY HANG OUT, DAMAGING THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM AND DOOR SEAL, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAS BEING A PROBLEM NOT RETRACING THE BELT LIKE IT SUPPOSE TO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED LACERATIONS TO THE LEFT ARM AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS PICKING MY DAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL. WE GOT INTO THE CAR PUT OUR SEATBELTS ON I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN GEAR. I PICKED MY FOOT UP AND MOVED TO THE GAS WHEN I NOTICED A CAR COMING UP FROM BESIDE ME AND THEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD AND PULLING THE DASH COVER AWAY FROM THE RADIO AND AIR VENT. WE CALLED FORD MOTOR AND WE WERE TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE EXAMINED. FORD CUSTOMER CARE HAS LEFT MESSAGES AT OUR HOME NUMBER WHEN WE RETURN THE CALLS WE ASK THEM TO CALL OUR CELL NUMBERS AND THEY WILL NOT. I THINK THE DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO US. A WEEK LATER THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID THAT FORD MOTOR WOULD PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THAT THE AIRBAG FAILING IS NO DIFFERENT THEN HAVING TO CHANGE OUT THE BRAKES FROM WEAR AND TEAR. WE WERE NOT AWARE THAT A SAFETY FEATURE HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE. I WAS TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT A SAFETY FEATURE SHOULD LAST THE LIFT TIME OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THIS I AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING ANY CARS WITH AIRBAGS. WE WERE NOT ASKING FORD MOTOR FOR ANYTHING ADDITIONAL BUT TO JUST REPAIR THE CAR AND WE CAN NEVER TALK TO ANYONE AT THE COMPANY. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026