2004 Ford Explorer Air Bags & Restraints Problems

All four side curtain airbags deployed while I was driving my car in a parking lot. There was no collision and no reason whatsoever for the airbags to deploy. The airbags in the dash did not deploy. The airbag hit me in the side of the head and shrapnel from the airbag, hit me in the face and eyes and knocked me sideways toward the passenger seat. I was completely stunned and had piercing pain throughout my head and neck. I was able to pull into a parking spot and call police dispatch, and get the car towed. The car will be inspected tomorrow by the insurance company, but because there was no reason for the airbags to deploy, this could be a major problem! Imagine if I was driving on the freeway or in another situation and the airbags just deployed for no reason with no warning. Please take immediate action to get these unsafe airbags off the road. The car will be inspected by the insurance company in the morning and the service provider in the following days. If you would like those reports, I will be happy to send them to you.

The contact's son owned a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her son was driving in the rain at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned as he rounded a corner. The vehicle slid into a ditch and hit a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's son and his friend were both transported to the hospital for their injuries. Her son was treated for soreness in various parts of his body and was released the same day. Her son's friend had to remain in the hospital overnight and his injuries were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the independent collision center where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired or destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS DRIVING AN 04 FORD EXPLORER WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO-LANE ROAD AT LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BUT NOT BEFORE SUSTAINING AN INJURY TO MY EAR AND NOT BEFORE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO HER RIGHT ARM. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD, WHICH ADVISED TO CARRY THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS UNCONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. HE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS ONLY TO REPORT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. I REPEAT, I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS OF COURSE QUITE CONCERNING TO ME BUT FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE. PLEASE FOLLOW-UP ON THE SAFETY OF FORD'S VEHICLES.

SEATBELT MECHANISM FOR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS INOPERABLE. IT DOESN'T LOCK AFTER YOU PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON. THE MECHANISM YOU PUT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE IN IS GOOD BUT AFTER THAT THE LOCK MECHANISM FOR THE BELT TO RETRACT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING OR PARKED.

THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED (APPROX 5-10 MPH) ON A BUMPY ROAD. THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A TREE, A LIGHT POST, AND AN ELECTRICAL BOX. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE TOW COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 291,000.

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT HAS COME UNLOCKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES I TUG HARD EVERY TIME I BUCKLE UP TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLICKED AND IT HAS UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH I DOUBLE CHECK IT.

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY ON THERE OWN MAKING A BIG BLAST WITHOUT BEEN INVOLVING IN ACCIDENT I DON'T KNOW WATT CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY THIS COULD BEEN A BIG ACCIDENT IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED RESULTING IN POSSIBLE DEATH

TAKATA RECALL I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON HWY 701, I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A CEMENT CULVERT GOING 45MPH AND MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY I SUFFERED 2 SPINAL FRACTURES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AND LOCK IN POSITION. THE CONTACT CALLED SANDERS FORD (LOCATED AT 1006 W CORBRELT AVE, SWANSBORO, NC 28584, 910-326-1801) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

2004 FORD EXPLORER TRAVELING 40-45MPH ON A RURAL ROAD. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT A "S" CURVE AND HIT AN UTILITY POLE WITH THE FRONT END. THE POLE WAS SNAPPED IN HALF. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE. 35 LB DOG WAS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. DRIVER HIT HIS CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL BRUISING HIS LUNG. DRIVER ALSO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A LACERATION (APPROXIMATELY 1.5") DOWN TO HIS SKULL. DRIVER WAS TRANSFERRED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL AND ADMITTED FOR 48 HOURS. THE CANINE BROKE HER BACK AND HAD TO BE PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THE LIFT GATE ON MY TRUCK IS CRACKING AND GETTING WORSE. TWO OF MY SEATBELTS ARE HARD TO GET OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND THEY ARE SO TIGHT THAT THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE WEARER.

SIGNIFICANT FRONT END IMPACT WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT ON A CITY STREET.

THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AS INDICATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.

THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 3/20/2016 - THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT.

TAKATA RECALL I WAS TRAVELING HOME ON A LOCAL CITY STREET. I WAS COMING TO AN INTERSECTION WITH CARS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE BEEN GOING NO MORE THAN 35 MPH AT THE MOST WHEN THE "SIDE" AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVERS AND DASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY THE FOUR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH AND NOT BUMPY. I DID NOT HIT THE BRAKES HARD. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR DID ANYTHING HIT ME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THEM TO DEPLOY. NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT BECAUSE I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A SPEED THAT WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE MADE CALLS TO FORD AND MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ONE LISTED FOR THE RECALL AT THIS TIME.

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH AT 1:00 PM I WAS GOING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 52 OUT OF ROCHESTER WHEN THE SIDE AIRBAGS IN MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG STRUCK THE SIDE OF MY FACE. AFTER REALIZING WHAT HAPPENED I COULD NOT SEE OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOWS OF MY TRUCK (SAFETY HAZARD AS THE AIRBAGS ARE NOW BLOCKING VISION OF THE HIGHWAY), SO I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY (VERY DANGEROUS). BECAUSE I WAS SO SHAKEN UP I HAD TO STAND OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE AS I WAS SO SCARED THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG WAS NEXT. I HAD SOMEONE COME PICK ME UP. I LEFT THE VEHICLE THERE AND WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS PROBABLY NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTYWHAT??? ON MONDAY I CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CASE WAS BEING ESCALATED TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL AND THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 24 HOURS. I CALLED AGAIN ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEND AN E-MAIL TO HAVE THE REP CALL ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WEDNESDAY I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEND AN EMAIL AND THEY ALSO CONNECTED ME TO A VOICEMAIL SO I LEFT A MESSAGE. I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL AT 5:00 ON THURSDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT FORD WILL PAY FOR THE COST TO DOWNLOAD THE DATA I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WANT COMPENSATION AND I WANT ANSWERS! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, I COULD HAVE KILLED OTHERS IF I HAD LOST CONTROL, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR FORD EXPLORER, HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS WAITING TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HER HAD ALSO STOPPED. SHE GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR WHO FAILED TO STOP AND WAS GOING AT UNSAFE SPEED, ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT, AND PUSHED OUR EXPLORER ONTO A TRUCK. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DAUGHTER HIT HER FACE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

DRIVER #1(ME) WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON STATESVILLE RD. DRIVER #1 STATED THAT SHE WAS INITIALLY A FEW CAR LENGTHS BEHIND VEHICLE #2. DRIVER #1 STATED THAT VEHICLE #2 MADE A SUDDEN STOP. DRIVER #1 STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND STRUCK VEHICLE #2 IN THE REAR. DRIVER #2 STATED THAT HE STOPPED TO TURN INTO CENTER AND WAS REAR ENDED BY VEHICLE #1. WITNESSES, STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE HONDA (VEHICLE #2) APPEARED TO HAVE OVER SHOT HIS TURN, AND SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE PVA. *TR

REAR LIFT GATE PLASTIC CRACKED THROUGH FORD LOGO WITH NO CONTACT. THIRD ROW SEATBELT STUCK AND HARD TO RELEASE.