2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Air Bags 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF TRACTION AND STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, ROLLED OVER AT LEAST FIVE TIMES, AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED THE DRIVER; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE BRUISING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. MILLER MOTOR SALES INC (1196 MILWAUKEE AVE, BURLINGTON, WI 53105, (888) 449-0974) WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A YARD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000.

Mileage: 204,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE UNEXPECTANTLY PULLED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 01/31/11 *BF UPDATED 04/21/11

Mileage: 87,000

ON VACATION WE HAD A TIRE EXPLODE ON THE WAY HOME FROM VACATION TWO EXPLODED ON THE SAME SIDE WITHOUT WARNING WE ROLLED OUR FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC FOUR TIMES BEFORE STOPPING A DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE INVESTIGATED THE TIRE AND FOUND THEY ALL WE BOUGHT NEW HAD 65,000 MILE WARRANTY WE ONLY USED HALF THAT AND FOUND THAT THEY WE ON RECALL FOR A YEAR PRIOR TO FIRESTONE SELLING THEM TO US. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

ON APRIL 12, 2008 MY BOYFRIEND AND I SPENT THE MORNING AT HIS SISTERS HOUSE FOR EASTER. WE DROVE THE TRUCK TO HER HOUSE THAT MORNING AND EVEN MADE A STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE ON THE WAY WITH NO ISSUES. THAT EVENING AROUND 6 WE HAD RETURNED HOME FOR A WHILE AND DECIDED TO GO OUT AGAIN. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. MY BOYFRIEND WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND I WAS STANDING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORWAY ABOUT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TALKING AND HE SHUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, NORMALLY. WHEN HE DID SO THE SIDE AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TRUCK DEPLOYED. HE WAS HIT IN THE FACE AND HAS SINCE HAD A BAD EARACHE AND HEADACHE. I WAS HIT IN MY LEFT ARM CAUSING BRUSH BURNS, SWOLLEN AND TENDERNESS AND BRUISING. WE WERE UNSURE OF HOW TO GET THE AIRBAGS TO SHRINK BACK SO IN AN ANGRY MOVE MY BOYFRIEND SIMPLY CUT THEM DOWN SO WE COULD STILL USE THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOUSE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BUT I HAD NO MORE WARRANTY AVAILABLE. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WAS BEING SENT TO A REVIEW BOARD AND I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM IN WRITING IN 14 BUSINESS DAYS! AT THIS POINT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF HELP I AM GETTING. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

ON AUGUST 8TH 2008 I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR WRECK WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WRECKED IT FLIPPED OVER ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND SLID DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON ITS SIDE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER PANEL OF THE TRUCK. I FEEL THAT THE IMPACT OF THE WRECK SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED AND THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT MAY BE DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF

Mileage: 60,000

APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND RUNNING OUTSIDE OF MY HOME, I SHUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS SHUT WITH NO MORE FORCE THAN NORMAL, HOWEVER I WAS LATER TOLD BY THE FORD SERVICE DEPT. THAT EVEN A SLAM SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THIS DEPLOYMENT. I OPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND DID NOT GO TO FORD, HOWEVER NOW REALIZED I SHOULD HAVE, AS THE VEHICLE WAS THEN IN IT'S LAST MILES OF MY WARRANTY. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS MAY BE ASSOCIATED OR HAVE CAUSED THE DEFAULT OF MY SIDE AIRBAGS, AS THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES JUST PRIOR TO THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED BY THE RESPONSE FORD PROVIDED, HOWEVER EVEN IF I HAD PLACED A COMPLAINT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, ACCORDING TO OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WHICH I READ, IT MAY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED BY FORD. I AM JUST NOW CONTEMPLATING EITHER TRADING THE VEHICLE IN, OR REPLACING THE AIRBAG EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO MEET SAFETY REGULATIONS, AS UP TO THIS POINT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL WITHOUT REPLACEMENT, AFTER ALL, WITH MY MALFUNCTION AND OTHERS NOTED ON THE SITE, AND BY THE FORD SERVICE DEPT, I FEEL THEY ARE MORE A LIABILITY THAN A PROTECTIVE ELEMENT. IT IS A DISTURBING DAY, WHEN FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S SAFETY COMMITMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS NO CAUSE , PRIOR ACCIDENT, OR IMPACT TO HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR THIS SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT. *TR

Mileage: 42,535

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. THE RECIRCULATION BALL AND THE RACK AND PINION FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER CAME AROUND A CORNER AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT 5 MONTHS PRIOR, AND HE BELIEVED THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY FIXED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS ACCIDENT. THE POLICE CONCLUDED THAT THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS AND UPON ROUNDING THE CORNER, HE LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK THE BANK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURN. THE CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUS REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE SUCH AS AN INOPERABLE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND THE REAR VENTS DID NOT BLOW OUT AIR. UPDATED 10/3/06 *JB UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 34,000

THE SIDE AIR BAGS (BOTH) DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. (4 DOOR PICKUP). THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR AND INITIALLY THEY SAID IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY REPAIR BUT CALLED BACK A WEEK LATER INDICATING THAT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANT THE REPAIRS AND THE COST TO ME WOULD BE $2300 TO $2500. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE AND PERHAPS WITH MY GRAND CHILDREN OR DOG IN THE VEHICLE WITH A HAND OR HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW. THE EXPLOSIVE FORCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT HAS ME CONCERNED ABOUT EVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AGAIN NOT TO MENTION THE UNWARRANTED EXPENSE AND THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. IT DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT (NOW NON OP AND BEING REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE) HEADLINER, A PILLAR MOLDINGS, C PILLAR MOLDING ETC. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OR UNIQUE TO MINE. I'M CONTEMPLATING A TRADE IN FOR A TOYOTA. ANY INSIGHT YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM

Mileage: 32,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL DEALER, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS MADE CONCERNING THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

Mileage: 16,800

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN, JUMP A DITCH, AND THEN HIT A POWER POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN KNEE CAP, HIP, AND PELVIS. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS FRONT END DAMAGE AND A BENT FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A LCD MODULE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TELL HER WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WE HAD JUST LEFT A GAS STATION AND WERE ON OUR WAY TO DINNER WHEN OUR SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. WE DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES OR LARGE BUMPS, AND THERE WAS NO COLLISION TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT. MY HUSBAND, THE DRIVER, MANAGED NOT TO SWERVE AND HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING BEFORE PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. WE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES, NECK MUSCLE SORENESS AND TINNITUS IMMEDIATELY AFTER AND FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CALLED A TOW TRUCK FOR US, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR THE CAUSE OF THIS INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT.*AK