2011 FORD EXPLORER Air Bags Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the air bag warning light being illuminated and the dealer diagnosed that the front passenger’s side air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the part was ordered; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted regarding NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); in February 2024 and the contact was informed there were no parts available for the recall repair. In July 2024 the contact received a letter stating that parts were available, and an appointment was scheduled for October 2024. At the time of the appointment, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 30,000

Pursuant to the attached pdf file this relates to component parts of the air bag system. When these connections fail or have an issue it disables all of the safety features in the vehicle related to the air bag system and will prevent airbag deployment or any operation in a crash. This has been an issue since we purchased the car used with around 35,000 miles on it. Multiple repair attempts have failed. At 61,000 mile I was told that they would have to replace the connections but since it was more than 60,000 miles the cost of that repair would be out of my pocket as they would no longer honor any warranty coverage. Ford customer service in Dearborn agreed with that assessment. The cost estimate at that time was given at a minimum of $3000.00 dollars. This issue remains unresolved to this day and time as I have tried to appeal that decision and while I have tried to find an independent repair shop that would do this work. To date no independent shop will do this as it effects a safety system. At a 100,000+ miles now I am transporting my grandchildren in this car without the benefit of an operating airbag system due to Ford's continued failures.

The airbag warning light keeps coming on after continued checks and fixes. The dealership zip tied connector c211 and the light went off for a bit then came back on, the seat belt has been replaced but the light came back on, and all other components have been checked but no matter what the fix the light stays on. This is an issue many people have and Ford should be responsible for fixing it.

Driver side window panel flew off during my drive on the interstate directly after I noticed it being loose for the first time. 3rd row seatbelts leak when it rains on both sides. Rear backup camera is opposite/flipped and goes in and out. Trunk will close on you after opening it up with the car not running. It will not sense movement when the car is off and continues to shut resulting in harm.

The dash lights go off then it's says starting rebot. Air bag lights stay on. Check engine light on says miss firng. All Carfax report was forged. Dealer said needs new engine but was not told by seller. No one will fix it they say not worth the price for car. I over paid big time. Got lied too.

2011 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THAT DURING A COLLISION THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Airbag fault

Airbag light stays on after have completed all the fixes as stated in the official TSB 12-5-11 05/29/12. The steering has become extremely difficult to turn at low speeds or moving for a complete stop. It is freezing up and get harder as time goes by. The recall is expired, but the symptoms are the exact same as the recall stated.

MY AIR BAG CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON 3 YEARS, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP A D THEY DISCOVERED THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER HAD SHORTED OUT. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND THE SAME LIGHT IS BACK ON FOR WHAT I IMAGINE IS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AGAIN! THE LIGHT STAYS ON FROM THE TIME THE CAR IS STARTED TILL IT'S TURNED OFF.

Mileage: 153,000

AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY. NO CORRELATION TO TEMPERATURE OR HUMIDITY. NO CORRELATION TO BEING IN MOTION OR STOPPED. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME (I.E. MONTHS). BASED ON RESEARCH I'VE DONE, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG INDICATOR IS LIT, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH OF IT BEING ON STEADILY, I HAD IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP, FRANKLIN FORD, IN FRANKLIN, MA. THEY FIXED IT THROUGH A TSB WHERE CONNECTORS WERE CLEANED AND RE-GREASED WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE. THIS FIX LASTED ABOUT 1 YEAR. AFTER THIS TIME PERIOD THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON, AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH OF STEADILY ON, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING THE SAME TSB METHOD. THIS LEADS TO A LOGICAL ASSUMPTION THAT THIS FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARY AND I WILL CONTINUOUSLY NEED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I'VE READ ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF SEVERAL OTHER USERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE.

Mileage: 80,000

DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN,.CALL DEALER FORD AL PIEMONTE AND MAKE AND APPOINTMENT BUT THEY SAY IS NOT A RECALL ,THEY DIDN'T REPAIRED AS YET.( WHAT CAN I DO?) IN MELROSE PARK ILLINOIS. I TOOK THIS TRUCK FOR A RECALL IN 2017 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND AT THAT TIME THEY FIX IT NOT THIS TME.

Mileage: 61,359

NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO AIRBAG SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND PREVIOUS REPAIRS INCLUDE, SEATBELT TENSIONER, SEVRERAL JUMPERS AROUND THE CONNECTION UNDERNEATH DRIVERS SEAT, AS WELL AS SOME KIND OF PROGRAMMING IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. IVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR AIIRBAG ISSUES. PLEASE DO A FULL INSPECTION OF THE AIRBAG SYTEM INCLUDING FAULTY WIRING HARNESS!!!

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF.

Mileage: 70,000

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT IS ON ALL THE TIME WILL NOT SHUT OFF

Mileage: 122,000

THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYING ON FOR NO REASON . I FEEL THIS IS REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE AIR BAGS WONT INFLATE IF LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MATTER AND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO OWN THIS VEHICLE.

THE "SYNC" TOUCHSCREEN STOPPED WORKING. ONCE THIS HAPPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SETS TO "OFF" ALL THE TIME. THE FORD DEALER REPORTS IT REQUIRES A NEW APIN, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR 5 YEARS FROM DATE OF NEW PURCHASE.

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON , POSSIBLE AIR BAG FAIL

Mileage: 99,000

MY CAR HAS ABOUT 95K MILES. CURRENTLY IT IS IN THE SHOP GETTING 2 THINGS DONE. A PART IS ORDERED FOR AIR BAG. I'VE HAD SEVERAL AIRBAG ISSUES NEEDED SERVICE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE POWER STEERING UNIT. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM DIBLASIO IN 2012 W/ ABOUT 7K MILES ON IT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FORD. SEPT 2016 THE ORIGINAL POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. 14 MONTHS LATER THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOW FAILED AND IS BEING REPLACED! THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK GOD!!!!! THE POWER ASSIST DID NOT FAIL OR SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT TIME THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. I NO LONGER TRUST THIS CAR. THE PS UNIT IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ONCE, YET TWICE. WITH THE SECOND TIME TAKING ONLY 14 MONTHS TO FAIL. I CALL FORD CORPORATE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THAT I NO LONGER TRUST THE CAR. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE ARTICLES ABOUT A PS UNIT RECALL IN THE 2014S. I DON'T RECALL EVER RECEIVING A NOTICE ABOUT MY VEHICLE AND ONLY BROUGHT IT IN WHEN IT STARTED ACTING ODD IN 2016. FORD ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO. AT THIS POINT I SAID I NO LONGER WANT THE CAR AND DO NOT WANT TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE WITH WHAT I KNOW AND FEAR. I THOUGHT FORD SHOULD BUY IT BACK FROM ME AT A REASONABLE PRICE AND I WILL GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR SHOW AND THE PERSON CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WERE SORRY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THAT ANY TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM I SHOULD BRING IT TO THE DEALER. I AM DISGUSTED WITH FORD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. I NEED HELP PLEASE. I FEAR ANYONE DRIVING THIS CAR ONCE I GET IT BACK TOMORROW.

Mileage: 95,000

BOUGHT USED-AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME-- KIRK FORD FIXED IT AT DEALER COST FROM BARKSDALE CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED.. AIR BAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND WHEN I TALKED TO THEM THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE CAUSING IT. . HUSBAND FIGHTIN G CANCER AND I COULD NO GET THR RECALL ON DOOR HANDLE FIXED. HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND I DONT HAVE FUNDS TO GET AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED..I DONT KNOW THE BRAND OF AIR BAG.SO I DONT KNOW IF IT IS TAKATA

Mileage: 48,355

2011 FORD EXPLORER THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 03/2011 AND THAT HAS AN ISSUE ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON AND OFF AT THE VERY FIRST MONTH OF THE CAR PURCHASE IT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY CHECKED AND FIXED FOR FREE WITHIN THE TIME WARRANTY. THEN I HAVE TO COME AND PAY ALMOST EVERY YEAR TO FIX THE AIRBAG LIGHT.

DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR FOR AIRBAGS. I DON'T RECALL WHEN/CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT FIRST CAME ON.

Mileage: 79,000

RESTRAINTS INDICATOR LAMP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SETUP THIS FRIDAY WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, BUT WHEN I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE, I FOUND THAT A TON OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. A MAJORITY WERE RESOLVED BY FIXING A CONNECTION UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.

PURCHASED USED VEHICLE JANUARY 2017. MARCH 2017 AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY AT START, WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE, OR TRAVELING AT VARIABLE SPEEDS. APRIL 2017 AIRBAG LIGHT NOW ILLUMINATES 95% OF TIME AT START AND REMAINS ON THROUGHOUT OPERATION. FORD DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED AIRBAG CODE B1212, ADVISING HIGH ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE IN GEAR SHIFTER REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AS WILL NOT INDICATE TO VEHICLE SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM THAT VEHICLE IS IN PROPER GEAR AND THEREFOR PASS FAULT DETECTING SYSTEM. REPAIR/REPLACEMENT APPROXIMATELY $515.00. TSB-12-5-11 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CODE, WAS APPLIED WITH NO RESOLVE. FAULT DISABLES CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM, IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IS OWNER'S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS AN ENORMOUS CONSUMER REPORTING TREND FOR THIS DEFECT IN MAKE/MODEL. RECOMMEND RECALL INVESTIGATION AS COMMON TREND THAT DISABLES CRITICAL VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURE IDENTIFIED BY MANUFACTURER IN TSB-12-5-11. INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER SUBSTANTIATES MULTIPLE AND REPEATED OWNER/MANUFACTURER HISTORICAL DATA SUPPORTING CLAIM.

Mileage: 64,000

RANDOMLY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS RESET, INDICATING THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE SRS SYSTEM. HAPPENS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, DURING THE INITIAL TESTING OF COMPONENTS. UPON SEARCHING ONLINE, THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF PEOPLE WITH EXPLORERS BETWEEN 2011-2015 WITH THIS PROBLEM.

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES OFF & ON WHEN DRIVING. WHEN LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG WILL NOT OPERATE IN A CRASH.

DIAGNOSE AND ADVISED THAT DRIVER PRETENSIONER IS FAULTY. I HAVE TO PAY $400 PLUS TO HAVE THIS REPLACEMENT. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON WITH FAULTY PRETENSIONER IT MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 69,000

MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

Mileage: 78,000

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHICH SHUTS DOWN THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2011. IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.

Mileage: 82,000

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON; DEALER CHECKED & RECOMMENDS REMOVING CENTER CONSOLE TO GREASE CONNECTORS. THEY SAY THIS MAY FIX PROBLEM; ESTIMATE $450-$500; THEY DID CHECK CONNECTORS UNDER SEAT AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO SAY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WHEN DUE (MAR 2017).

Mileage: 125,000

I HAVE MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASH, AND MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS CAR IS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS. MY PASSENGER BACK SEAT BELT CASE IS BROKEN AS WELL. THE STITCHING ON THE SEAT BELT SEEM TO BE TEARING. THIS IS ONLY A 2011 FORD EXPLORER IT IS WAY TO YOUNG FOR ALL THESE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. MY MECHANIC CANT FIGURE IT OUT.

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD HAS NOT ADDRESS THIS AS A RECALL. FORD NEEDS TO THINK THAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. LIKE IF A SAFETY BELT DONT WORK THEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A LIFETIME WARRANTY.TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE THE AIRBAG WORKS BUT CAN KILL YOU AND WHEN AIRBAGS DOES NOT WORK IT CAN KILL ALSO.SO WHY DOES NOT FORD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THEIR VEHICLES SPECIALLY 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORERS

Mileage: 80,000

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON. WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER IS BAD. WAS QUOTED $450 TO REPAIR. AFTER REFUSING TO HAVE THE WORK DONE I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ON EXPLORERFORUM.COM SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE THE CONNECTIONS CHECKED UNDER THE SEAT AND I HAVE NOW FOUND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER NEVER SUGGESTED TRYING TO GREASE THE CONNECTIONS, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE MADE THEIR OWNERS AWARE OF, SINCE WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 106,820

I HAVE AN AIR BAG LIGHT THAT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME, BUT WILL SOMETIMES GO AWAY. IT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST A MONTH NOW. THE CAUSE IS A LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED. APPARENTLY THE FORD FIX ACCORDING TO TSB (ATTACHED) IS APPLY GREASE TO THE CONNECTORS. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ACROSS THE INTERNET. THERE IS A 12 PAGE THREAD ON EXPLORER FORUMS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO IT. MY DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. HOW CAN A LOOSE CONNECTOR THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED NOT BE? TWO TO THREE HOURS OF LABOR IS A SMALL PRICE FOR FORD TO PROVIDE SAFETY TO THEIR OWNERS. HERE IS A LINK TO THREAD DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM HTTPS://WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=349429

Mileage: 60,000

I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WERE INTERMITTENT. FIRST, THE VOLUME BUTTON FAILED AND THEN CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SOMETIMES CANCEL ON ITS OWN, CAUSING A SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF SPEED WHILE I THOUGHT IT WAS ENGAGED. THE "RESUME" AND "CANCEL" BUTTON FUNCTIONS ALSO SWAPPED. "RESUME" WOULD CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL AND "CANCEL" WOULD RESUME CRUISE. I ONLY FIGURED THIS OUT AFTER PRESSING CANCEL WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL TO SLOW THE CAR FOR TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME AND IT DID NOT RESPOND OR SLOW THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED AT ITS SET SPEED UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW IT. THE DIAGNOSIS FOR THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THEY REINSTALLED SOFTWARE WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT YET HAVE THE INVOICE FROM THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCK SPRING BECAUSE IT HAS NOT YET BEEN PAID WHILE I TEST THE REPAIR. THE CLOCK SPRING DID APPEAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT PERRY FORD IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA.

Mileage: 43,000

WHEN I START MY CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE PRESSURE IN AN AIRBAG IS NOT ACCURATE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME $300 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND NOT A WARE AND TEAR PROBLEM THAT I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR. ALONG WITH THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING OR NOT DEPLOYING DUE TO THE PRESSURE NOT BEING CORRECT IN THE AIRBAGS.

Mileage: 40,000

THE DASH "CHECK AIR BAG" LIGHT IS ON. ITS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE THE "CHECK AIR BAG" LIGHT IS ON, THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. OUT OF REGULAR WARRANTY, DO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN FROM FORD, BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR DEDUCTIBLE.

Mileage: 63,000

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON WITH NO DEALER ABLE TO FIX. WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE LIGHT ON

Mileage: 20,000

VEHICLE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND EXTINGUISHED SPORADICALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE STAYING ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATE FAILURE OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. TROUBLESHOOTING, RESEARCH, AND DIAGNOSTICS HAVE REVEALED POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AT VARIOUS CONNECTORS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR THE SRS SYSTEM. DEALER SERVICE HAS INDICATED POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM TO PERFORM ITS FUNCTION (PRE-TENSIONERS, AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ETC) IF THIS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.

Mileage: 40,000

I PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED" USED 2011 EXPLORER BASE WITH 3500 MILES IN MARCH 2014 FROM FORD DEALER. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN MAY AND STAYED ON STEADY...DEALER REPLACED MASTER MODULE (UNDER WARRANTY) AFTER A WEEK OF WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, THEY TOLD ME WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON, IT INDICATED THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND THEY WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE PART, A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW SERIOUS THEY CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM. LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON THREE MORE TIMES SINCE (EVERY 6-8 WEEKS). EACH TIME SINCE, DEALER HAS "GREASED" ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO GO OFF ONLY TEMPORARILY. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, WE ARE USUALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT PROTECTED BY THIS CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. ASIDE FROM THE EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION THIS POSES TO MY FAMILY, IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER EVERY SEVERAL WEEKS TO HAVE THEM ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX THE ISSUE. BASED ON OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I EXPECT THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR ME UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM ANY LONGER. I APPROACHED THE DEALER'S GENERAL MANAGER AND MY REGIONAL FORD REP ABOUT BUYING THE VEHICLE BACK BUT THEY BOTH TOLD ME THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE ME WHAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH (WHICH WOULD PUT ME IN A LARGE FINANCIAL HOLE)... *JS

Mileage: 3,500

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY TELL ME EACH TIME THEY FIXED IT. I DRIVE IT SOME AND THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR THE TENTH TIME I HAVE PAPER TRAILS AND PICTURES TO PROVE IT. I ENDED UP MAKING AN APPOINTMENT THE LAST TIME BUT BEFORE I GOT THERE I HIT A DEER END OF MARCH AT 60 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF ONCE THE BODY WORK GOT DONE I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD SHOP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR WERE THE DEER HIT. THEY REPLACED IT THE I DROVE IT EIGHT MILES AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON SO I TURNED AROUND AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE ARE NO CODES THIS TIME I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM TO BUY IT BACK AND THEY WILL NOT. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP FOUR TIME AND THEY HAVE REPLACE THEM EACH TIME AND IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME WITH THEM ALSO. *TR

Mileage: 39,350

A SEAT BELT/AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE DEALERS COULD ONLY INVESTIGATE THIS WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON. AS IT COMES AND GOES, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WHEN I DID, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY AND I WOULD BE CHARGED ABOUT $450. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IF I DID NOT GET IS CORRECTED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY THEREBY EXPOSING ME TO RISK. IT SEEMS THAT A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER INDEFINITELY OR ARE THEY WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WILL NOT BE INJURED FOR AN ERROR ON THEIR PART IN MANUFACTURE. I HAD THE DEFECT REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION OPENED AND POSSIBLE CHARGES AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND POSSIBLY EVEN THEIR DEALERSHIP NETWORK.

Mileage: 54,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 55 MPH WHEN THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERIOR DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP & I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING & TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE FAULT WAS NO LONGER THERE & I DROVE HOME. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VEHICLE CHECKED THE NEXT DAY. LATER ON THAT SAME DAY, MY WIFE & I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, THE SAME FAULT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISPLAYED & THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I KEPT TURNING THE CAR OFF & TRYING TO RESTART, BUT THE FAULT WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY FORD OWNER THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS FINDING PROMPTED ME TO LOOK ON THE FORD WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL BUT THERE IS NONE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME FOR AN 'AIR BAG SAFETY FAULT', ELECTRICAL & VALVE MALFUNCTION, AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE 'AIR BAG FAULT' NEVER DISPLAYED DUE TO THE OTHER FAULT. THE ESTIMATED COST WAS OVER $3,000. ALSO, I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE IN THE INTERIM. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLED PARTS & LEGAL ACTION WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT NO ONE HAD ANY INFORMATION. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE RENTAL & THEY MADE CONTACT WITH FORD COMPANY. THE FORD COMPANY ALLEGEDLY EMAILED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & TOOK $1,000 OFF THE TOTAL COST. I HAVE A WIFE & A BABY. THIS IS OUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IN THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE & I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE FURTHER & RECALL ITS PARTS. PLEASE HELP US & ALL OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON, THE SRS IS DEACTIVATED AS IT IS A CLOSED SYSTEM. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AND IN JAN 2013 THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN. IT WAS FIXED AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS AND RETURNED TO ME, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD IT BACK 7 ADDITIONAL TIMES. HAD I BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY OF THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO HELP PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. TO DATE AT LEAST ONE PRE-TENSIONER, A MODULE, AND A WIRING HARNESS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. *TR

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, AS I WAS BRAKING THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING, AS I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE, JUST BEFORE THE CAR HIT THE GARAGE DOOR WHICH WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ENGAGED, FULLY, STOPPING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ONLY, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND INSTEAD OF HITTING THE GARAGE DOOR IT STRUCK A CONCRETE COLUMN TO THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT OF THE GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR DID NOT ENGAGE SO I WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. WE CONTACTED FORD, FILLED OUT AND RETURNED THE PAPERWORK THEY REQUESTED, AFTER ALMOST FOUR MONTHS OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON FORD THEY DECIDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY COULD COME UP WITH THAT ASSUMPTION AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP FORD NEVER CHECKED IT. WE HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE ONE SKID MARK FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND NONE FROM THE OTHER THREE TIRES. *TR

Mileage: 6,059