2003 Ford Explorer Air Bags Problems
- 28
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 28 stored complaint records:
- 12 indicate a crash
- 9 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- police report · 7 records
- report filed · 7 records
- required medical · 5 records
- medical attention · 5 records
- failure mileage · 5 records
- failed deploy · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 9 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
| 60–100k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Air Bags
Vehicle was in motion, moving through an intersection on a city street and involved in an accident. No air bags deployed at all.
Crash reported
ODI 11176591
Air Bags
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.
ODI 11074711
Air Bags
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…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10944078
Air Bags
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…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10897078
Air Bags
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
Crash reported · 4 injuries
ODI 10874437
Air Bags · Service Brakes · Unknown Or Other
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.
ODI 10826109
Air Bags
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…
Crash reported · 2 injuries
ODI 10794692
Air Bags
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…
ODI 10785530
Air Bags
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…
ODI 10785517
Air Bags · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
Takata recalli brought the truck and the airbag light was flashing 4x4 lights flashing also, smelling oil coming from the deferential on the back axle. Now, the transmission started slipping and he changed a part . Then, the transmission started to slip again. Also,i wanted to switch to another vehicle but he declined it . He said " he put to much work into the truck and all the parts are new in which only the tires…
ODI 10895806
Air Bags
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
ODI 10668628
Air Bags
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
ODI 10667214
Air Bags
Front end accident did not deploy driver airbag,however passenger airbag deployed with no occupant in seat. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10664742
Air Bags
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.
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10693961
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph in heavy rain, the vehicle hydroplaned, flipped over, and crashed into a rail. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and one injury was reported that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The vin was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 189,000.
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10622499
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 ford explorer. While driving 35 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the contact's vehicle. The front driver side air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head, back, and knees that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,404. Updated…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10884518
Air Bags
Traveling north bound on highway 99 in chico ca, between exits 385 and 386, the side air bags deployed. This was in the middle of a construction zone but there was little in the way of debris on the road or bumps to have caused the air bag deployment. My head was violently thrown toward the center of the vehicle but i managed to maintain control and so there was no subsequent accident. I noted the little orange…
ODI 10524291
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while traveling 5 mph, the side curtain air bags deployed inadvertently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine what caused the air bag deployment. The manufacturer stated would provide no assistance. The failure and current mileage was 125,000. *tr
ODI 10504920
Air Bags
Travel approximately 55 miles per hour southbound on sr-99 both the left and right side head curtain airbags deployed for no reason while i was driving with my 2 year old daughter and 3 month old son, both in appropriate child safety seats. The vehicle was not hit, i did not swerve, nor step on the breaks. Nothing occurred in the vehicle to warrant or cause the airbags to deploy. The force of the airbags struck my…
2 injuries
ODI 10493469
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The failure recurred whenever the engine was in operation. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic for diagnosis, who was unable to locate a trouble code. The failure persisted. The manufacturer had not been notified of the defect. The approximate failure…
ODI 10573838
Air Bags
I have a 2003 ford explorer. I had stopped and was waiting for a mail carrier to finish putting mail in a mailbox when i was rear-ended. The other driver hit me at high speed. I was subsequently pushed into the mail carriers vehicle---even though he tried unsuccessfully to get out of the way. I don't believe i hit the mail carrier at high speed, but still it did cause damage to the back bumper of his vehicle and…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10434296
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the horn was defective and the airbag light illuminated on the instrument panel. A local mechanic diagnosed a defect within the steering column. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but did not offer assistance. The failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 08/10/11
ODI 10411509
Air Bags · Equipment
Own a 2003 ford explorer the air bag light blinks then stays on constantly while the car is running. I am concerned about my safety whether my air bag is actually working or not. After searching the internet apparently several other ford owners are having the same problem. Also i have a cracked panel on the back hatch , i have seen several ford explorers with the same crack and at the same location , took the ford…
ODI 10289462
Air Bags
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving 70 mph, the contact swerved to miss a wild hog in the road. She drove into the path of oncoming traffic, slammed on the brakes, and the vehicle rolled over three times. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to the shop where it currently remains. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The vin, engine size, and number of cylinders…
Crash reported
ODI 10199818
Air Bags · Vehicle Speed Control
Consumer lost control of vehicle and an accident occurred. *mr the vehicle began to shake from right to left. The consumer could not control the vehicle. The vehicle was moving on it's own. The air bags did not deploy. The consumer crashed into the border wall, spun around, and stopped on the other side. *sc *jb
Crash reported
ODI 10089453