79 complaints reported

1999 Ford Explorer Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
79
Crashes
25
Fires
0
Injuries
15

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2017 Crash Injury

I WAS IN A REALLY HAD CAR ACCIDENT N,MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY N

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2013
Apr 2017 Crash Injury

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A MAIN STREET I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT THEREFORE, MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AS A RESULT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSE A BROKEN JAW AND CRACKED TEETH VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 1999
Feb 2017 Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED VARIOUS INJURIES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,338.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2017
Aug 2015

OUR AIR BAG LIGHT WENT TOTALLY OUT AND THEN THEIRS A BEEPING SOUND AND WHEN WE WENT TO GET CAR INSPECTED, IT FAILED INSPECTION AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT DIDNT COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2015
Nov 2014 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK, THE BACK, AND HEAD. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2014
Oct 2014

THIS WAS DOING IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT THE SRS LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND BUZZING WHY IS IT DOING THIS REPLACE THE BULB THE BUZZING STOPS BUT LIGHT IS STILL ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2013
Jul 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2014
Jan 2013 Crash Injury

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I HIT A SLIPPERY SPOT ON THE ROAD AND MY VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL WITH THE REAR END SLIDING OUT FROM UNDER ME, IT HIT A BANK AND ROLLED OVER 3 OR 4 TIMES. THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2013
Dec 2012

AIRBAG LIGHT IS LITE CONSTANTLY AND WILL NOT TURN OFF, IF I DO HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2012
May 2010 Crash Injury

I HIT A POLE IN A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLE WAS DEAD IN THE CENTER, I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2010
Feb 2010

1999 FORD EXPLORE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2009
Apr 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 154,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2008
Sep 2007

SUBJECT: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. 1999 FORD EXPLORER. TWICE DURING THE LAST 9 YEARS DEALER HAD TO REPLACE A HARNESS BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE RIDERS IN THE REAR SEATS ACCIDENTALLY HITTING THE EXPOSED CONNECTORS BELOW THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WITH THEIR FEET. FORD MECHANIC TOLD ME THE EXPOSED CONNECTOR ASSY ARE NORMAL AND NO COVERS ARE NECESSARY. IS IT NORMAL FOR A REAR PASSENGER TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE CONNECTORS WITH THEIR FEET CAUSING THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON? DO NEWER EXPLORERS HAVE SAME TYPE OF EXPOSED AIR BAG CONNECTORS BELOW THE SEATS. LAST REPAIR COST 500.00. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2007
Aug 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING FAILED AND THAT THE DEALER COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2007
Jan 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND OFFERED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED. *NM THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, AND HE WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT FOR 2 HOURS OF LABOR TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR TWO HOURS TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE $200 TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2006
Jul 2005

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES PERIODICALLY. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THE WIRE HARNESS UNDERNEATH PASS SEAT DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST: APPROX $300. NOT ABLE TO REPLACE YET DUE TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2005
Mar 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT LIGHTS UP WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Dec 2004 Crash Injury

I WAS TRAVELING BEHIND A CONCRETE TRUCK WHEN HE SLAMMED ON BRAKES. I HIT THE TRUCK AND THE FRONT END OF MY EXPLORER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE OFFICER AND SEVERAL BODY SHOP MECHANICS, THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE BODY SHOP AND THE DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE IRREPARABLE. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THEREFORE I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE BECAUSE THE CONCRETE TRUCK WAS SO LARGE THAT IT DID NOT GIVE INTO THE IMPACT AT ALL. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2004
Dec 2004

AT 40,000 MILES AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE, AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Nov 2004 Crash

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK THE DRIVER STRAINED THE MUSCLES IN HER BACK AND SPRAINED HER LEFT THUMB. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS STILL IN THE OWNERS POSSESSION. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2004
Sep 2004

AIR BAG LAMP WOULD LIGHT INTERMITENTLY. (9/10/04 TOOK TO DEALER. LITE IS NOW OUT.) DEALER TRACED TO A WIRING HARNESS THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AT PRESENT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67,617 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT THIS MAYBE CORRISION OF CONTACTS. SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN PROBLEM. 9/12/2004 LITE IS BACK ON STEADY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT FORD HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE MERCURY MYSTIC. ([NHTSA RECALL NO. 99V243/FORD RECALL NO. 99S23]. COULD THIS BE THE SAME WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED IN SOME EARLY PRODUCTION EXPLORERS, BUT ESCAPE THIS RECALL AND NOW THE CONSUMERS ARE STUCK FOOTING THE BILL? GOING BACK TO DEALER TODAY (9/13/2004) FOR REPAIRS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS $300.00.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2004
Jul 2004

POSSIBLE AIR BAG FAILURE OR PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES THE FLASHING CEASED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER HASN'T TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER YET. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2004
Jul 2004 Crash Injury

ROLL OVER ACCIDENT INVOLVING 1992 FORD EXPLORER. *MR THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH HER GRANDSON AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY, HIT A TREE AND THE MEDIAN, FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, LANDED ON THE ROOF AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SC *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2004
Jun 2004

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2004
May 2004

THERE IS A SHORT IN THE AIR BAG WIRING SYSTEM CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ENGAGE WITHOUT PROVOCATION. FORD REPAIR PERSON AT HOLMES TUTTLE FORD IN TUCSON ARIZONA SAID PROBLEM WAS INHERENT TO THE 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHY HASN'T THE EXPLORER BEEN RECALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHY DO I HAVE TO BE ALERTED TO PROBLEM AFTER A REAREND COLLISION? *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1999 Ford Explorer has 79 Air Bags complaints on file. 25 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.