55 complaints reported

2000 Ford Explorer Air Bags

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

Reports
55
Crashes
26
Fires
0
Injuries
15

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2022 Crash Injury

I was driving slowly (35mph), regular speed limit on that road is 60. Roads were snowy and icy, another vehicle driving extremely fast for the road conditions, started to swerve head on in to my lane, I swerved to avoid a head on collision. In doing so, I hit ice, started doing a 360, the front end and the drivers side door of my vehicle hit an irrigation ditch where it goes under a street, it caught my vehicle on the drivers side and I started rolling. I rolled 3 or 4 times and finally landed right side up. My roof was caved in and resting on the top of my head, shoulder and neck. However, none of my airbags deployed ( see pictures), even though I hit the irrigation ditch head-on. Vehicle can be inspected if needed. The vehicle is totaled as they had to cut the doors off to extract me. I have left head, shoulder, neck, abdomen and leg soft tissue damage since I kept slamming in to the steering wheel with no protection since my air bags did not deploy. I did have my seatbelt on.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2022
Jun 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS WAS ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE SIDE CRASH SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGNED PART. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V179000 (AIR BAGS). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. ....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2000
May 2015 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED METAL, GLASS, AND FIBERGLASS FRAGMENTS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER, FACE, MOUTH, LEFT ARM, AND BREAST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2011
Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE IGNITION WAS BEING STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES WHERE AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2013
Oct 2012 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS KILLED. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE CRASH BUT AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE CRASH SITE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WERE NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2012
Sep 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE "AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 147,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2009
Nov 2008

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER STATES A "SHORT" IN WIRING LOOM, NEEDS TO REPLACE WITH A BETTER CONNECTOR FOR $1100. DEALER WARNS ME THAT WHILE LIGHT IS "ON" AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE IN A CRASH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2008
Jul 2008 Crash Injury

IN AVOIDANCE OF HITTING A COW, I ROLLED MY FORD EXPLORER AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT NOR THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF WERE FORTUNATE TO COME OUT WITH MINOR INJURIES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE HAVE NOT YET OFFERED TO SETTLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2008
May 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. SHE STATED THAT SHE HEARD A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL PANEL CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THIS COULD RESULT IN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE AIRBAGS. THE BEEPING NOISE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF MAY 19, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
Nov 2006 Crash Injury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 58 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES MADE MOSTLY BY THE SEATBELT THAT WAS WORN DURING THIS ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES, AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION AND REPAIRS. NO REPAIRS HAD CURRENTLY BEEN MADE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2006
Aug 2006 Injury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, AND WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS SHUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAG STRUCK THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2006
Apr 2006

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK IN TO CHECK. SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS REQUIRE NEW WIRING HARNESS - THERE IS AN UPDATE TO THE WIRING HARNESS - NO RECALL. HOWEVER, IF NOT REPAIRED NO AIRBAGS FUNCTION. THIS IS SECOND WIRING HARNESS FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2006
Jun 2005

AIR BAG LIGHT WARING LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. INITIALLY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY AND THEN GO OFF FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM THE DEALER STATED THE ONLY WAY FORD WILL INSTALL THE WIRING KIT 3L2Z-14B455-AB, THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM, IS IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO PAY THEM TO INSTALL THE FIX KIT, BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT DOING SO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2004
Mar 2005

THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMS THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT . OWNER WILL TAKE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Jan 2005 Crash Injury

I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS THE DRIVER. IT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21ST AT APPROXIMATELY 6:24 PM. JUST OUTSIDE OF CARROLL, IOWA. I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND MY VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A DITCH. I WAS DRIVING A 2000 FORD EXPLORER WITH BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS AND NEITHER ONE DEPLOYED. WE ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE AND LANDED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO SHATTER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS FAULTY. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Jan 2005

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. *NM *SC *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
Dec 2004

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V179000; FORD ISSUED AN AIR BAG RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *JB *SC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2004
Dec 2004

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2004
Dec 2004 Crash Injury

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH AT 10 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2004
Dec 2004

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKERED OR STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD RESULT IN PREMATURE OR NON DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP HAS ONLY PERFORMED A TEMPORARY FIX TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SERVICED THE TRUCK TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL EXISTS. *AK *CB *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Jun 2004 Crash Injury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH.UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THREE PERSONS WERE INJURED, AND ONE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A PRIVATE VEHICLE TRANSPORTED THE OTHER TWO. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2004
Apr 2004

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR THE REMINDER OF THE TIME THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2004
Mar 2004

INTERMITTENTLY AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE SAFETY HARNESS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Mar 2004 Crash Injury

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER AND ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE NEAR THE CENTER OF THE FRONT BUMPER. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2004
Mar 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAD INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2000 Ford Explorer has 55 Air Bags complaints on file. 26 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.