2003 Ford Explorer Air Bags

The driver was driving down the expressway and her back tire blew out causing her vehicle to spiral out of control and the vehicle then flipped and started rolling downhill, the vehicle airbags did not deploy in the vehicle at all. The driver and her mother are in critical condition. Yes, the safety of others safety was put at risk. I did contact Ford Manufacturer on her behind of the airbags and they said there is nothing they can do for her with the vehicle being totaled out. But my main problem is why these airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is going to be inspected by her insurance company here in the next few days. There were no prior lamps, messages, or anything that would have indicated that the airbags were defective.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MOVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL.

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.

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 CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND PAINS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD, FROM WHERE IT WAS LATER PICKED RETRIEVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,700....UPDATED 02/22/17 *BF *CN

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 TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 319,000.

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 09/27/16*LJ *JS

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

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.

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 WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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 (WHO I JUST BOUGHT A $50,000 2015 FORD EXPLORER FROM HIM JANUARY 2015) AND HE SAID I COULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK WHO WAS NO HELP. STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. ANYONE I CAN CALL? THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!

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 EXPLORER FROM HIM JANUARY 2015) AND HE SAID I COULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK WHO WAS NO HELP. STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. ANYONE I CAN CALL? THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!

I WAS LEAVING THE STORE PARKING LOT. I STARTED THE CAR, PRESSED THE BREAK, PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN SEPTEMBER 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT OR BUMPED IN ANY WAY. I WAS NOT BACKING OUT, I WAS IN DRIVE TO PULL OUT OF THE SPACE. *TR

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

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

FRONT END ACCIDENT DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER AIRBAG,HOWEVER PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO OCCUPANT IN SEAT. *TR

I WAS PICKING MY DAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL. WE GOT INTO THE CAR PUT OUR SEATBELTS ON I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN GEAR. I PICKED MY FOOT UP AND MOVED TO THE GAS WHEN I NOTICED A CAR COMING UP FROM BESIDE ME AND THEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD AND PULLING THE DASH COVER AWAY FROM THE RADIO AND AIR VENT. WE CALLED FORD MOTOR AND WE WERE TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE EXAMINED. FORD CUSTOMER CARE HAS LEFT MESSAGES AT OUR HOME NUMBER WHEN WE RETURN THE CALLS WE ASK THEM TO CALL OUR CELL NUMBERS AND THEY WILL NOT. I THINK THE DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO US. A WEEK LATER THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID THAT FORD MOTOR WOULD PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THAT THE AIRBAG FAILING IS NO DIFFERENT THEN HAVING TO CHANGE OUT THE BRAKES FROM WEAR AND TEAR. WE WERE NOT AWARE THAT A SAFETY FEATURE HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE. I WAS TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT A SAFETY FEATURE SHOULD LAST THE LIFT TIME OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THIS I AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING ANY CARS WITH AIRBAGS. WE WERE NOT ASKING FORD MOTOR FOR ANYTHING ADDITIONAL BUT TO JUST REPAIR THE CAR AND WE CAN NEVER TALK TO ANYONE AT THE COMPANY. *TR

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.

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 MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

I WAS DRIVING IN SEMI WET CONDITIONS, GOING DOWNHILL AND ENGAGED THE OVERDRIVE OFF BUTTON. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE, THEN FISH TAILED, RESULTING IN ME HITTING AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPING THE VEHICLE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED! I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF THE WRECK BUT THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE DID THE EXACT SAME THING (EXCEPT THE CRASH), IN THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. *TR

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 LIGHT GLOWING ON THE DASH TELLING ME THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED FROM A SORE / STIFF NECK AND A RECURRENCE OF MAJOR TENDONITIS SYMPTOMS IN MY LEFT EAR. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER COULD NOT ISOLATE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE UN-COMMANDED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE MATTER IS STILL WITH OUR AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

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

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 HEAD CAUSING HEAD AND NECK PAIN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH HAD I SWERVED AND IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

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

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. I STARTED MY CAR UP THIS MOURNING TO GO TO WORK. I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR TO REMOVE AN EMPTY CUP WHEN I HEARD A POP FROM INSIDE MY CAR. AS I TURNED AN LOOKED I SAW MY CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. AS I WENT BACK TO THE CAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS CAR IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. IT HAS 130000 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE BAG NOW AS I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO THIS MODEL. *TR

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 LIGHT DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER. THE TRUCK THEN REAR-ENDED ME AGAIN DUE TO HIS SPEED AND INABILITY TO STOP. NEITHER AIR BAG IN THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE DAMAGE FROM THE REAR-END HIT. THE ONLY DOOR ON MY VEHICLE THAT OPENED CORRECTLY WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. MY SEAT ON THE FRONT IS APPARENTLY BROKE AND LAYING FLAT. THE CARGO AREA WAS PUSHED INTO THE THIRD SEAT, THE THIRD SEAT INTO THE SECOND SEAT, ETC... I'M NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED OR NOT. BUT, IF THEY SHOULD HAVE THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I BELIEVE MY INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS SEVERE IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. I HAVE WHAT I GUESS MAY BE CLASSIC WHIPLASH TYPE INJURIES. BACK PAIN, NECK PAIN, AND SHOULDER PAIN; AS WELL AS, MY ELBOW WAS HURT; AND BOTH WRIST FROM TRYING TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT MYSELF FROM BEING THROWN INTO THE STEERING COLUMN OR WINDSHIELD DURING THE SECOND HIT FROM THE REAR. ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME THAT WILL HELP WITH THESE QUESTIONS? I AM BEING ASKED BY OTHER PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THE WRECK WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR