2004 Ford Explorer Air Bags

ON 1-17-2010 @ APPROX 5:30 AM I WAS ENROUTE TO WORK, IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY, I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER IN THE ROAD, HYDROPLANED AND HIT HEAD-ON WITH A LARGE TREE. MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER RECEIVED OVER 12000.00 IN DAMAGES AND WAS TOTALED. I RECEIVED CHEST/BREAST INJURIES. NO AIR BAGS EVER DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED FORD MOTORS WHO STATED THEY WOULD RESPOND TO ME WITHIN 15 DAYS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. TO THIS DATE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE UNEXPECTANTLY PULLED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 01/31/11 *BF UPDATED 04/21/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE REAR. THE CRASH CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE AIR BAG LIGHT INSPECTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH SHE HIT A DEER. THE AIR BAG ONLY OPENED IN THE COLUMN OF THE STEERING WHEEL. POWDER RESIDUE CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAG BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT AT ALL. NO ONE WAS INJURED; YET, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

ON AUGUST 8TH 2008 I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR WRECK WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WRECKED IT FLIPPED OVER ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND SLID DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON ITS SIDE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER PANEL OF THE TRUCK. I FEEL THAT THE IMPACT OF THE WRECK SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED AND THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT MAY BE DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY-THE IMPACT HOWEVER DID CAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 38000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WHEN THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT AND THE DEALER KNEW THAT THE WAS NO CRASH AND WHEN THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSES MACHINE WAS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY CONSIDERED AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND FORD IS NOT WILLING TO HELP AT ALL. THEY SAY IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING. (REPAIR OR RENTAL). *NM

THE SIDE AIR BAGS (BOTH) DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. (4 DOOR PICKUP). THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR AND INITIALLY THEY SAID IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY REPAIR BUT CALLED BACK A WEEK LATER INDICATING THAT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANT THE REPAIRS AND THE COST TO ME WOULD BE $2300 TO $2500. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE AND PERHAPS WITH MY GRAND CHILDREN OR DOG IN THE VEHICLE WITH A HAND OR HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW. THE EXPLOSIVE FORCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT HAS ME CONCERNED ABOUT EVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AGAIN NOT TO MENTION THE UNWARRANTED EXPENSE AND THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. IT DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT (NOW NON OP AND BEING REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE) HEADLINER, A PILLAR MOLDINGS, C PILLAR MOLDING ETC. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OR UNIQUE TO MINE. I'M CONTEMPLATING A TRADE IN FOR A TOYOTA. ANY INSIGHT YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL DEALER, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS MADE CONCERNING THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS POPPED OUT AFTER THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS SHUT. *JB

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SEVERE SIDE-IMPACT COLLISON THAT KNOCKED OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SIDE-IMPACT CURTAIN AIRBAGS, 4 FEET SIDEWAYS, DESTROYED THE DRIVER'S DOOR (DIRECT IMPACT TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR) COLLAPSED IT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND RESULTED IN $6,000 OF INSURANCE-ESTIMATED DAMAGE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT HAS THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THAT THE ON-BOARD CHECK SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE ANY FAULTS. MY WIFE DID KNOCK HER HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DURING THE COLLISION, BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED ANY LASTING INJURIES. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS SAFETY SYSTEM WE PAID EXTRA FOR DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED, AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFORD THE PROTECTION PROMISED BY FORD. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND THE ACCIDENT IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THEM...JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO UPLOAD THEM TO.

CONSUMER WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS HEADING SOUTH AND WENT LEFT OF CENTER, HITTING CONSUMER WHO WAS HEADED NORTH. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO BECOME AIRBORNE, FLIPPING, ROLLING AND LANDING ON PASSENGER SIDE. *BF *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN, JUMP A DITCH, AND THEN HIT A POWER POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN KNEE CAP, HIP, AND PELVIS. THE POLICE RESPONDED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS FRONT END DAMAGE AND A BENT FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A LCD MODULE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TELL HER WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH VEHICLE SLIPPED ON A PATCH OF ICE, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT, AND DROPPED FIFTY FEET. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BROKE, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM A CONCUSSION, AND HAD TO GET TWENTY STITCHES. DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN BACK. *AK

2004 EXPLORER 4DR; DRIVER'S AIRBAG POOR FIT, COMING OFF STEERING WHEEL.*AK

DURING A 45 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WE HAD JUST LEFT A GAS STATION AND WERE ON OUR WAY TO DINNER WHEN OUR SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. WE DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES OR LARGE BUMPS, AND THERE WAS NO COLLISION TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT. MY HUSBAND, THE DRIVER, MANAGED NOT TO SWERVE AND HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING BEFORE PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. WE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES, NECK MUSCLE SORENESS AND TINNITUS IMMEDIATELY AFTER AND FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CALLED A TOW TRUCK FOR US, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR THE CAUSE OF THIS INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT.*AK