Problems · by component

2001 Ford Explorer air bags problems

52 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Explorer cite air bags, 7% of all 730 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
52
7% of all complaints
Crashes
37
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A RESIDENCE AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, EngineFire reportedODI 11206286
“I HAD AN ACCIDENT I JANUARY 2016 AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSE ME DAMAGE TO MY NECK AND BOTH SHOULDER. DOCTORS SAY I NEED SURGERY ON ROTATOR CUFFS. IF AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THRUST FORWARD. I GRABBED STEERING WHEEL TO BRACE MYSELF AND WAS THRUST FORWARD THERE FOR DAMAGE BOTH ROTATOR CUFFS IN MY SHOULDER AND HURTING MY NECK ALSO. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER TRUCKS OF MY MAKE THAT AIR BAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AND PEOPLE GETTING HURT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. . WHY ARE THERE NOT RECALLS ON THIS AIR BAGS. THANK YOU. [XXX] '*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10984456
“DRIVING ON FREEWAY FRONT DRIVER WHEEL FELL OFF CAUSING TRUCK TO ROLL OVER. NO AIR BAG WAS INFLATED. WAS TOLD THE PIN THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ON CAME OUT. TRUCK WAS TOTALLED AND HIT 2OTHER CARS WHILE ROLLING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2017Air bags, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10969825
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND UPON IMPACT, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2012Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10484552
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE JAW AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 23,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2012Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10451500
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING AN ICE STORM AND LOST CONTROL OF HER 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT SUV AND STRUCK A TREE. SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT SUSTAINED MAJOR SHEETMETAL AND FRAME DAMAGE. THE RADIATOR WAS PUSHED IN AND DESTROYED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2012Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10446789

Showing 6 of 52 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.