2001 Ford Explorer Airbags Problems

Your airbag warning light has been on continuously since you bought the vehicle in 2014. This means your airbag system isn't functioning properly and won't deploy in a crash. The fix will require diagnostic testing to identify the faulty sensor or component, followed by replacement of the affected part.

During a January 2016 accident, your airbags failed to deploy, causing you to brace yourself against the steering wheel and resulting in neck and shoulder injuries requiring rotator cuff surgery. You've noticed similar airbag deployment failures in other vehicles of the same make, leading to injuries in those cases as well. The airbag system may need inspection to determine why it didn't activate during the crash.

While driving on the freeway, your front driver's wheel fell off, causing your truck to roll over and hit two other cars. The pin that holds the wheel on came out. Additionally, the airbags failed to inflate during the crash. This issue involves a critical wheel retention failure and airbag system malfunction that requires immediate inspection of wheel fastening hardware and the entire airbag system.

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.

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.

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

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING OFF AND ON. DON'T KNOW IF AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY OR NOT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FORD HAS A SAFEY MEMO OUT ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WON'T RECALL BECAUSE THEY SAY IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE DIVIDER ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THE CRASH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE MANUFACTURER DISCONNECTED THE CALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY AND BLINKS WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER WILL NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WITHOUT THE CONTACT PAYING A FEE. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94144. UPDATED 05/11/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB

FEB 7TH 2006 I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DEPLOYED BOTH AIRBAGS. MY EXPLORER SPORT TRAC DID NOT DEPLOY ANY AIRBAGS. I HAD TO HAVE A FUSION OF C5 & C6 IN MY NECK DUE TO THE CRASH. *TR

I SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS ON A 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *JB

IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID AN CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT MY HUSBAND, ROBERT, VEERED OFF THE ROAD. OUR 2001 FORD EXPLORER HIT A TREE, FLIPPED OVER TRAPPING HIM IN THE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THANK GOD, HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA GOES WITHOUT SAYING. IT IS VERY UPSETTING TO PAY MONEY FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT ONLY TO HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT FAIL WHEN YOU EXPECT IT TO WORK. *JB

ON THE OCT 6TH 2003 I WAS DRIVING THE FORD SPORT-TRAC AND SUFFERED A SEIZURE. I THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A WALL OF A HOME IN THE AREA. THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE 2 PEOPLE PULL ME FROM THE TRUCK BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE AIRBAGS IN THE TRUCK DID NOT DEPLOY AND I BROKE MY BACK IN 2 PLACES. THE DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL TOLD ME THAT THE BREAKS IN MY BACK AND THE BRUISES ON MY FRONT SIDE ALLIGNED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF MY INJURIES. NO SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS FOUND AND THE TRUCK MELTED AT THE SCENE. I AM NOW INJURED FOR LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. I CONTACTED FORD AT THE TIME AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK AFTER THEY SAID THEY WOULD.

RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) BECAME INOPERABLE ON 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORTRAC.*MR *NM

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS THAT DID DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY EXPLORER. BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 25 MILES PER HOUR. ONE ACCIDENT TOTALED THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. NO OTHER TIME DID THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOY. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN. *JB

THE DRIVER WAS MERGING FROM THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE CENTER LANE WITHOUT WARNING, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. *JB

WE WERE TRAVELING 35MPH IN SNOWY/ICYCONDITIONS. WE SLID INTO A TELEPHONE POLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND TOTALED THE SUV WITHOUT ANY AIRBAGS GOING OFF AND THE SEATBELTS COMING OUT OF THE LOCK. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD VIA TWO LETTERS BUT THE WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF IN THAT TYPE OF COLLISION EVEN WITH PHOTOS TO PROVE. WE NEED HELP. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT "SHOULD" HAVE HAPPENED IN THAT TYPE OF INCIDENT. WE RECEIVED HEAD INJURIES.

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER FRONT-END COLLISION WITH SPEED OF APPROX. 25-30 MILES PER HOUR. RESULTING IN CERVICAL SPRAINS TO TWO PASSENGERS. PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BAGS. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TWO AIR BAGS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE INSIDE COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER WAS COMPLETELY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND HIS GLASSES WERE KNOCKED OF HIS FACE. *AK *SCC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AIR BAG PROBLEMS. WHEN THE CONSUMER CLOSED THE PASSENGERS DOOR, THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN THEY WILL CALL CONSUMER BACK. *AK THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DOOR WAS SLAMMED BY THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, DRIVER SUFFERED A SEIZURE. VEHICLE HIT THE POST, THEN VEHICLE SHOT ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. IF PASSER BYS DID NOT PULL DRIVER FROM VEHICLE, DRIVER WOULD HAVE DIED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN BACK. VEHICLE TOTALED. DAMAGE TO TREE, WALL, HOUSE. *LA

AFTER EXPERIENCING A SEIZURE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. A FIRE CONSUMED THE VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER'S BACK WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND REMAIN ON. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED.*AK

THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 40 MPH, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK RAN OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *NLM

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, INDICATING AIRBAGS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AFTER EIGHT UNSUCCESFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, FORD REPLACED THE VEHICLE.

WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISON WITH MY 01 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, IN WHICH THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. NEITHER MY DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OPENED. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED RECENTLY SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIDN'T OPEN WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PANEL. ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON EVERY NOW AND THEN TO THE POINT THAT CONSUMER DOSEN'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WORK OR NOT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS FIXED BUT THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 70MPH IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

MY DAUGHTER'S 2001 EXPLORER SPORT WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-75 DIPED TO THE RIGHT RETURNED TO THE ROAD AND TRAVELED APROX 1/2 MILE AND THEN ROLLED LEFT TO RIGHT AND TUMBLED END OVER END KILLING BOTH PASSANGERS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO APPARRENT REASON MY DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AND IT ROLLED.*AK

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS REARENDED AT HIGH SPEED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 8000.00.*AK

HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*AK

WHILE ALMOST AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED MOMENTS AFTER IMPACT. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, AND PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON REARVIEW MIRROR. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHILE ALMOST AT A STOP, VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON, BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER OR PASSENGER. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGERS HEAD HIT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF AFTER IMPACT TO VEHICLE. THE DEALER RESET THEM BEFORE THEY COULD SEE THEM. THEY WERE RESET IMPROPER. THE BAG IS VISIBLE, NO ALARMS ARE WORKING AND THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE HANGING LOOSE. *JG

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO A COW WHICH WALKED INTO THE ROAD, NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND LEG INJURIES.*AK *NLM

DURING A CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS SEPARATED FROM DASHBOARD CONSOLE DURING IMPACT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A SQUEAK IN AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. AIR BAG BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. *TT

AIRBAG LIGHT ON MAY 10, 2000 WITH 6133 MILES. AIR BAG LIGHT ON MAY 23, 2000. AIRBAG LIGHT ON JUNE 14, 2000 WITH 9040 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT ON JUNE 19, 2000 WITH 9395 MILES. AIR BAG LIGHT. HAD AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO TWO VEHICLES AND AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOT ONE REPORTED THIS INFORMATION IN TO THE FORD SYSTEM CALLED OASIS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL AS IF I AM GETTING NO WHERE IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE OTHERTHAN E-MAILING EVERYONE AND LETTING THEM KNOW OF THIS SITUATION AND HOW THE DEALERSHIPS AVOID ISSUES AND HIDE THE FACTS !*AK

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REARENDED THE IN FRONT OF ME THE IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE EXCEPT THAT BOTH OF MY AIR BAGS BLEW. I HAVE AN ACCIDENT REPORT AND A ESTIMATE THAT CLEARLY STATE NO DAMAGE. ON THE WEB I FOUND WWW.MARKETDRIVE.COM/SERVICE/TSBS.ASP THAT TELLS OF 2001 EXPLORER PROBLEMS #01110 PASSIVE RESTRAINT: AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR. I HAVE ASKED A FEW DEALERS OF THE IMFORMATION AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE ON WHAT THIS IS. WHY DID THE BAGS BLOW AT SUCH A MINOR HIT, WILL THEY GO OFF IF I BUMP A CURB? I WAS BY MY SELF AND HAPPY THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT IN THE OTHER SEAT.*AK

VEHICLE SKIDDED ON ICE, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT THROUGH A CHAINLINK FENCE, AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, HIT A DEER AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK CONSUMERS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE ACCIDENT. *YH

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHICH DEMOLISHED FRONT END OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35-40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH VEHICLE WENT UNDER A TRACTOR TRAILER, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION AT 5-10MPH, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLSION WITH A CHEVROLET S10 1987 AT 40-45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK