Airbag restraint system warning light stays on all the time. Ford should be aware of this problems due to complaints listed on several websites and service visits. Problems with the inflatable seat belt connecters and airbag connecters. This causes the safety restraint system malfunction.
2015 Ford Explorer airbags problems
severe 72 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
7injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 72 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 16 model years of Ford Explorer in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2015 Ford Explorer has a widespread wiring defect in the second-row inflatable seat belt system that disables all airbags when the warning light comes on—typically around 50,000–75,000 miles, right after the warranty expires. Repairs cost $750–$1,600 out of pocket, and in a crash, the airbags won't deploy.
Owners of the 2015 Ford Explorer report that airbag warning lights illuminate intermittently or constantly, most commonly around 50,000–75,000 miles. Once lit, the warning persists even if it briefly resets, and repair shops consistently confirm that when the light is on, none of the vehicle's airbags will deploy in a crash—a critical safety issue.
The root cause, diagnosed repeatedly at dealers, is faulty wiring or connectors in the second-row inflatable seat belt system. Owners describe pinched, frayed, or shorted wiring harnesses underneath the rear seats that fail without any incident or owner misuse. Ford issued Technical Service Bulletin TSB 16-0001 to address this, and later a Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP 21B11), but repairs run $750–$1,600 depending on labor scope. Many owners report the repair requires removing seats and carpeting.
The critical frustration: airbag warning lights often come on after the manufacturer's warranty expires (typically 60,000 miles), forcing out-of-pocket costs. Some owners reported requesting repairs under warranty when the light first appeared intermittently, but dealers could not diagnose the issue while the light was off, leaving them unprotected once warranty ended. A small number of crash narratives indicate airbags failed to deploy during collisions.
Ford corporate and dealerships acknowledge this is a known, recurring issue across multiple model years of Explorer, yet have not recalled the vehicles or extended coverage universally. Owners universally characterize the situation as being held hostage—forced to pay substantial sums for a manufacturer defect in a critical safety system, with no fault of their own.
Same Ford Explorer airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Faulty wiring harness / connector short in second-row inflatable seat belt system
Wiring harness or electrical connectors beneath or near second-row seats become pinched, frayed, or shorted, triggering airbag warning light and disabling all vehicle airbags.
When: Typically 50,000–75,000 miles; some as early as 17,000 miles or as late as 126,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated continuously or intermittently; Light persists even after brief resets; Technicians confirm all airbags inoperable when light is on; No impact, accident, or owner action precedes failure; Light often appears after warranty expiration
Codes mentioned: B141B, B141C
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repair: splice new pigtail connectors, reposition/replace harness underneath second-row seats, replace wiring connectors. Cost ranges $750–$1,600 depending on labor scope. Seats and carpeting often must be removed. Replacement parts have been placed on backorder at some dealerships. Some repairs covered under CPO warranty with $100 deductible; most covered only within 60,000-mile basic warranty period.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued TSB 16-0001 (superseding TSB 15-0113) and Customer Satisfaction Program 21B11 for second-row inflatable seat belt repair. CSP 21B11 later expired, leaving some owners without coverage. Corporate customer service has refused to extend coverage or issue a recall, referring owners to dealerships or NHTSA.
Airbag non-deployment during crash (secondary consequence of warning light)
When airbag warning light is illuminated due to wiring fault, airbag system is disabled and bags fail to deploy during actual collision.
When: Any collision while warning light is active; narratives cite mileage ranging 16,000 to 157,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy upon head-on or rear-end collision impact; Vehicle sustains significant front-end damage; Occupants experience injury to head, chest, shoulders, neck, legs; Post-concussion symptoms reported in at least one narrative
Repairs/costs cited: Damage and injuries sustained in crashes where airbags failed to deploy. One narrative documents passenger hospitalized with broken leg and severe laceration. Another documents driver with post-concussion symptoms after high-speed tree impact. One documents head and shoulder injuries after head-on crash.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases and provided case numbers; referred owners to NHTSA. No assistance or compensation documented in narratives.
Intermittent airbag warning light (pre-failure stage)
Airbag warning light comes on and off intermittently before settling into constant illumination, making diagnosis difficult during dealer visits.
When: Intermittent phase can last months to years before becoming constant; affects mileage range of 38,000–161,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Light illuminates intermittently over weeks or months; Light resets when vehicle is turned off or driven; By the time owner brings vehicle to dealer, light has gone off, preventing technician diagnosis; After warranty expires, light comes on more frequently and remains on
Codes mentioned: B141B, B141C
Repairs/costs cited: Owners reported requesting repair during intermittent phase while under warranty, but dealers unable to diagnose without light being on at time of service. Once light becomes constant post-warranty, diagnosis occurs but repair is no longer covered. No repair typically performed during intermittent phase.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers communicated inability to diagnose intermittent faults, leaving owners without coverage once warranty expired. One narrative documents dealer attempting repair 7 times, with light returning each time.
Synthesized from 72 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2015 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 72 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 52 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 52,898 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 52,898; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.