2017 Ford Explorer airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Ford Explorer have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 45,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Explorer | 12 |
| 2014 Explorer | 37 |
| 2015 Explorer | 72 |
| 2016 Explorer | 80 |
| 2017 Explorer (this page) | 24 |
| 2018 Explorer | 7 |
| 2020 Explorer | 3 |
| 2021 Explorer | 6 |
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2017 Ford Explorer describe persistent problems across the airbag system. The most common complaint is the dashboard airbag warning light illuminating intermittently or staying on constantly—occurring anywhere from early ownership (first 2 weeks) through 114,000 miles. Dealers consistently blame loose sensors, faulty wiring harnesses, or seatbelt tensioners, but parts shortages mean many vehicles sit unrepaired, and at least one owner was denied extended warranty coverage.
More alarming are multiple reports of airbags that failed to deploy during serious collisions. Owners describe T-bone impacts at 50 mph, head-on hits at 55 mph, and side-swipes where seatbelts engaged but no airbags activated—resulting in broken ribs, sternum fractures, herniated discs, and spine injuries. Conversely, one owner reported all airbags deploying with enough force to cause puncture wounds and leg lacerations.
Secondary issues include faulty passenger-side airbag occupancy indicators that toggle incorrectly, second-row seatbelt airbag sensors triggering false warnings, and buckle failures in the rear seats. Owners consistently report Ford dealerships providing no proactive recall notifications and manufacturers refusing assistance when contacted.
Same Ford Explorer airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light illumination (intermittent or constant)
Dashboard airbag warning light comes on intermittently, randomly, or stays on constantly. Owners report the light cycling on and off during driving or upon vehicle startup. Several owners note the light stays illuminated even after diagnostic visits.
When: 42,000 to 114,000 miles; some report it within first 2 weeks of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on dashboard illuminated intermittently; Light comes on and off randomly while driving; Light remains on continuously; Light comes on upon startup; Light cycles with seat adjustment or occupant entry/exit
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers blamed loose sensors, seatbelt issues, faulty wiring harness, airbag connectors, and seat belt tensioner. One owner had sensor taped with electrical tape as temporary fix. Parts frequently on backorder; some vehicles not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered no assistance in at least one case (42k miles); extended warranty denied coverage in one instance. Dealers cited parts shortages.
Airbag non-deployment during collision
Airbags failed to deploy during vehicle impacts ranging from 15 mph side-swipe to 55 mph head-on and T-bone collisions. Owners report seatbelts engaged but zero airbag activation despite meeting typical deployment criteria. One rental vehicle showed no airbag activity indicator light during entire rental period.
When: Occurred at mileage ranging 45k to 135k miles during actual accidents
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in frontal impact at 55 mph; No side airbag deployment in side-impact T-bone at 50 mph; No airbag deployment in side-swipe at unknown speed; No airbag deployment at approximately 20 mph frontal impact; No airbag deployment in crash at undisclosed speed; Seatbelts locked but airbags did not deploy; Steering wheel bent 3 inches without airbag activation
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles became total losses; no diagnostic or repair data available as they were not brought to dealers. Owner injuries included broken ribs, broken sternum, four herniated discs, spine injury, and leg lacerations.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted in most non-deployment cases; in one case owner reported Ford denied claims and refused to send investigator.
Airbag excessive deployment force / injury from deployment
Owner reported airbag deployment during accident that caused significant injury to passenger. Airbag components (screw/fastener holding airbag) inflicted puncture wound; leg laceration and hematoma below knees. Owner questions whether airbags were defective or improperly assembled.
When: During T-bone accident on 9/22/2017; 4+ months post-accident still recovering
Symptoms owners cite: All airbags deployed during T-bone collision; Driver hearing loss from side-door airbag deployment; Driver chest injuries from steering wheel airbag; Right-side front passenger leg injuries from airbag deployment; Puncture wound from fastener/screw holding airbag assembly; Hematoma and vein issues below knees; Stitches required for laceration
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; owner questioning whether airbag assembly was defective or improperly retained.
Second-row seatbelt airbag sensor malfunction
Owners report second-row seatbelt airbag (inflatable seatbelt feature) triggering false airbag warning sensor on control panel. Occurs when passenger is buckled into driver-side second-row seatbelt containing integrated seatbelt airbag. Dealers unable to diagnose or correct the fault.
When: Mileage and timing not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag sensor alarm triggered by second-row seatbelt airbag; False alarm occurs while passenger is belted in; Airbag light set off while driving with passenger in second-row seat
Repairs/costs cited: Ford technicians unable to find or correct underlying cause.
Passenger airbag on/off indicator malfunction
Passenger-side airbag on/off indicator fails to work correctly. Light that shows airbag status toggles between on and off when passenger is seated, or remains off when it should be on. One owner reports passenger SRS indicator fails to illuminate properly upon startup, leaving system unable to detect subsequent failures.
When: Present upon initial startup in at least one case
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag indicator light does not stay on when occupied; Indicator cycles from on to off with passenger seated; SRS indicator fails to illuminate upon startup; Failed startup test prevents subsequent failure detection
Airbag wiring harness failure
Wiring harness failures occur on both driver and passenger sides, causing intermittent airbag warning lights. One case shows wiring harness failure recurred even after dealer replacement.
When: 45,000 to 57,737 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent airbag warning light illumination; Rear driver-side airbag warning light activated
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement attempted but failure recurred in at least one case (57,737 miles). Another case had parts on backorder and was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in at least one case and case filed with NHTSA Hotline referral.
Seatbelt buckle failure with airbag system integration
Rear-seat buckles (row 2, driver-side and passenger-side) fail internally, preventing proper buckling. Diagnosed during airbag warning light investigation; buckle assembly fracture detected.
When: At approximately 104,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger seat buckle will not buckle; Internally fractured buckle assembly detected; Row 2 buckle (rear center passenger seat) failure; Rear driver seat buckle malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Parts identified for replacement but remained on backorder; vehicle not repaired.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 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 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 28,309 and 104,000 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,309; a quarter make it past 104,000. 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.