Problems with 1999 Ford Explorer AIR BAGS

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked, the driver side seat air bag deployed without warning or impact. the contact sustained various injuries to the left side of the body. medical attention was required. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 193,338.

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. while driving at various speeds with the driver side turn signal engaged, a puff of smoke emitted from the steering wheel without warning. the contact stated that the failure recurred five times. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). the failure mileage was 186,200.

Our air bag light went totally out and then theirs a beeping sound and when we went to get car inspected, it failed inspection as the airbag light didnt come on when the vehicle is started.

Tl* the contact owned a 1999 ford explorer. while driving 7 mph, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed. the contact sustained injuries to neck, the back, and head. the passenger sustained back injuries. the contact and passenger required medical attention. the vehicle was destroyed. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. the contact stated that the air bag warning light continuously illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, who stated that the wiring harness needed to be replaced however, the wiring harness was no longer being manufactured. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 211,000.

I was in a really had car accident n,my air bags did not deploy n

This was doing it when i bought it the srs light keeps flashing and buzzing why is it doing this replace the bulb the buzzing stops but light is still on. *tr

I was on my way to work when i hit a slippery spot on the road and my vehicle went out of control with the rear end sliding out from under me, it hit a bank and rolled over 3 or 4 times. the airbag on the drivers side and passenger side did not deploy when it should have. *tr

Airbag light is lite constantly and will not turn off, if i do have an accident the airbags will not deploy. *tr

I hit a pole in a 1999 ford explorer. the airbags did not deploy. the pole was dead in the center, i hit the steering wheel and the passenger hit the windshield. *tr

1999 ford explore with the air bag light on. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. while driving at any speed, the air bag light remained illuminated. the vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, but the failure still persists. the current and failure mileages were 154,000.

Subject: airbag warning light. 1999 ford explorer. twice during the last 9 years dealer had to replace a harness because of the air bag warning light coming on. this was caused by the riders in the rear seats accidentally hitting the exposed connectors below the driver and passenger seat with their feet. ford mechanic told me the exposed connector assy are normal and no covers are necessary. is it normal for a rear passenger to accidentally hit the connectors with their feet causing the airbag warning light to come on? do newer explorers have same type of exposed air bag connectors below the seats. last repair cost 500.00. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. the contact stated that the air bag light remained illuminated after the vehicle was started. the mechanic stated that the air bag wiring failed and that the dealer could repair the vehicle. the contact has not yet taken the vehicle to the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 17,000.

Dt*: the contact stated the air bag light on the dashboard has illuminated. the light illuminated without warning. the dealer was contacted by phone and offered to inspect the vehicle, but the contact declined. *nm the contact called the dealer, and he wanted to charge the contact for 2 hours of labor to look at the vehicle. the contact felt ford should pay for two hours to have vehicle inspected. the contact did not have $200 to have it fixed for a safety problem. *ak

The airbag warning light flashes periodically. local dealership says the wire harness underneath pass seat does not have a good connection and needs to be replaced. cost: approx $300. not able to replace yet due to financial hardship.

I was traveling behind a concrete truck when he slammed on brakes. i hit the truck and the front end of my explorer was significantly damaged. according to the police officer and several body shop mechanics, the airbag should have deployed. the vehicle is currently at the body shop and the damage appears to be irreparable. the airbag failed to deploy and therefore i was thrown into the steering wheel. the impact was severe because the concrete truck was so large that it did not give into the impact at all. *nm

While driving at 65 mph vehicle lost power steering. the steering wheel tightened, and consumer lost control to the vehicle, and it crashed into a cement wall, rolling over several times before stopping. upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. driver sustained third degree road rash burn on the left side of their body which started from their shoulder to the thigh area. *ak

Air bag lamp would light intermitently. (9/10/04 took to dealer. lite is now out.) dealer traced to a wiring harness that needs to be replaced. at present this vehicle only has 67,617 miles. dealer stated that this maybe corrision of contacts. sounds like a design problem. 9/12/2004 lite is back on steady. research has shown that ford had a similar problem with the mercury mystic. ([nhtsa recall no. 99v243/ford recall no. 99s23]. could this be the same wiring harness that was installed in some early production explorers, but escape this recall and now the consumers are stuck footing the bill? going back to dealer today (9/13/2004) for repairs. estimated repair costs $300.00.*ak

Possible air bag failure or premature deployment.*mr when the vehicle was started the air bag light started flashing on the dash. after approximately two minutes the flashing ceased and the air bag light remained illuminated. the consumer hasn't taken the vehicle to the dealer yet. *nm

While driving air bag light illuminated. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

There is a short in the air bag wiring system causing the air bag light to engage without provocation. ford repair person at holmes tuttle ford in tucson arizona said problem was inherent to the 1999 ford explorer. why hasn't the explorer been recalled to correct the problem. why do i have to be alerted to problem after a rearend collision? *ak

While driving at 40 mph, the consumer's vehicle was involved in a head on collision. upon impact, the dual air bags did not deploy. *ak the consumer hit the steering wheel and the check engine light had come on and stayed on for two weeks. *sc *jb

Air bag wiring harness on 1999 ford explorer replaced at a cost to me of $550. told by dealer it was defective per tsb 03-24-1.x4.5x. it was replaced before when under warranty for same defect. told by dealer not a safety issue so ford would not cover costs, but also told if not replaced air bag system could fail.

While driving 35 mph the driver lost control of the vehicle, went off the road and hit a tree head on. upon impact the frontal air bags failed to deploy.*ak the driver strained the muscles in her back and sprained her left thumb. the vehicle has not been repaired and is still in the owners possession. *nm

Side air bags are attached to the bottom rear center of the seat back. this placement allows the wires to be damaged by the feet of the rear seat occupant setting a trouble code and disableing the air bag system ! i am a mechanic and found this on an explorer i was working on today.*ak

1999 ford explorer involved in an accident.*mr the consumer stated he/she heard a noise from the engine prior to the accident and also the air bags failed to deploy. *jb *nm

Air bag light would continue illuminating. dealer has inspected vehicle twice but had no solution, problem still occurring. *ak

While driving at 55 mph vehicle hit a deer head on, and air bags did not deploy. *ak

Air bag warning light illuminated, university ford service rep said light on means air bag will not deploy. service rep said it would cost $500 to replace wiring harness it has a short in it. i was told extended warranty would not cover this problems.*ak

Air bag light continually appeared on the dashboard. this vehicle had already two front collisions and neither of the air bag deployed. dealer has inspected, and could no duplicate or correct the problem. *ak

Air bag light flashes a code of 2 flashes and then 6 flashes and then remains on until you turn the vehicle off. the repair technician at the nearest ford dealer to where it first happened says the failure is in the harness. he said this should be covered under a safety warranty. i took it in for repair at my local dealer and he is denying warranty for the repair. going to be stuck with a $450.00 bill unless you can prove otherwise. *jb

While driving, the air bag light illuminated on the dash board. *jb

1999 ford explorer- air bag warning light, took to dealer and response was the connection for side air bag, vehicle has none, needs replaced, approximately $400 job. to many complaints by other owners to be a coincidence. will air bags deploy when needed? *nlm

Air bags did not open i was involved in 2 major accidents in my ford explore 1999 both accidents were front impact and now i have to get surgery in my back. *nlm

My air bag malfunction light came on and upon a ford certified diagnostic i was told there was a short in the system that controls the deployment of the air bags. in this case, the air bags will not deploy in the case of an accident. it was called a defective overlay harness that controls the voltage of the system. *jb

While driving, the air bag light illuminated on the dash board. *jb

Consumer was involved in a collision, and the air bags failed to deploy, consumer was also informed the tires were too big for the vehicle.*jb

While driving the consumers vehicle slid on black ice and the consumer lost control of vehicle which resulted in a collision and subsequent rollover. vehicle was completely totaled, but the neither the driver or passenger air bags deployed. *nlm

The air bag light illuminated on the dashboard. dealer informed consumer about a temporary fix that wouldn't last long.*jb

1999 ford explorer - airbag sensor stays on; will not deploy airbags. ford dealership says it needs a "clock spring" a coil of wire like a stator which burned and caused a short in the airbag wiring. according to ford, this will also cause the horn and cruise control to malfunction. ford wants $300 to replace the clock spring. my contention is that this is a safety device in which there are no wearable parts. it is a mis-engineered component that should require a recall to fix. this could very well cause serious injury to someone by not deploying the airbag in the event of an accident. there are 30/40 complaints just in this web site alone for the same problem. what does it take to escalate this problem and have ford produce a recall to address the issue? feel free to contact me if you have any questions....

Consumer states that the air bag sensor light comes on and stays on, contacted dealer , was informed that air bag will not work in an accident,but they do not have a fix for the problem. mr consumer also stated that while driving, a bolt that holds the driver seat broke. consequently, the seat was able to recline all the way back, almost causing a serious accident. ph 09-dec-2002

Dt: noticed problems with vehicle on september 1, 2002. there was an electrical problem because the light for the air bags was always on. the windshield wipers turned on and off by themselves. this happened so often that it could cause an accident. took vehicle to the mechanic for the brakes because they were making noise, and had to pump the brakes in order to get the vehicle to stop. *ak the driver's side power door lock does not lock. the rear passenger side door cannot be opened from the inside. *nm

Wiring harness malfunctioned, causing srs sensor lights to stay on.*ak *ph

While traveling at 25 mph, another driver made an illegal pass of the right side and clipped the front passenger side of the consumer;s vehicle, which caused her to loose control of the vehicle and subsequently the consumer hit three parked vehicle and landed on top of the fourth vehicle. the second accident the consumer stated a vehicle was coming toward her, so she swerved to avoid hitting the vehicle and crashed in a wooden pole at 25 mph the vehicle bounced off the pole and went back into pole and the air bags did not deploy. the consumer suffered injuries . *ak *jb *nlm

The steering column started smoking as i used the blinker. the local ford service says that the "clock spring" in the air bag caught fire and damaged the steering column and possibly the air bag. this is not covered under warranty as it is a safty device.

Vehicle struck 12 point buck while driving approx.55-60 mph; vehicle came to stop "gradually" and neither airbag deployed. major impact was drivers side front.*ak

Air bag light would flash on and off in dashboard. consumer took vehicle to a local dealership. they stated that wiring harness connected to air bag module experienced an electrical short. note: consumer was forced to sign a paper from dealership releasing dealer of any liability if air bags were to deploy before vehicle would be turned over to consumer. please provide any additional information/attachments/statements.*ak

Airbag light came on dashboard. dealership is aware of problem. electrical system to computer was indicating that there was an airbag inside of door. but there is no airbag inside of door.*ak

Airbag light keeps coming on. vehicle has been taken to dealer 5 times, cannot remedy the problem.*ak *tt