Diagsheet

2014 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Airbag warning light or recall

  • 45owner reports
  • 65,000median miles
  • $565median quote
  • 6involved a crash

Newest report Apr 12, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

45 of the 1,603 complaints on this car describe airbag.

Tick what matches of 45 reports

42
16
4

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (12 reports) and the module (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the airbags covers the 2014 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Explorer

EA02-010opened Jul 2, 2002
Airbags · model years 2002

Mis-assembled airbag clockspring. Closed feb 25, 2003.

NHTSA summary
IN JULY 2001, FORD ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE ANNOUNCING THAT SOME AIR BAGCLOCKSPRING DEVICES MAY PRODUCE NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FULL LEFT OR RIGHT.FORD WAS AWARE THAT SOME CLOCKSPRINGS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION MAY ALSO CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.STARTING WITH VEHICLES PRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER 2001, FORD ADDING LENGTH TO THE CLOCKSPRING WIRE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DAMAGE FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION.ODI'S INVESTIGATION REVEALED 32 COMLAINTS (VEHICLE BUILT PRIOR TO SEPT. 2001) OF WARNING LIGHT BUT NO CRASHES, INJURIES, LAWSUITS OR CLAIMS.A SAFETY DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT.
SQ01-015opened Dec 12, 2001
Airbags · model years 2002

Inoperative air bag system. Closed jul 2, 2002.

NHTSA summary
SQ99-026opened Nov 19, 1999
Airbags · model years 1999

Airbag system's light dysfunctional. Closed may 23, 2000.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available

None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.

What owners paid

10 of the 45 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $252 to $1,000.

$252$565$1,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 48,000 and 90,000 miles, from the 33 reports that gave a mileage.

115
116
717
818
719
120
621
523
624
225
126

What owners wrote

“Air bag light is illuminated even after being cleared at the dealership. They claim its in the backseat only and that my airbag will still deploy, which to my knowledge is untrue. They refuse to help solve the issue afte purchasing from them only two weeks ago”

Filed Jun 21, 2023

“Airbag warning light randomly comes on and stays on! When Turing the steering wheel there is a loud annoying squeaky/squeal noise coming from the front end which is supper scary”

Filed Jan 17, 2023

“Air bag light came on, when I took it in to get looked at they said the wiring harness is faulty and it has been reported by ford as a common issue on this vehicle. As of right now due to the faulty wiring harness rear air bags will not deploy in an accident. They will not cover the expenses of changing it and are charging $600 for the harness plus the labor.”

Filed Oct 11, 2021

“The systems that failed were the airbags, abs, and trac. The airbags would not have deployed in case of an accident. I took it to the Ford dealership and they had to replace the Restraint Control Module.”

Filed May 31, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 6 of 45 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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