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 Oct 2, 2026
45 of the 1,607 complaints on this car describe airbag.
Narrower sheets: Airbag warning light stays on (29 reports)
Tick what matches of 45 reports
Airbag on other Explorer years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
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 Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Explorer
Mis-assembled airbag clockspring. Closed feb 25, 2003.
Inoperative air bag system. Closed jul 2, 2002.
Airbag system's light dysfunctional. Closed may 23, 2000.
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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 48,000 and 90,000 miles, from the 33 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2014 Ford Explorer that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
FORD EXPLORER 2014-2016: BULLETIN INFORMATION INVOLVING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SECOND ROW INFLATABLE SEAT BELTS MAY EXHIBIT AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH DTC B141B AND B141C. *LJ
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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 301 reports
- Trim or a body panel comes off while driving 162 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 116 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 102 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 80 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 79 reports
- Steering wheel clicks, clunks or grinds when I turn 64 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 45 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 39 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 35 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 32 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 31 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 31 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports