Diagsheet

2015 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Airbag warning light stays on

  • 55owner reports
  • 66,000median miles
  • $800median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Jan 24, 2025 · checked Sep 19, 2026

55 of the 84 reports of airbag on the 2015 Explorer describe airbag light on.

Part of Airbag warning light or recall (84 reports)

Tick what matches of 55 reports

7
5
5
12

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the airbags covers the 2015 model year as of Sep 19, 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 2015 model year.

What owners paid

19 of the 55 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $1,000.

$600$800$1,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 58,000 and 80,000 miles, from the 39 reports that gave a mileage.

115
417
318
1319
1320
621
623
824
125

What owners wrote

“Airbag light on. Caused by fraying wires/bad connector under 2nd row passenger seat. Ford is aware of the incident and has made a solution at the owner’s expense.”

Filed May 15, 2023

“My SRS air bag light came on intermittently and is now on all the time. A internet search showed many years of explorer also have this problem. It appears MANY owners are having this same safety problem and Ford is charging full price for repair. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING. A RECALL IS NEEDED!”

Filed Oct 3, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 55 reports involved a crash. 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.

Other problems on this car