Diagsheet

2015 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Airbag warning light or recall

  • 84owner reports
  • 65,000median miles
  • $911median quote
  • 7involved a crash

Newest report Jan 24, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

84 of the 1,773 complaints on this car describe airbag.

Tick what matches of 84 reports

71
19
6
2
5

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (23 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the airbags covers the 2015 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 2015 model year.

What owners paid

24 of the 84 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $797 to $1,000.

$797$911$1,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 49,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 62 reports that gave a mileage.

115
316
817
918
2319
1420
721
222
723
924
125

What owners wrote

“i dont understand ford explorer has same recall i have a lot of recall on these and i cant take it off everytime its a recall. i work 7 days a week. Thats the reason i try to trade it in . But i still own a lot for it. I dont know to much about the explorer i brought from the carlot.”

Filed Aug 15, 2024

“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

“Air Bag system wire harness and components continually fail resulting in inoperable airbag system. Risk of injury to driver and passengers as airbags will not deploy while SRS Error light is occuring.”

Filed Dec 15, 2022

“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. 7 of 84 reports involved a crash and 15 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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