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 Oct 2, 2026
84 of the 1,791 complaints on this car describe airbag.
Narrower sheets: Airbag warning light stays on (55 reports)
Tick what matches of 84 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 (23 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the airbags covers the 2015 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 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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 49,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 62 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2015 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
“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 ownerâs 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. 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
- Trim or a body panel comes off while driving 210 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 204 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 196 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 146 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 109 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 83 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 59 reports
- Steering wheel clicks, clunks or grinds when I turn 54 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 53 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 49 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 35 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 30 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 26 reports