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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,807 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Ford Explorer seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2016 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #52

Jul 012021

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My airbags light comes on and stays on someone's and I looked it up in my owners manual and it says to get it checked immediately due to a malfunction with the [XXX] bags. My problem is when I called them the light had went back out. Everytime it comes on and stays on I'm nowhere near my dealer. So it hasn't been checked out by them yet. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Sutton, WV, USA

problem #51

May 202021

Explorer

  • miles
Air bag light came on randomly one day, diagnostics indicated it was an issue with the wiring harness under the rear passenger second-row seating. This area is inaccessible so accidental disconnection is unlikely. I was told that the airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident when the airbag light is on. This certainly was the case for me as the airbag light was on at the time I was in an accident with contact to my driver's side front bumper and the airbag did not deploy. My grievance is that this is a common issue that Ford is aware of and no recall has been put in place to fix it. It is unacceptable for a manufacturer to be aware of a problem and not fix it especially as it is costly to the consumer. Quoted $1,000+ for repair. Most importantly, it is a safety issue.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #50

May 012021

Explorer

  • 55,000 miles
Vehicle displays air bag warning light. Dealership stated it is due to electrical connection under rear seat. Cost to repair $700-1000. While air bag light is on air bags will not deploy. A internet search yielded over 250 reported cases of this exact issue. Due to the air bags not functioning, the cost of the repair, and the frequency of this very specific break, and the quantity of reports, I question why Ford has not recalled this safety issue.

- Ammon, ID, USA

problem #49

Apr 052021

Explorer

  • 59,995 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air bag light on dash. Caused by dtc B141B. Found tsb related to connectors under rear seat mp 130. Car was stationary.

- Fife Lake, MI, USA

problem #48

Nov 022019

Explorer

  • miles
The 2nd row airbag light came on, and Ford told me it was a shortage in the wires and it wasn't covered under the manufacturers warranty. They stated that since the airbag light was on, the short in the wiring would stop the airbag from deploying, which in turn is a safety issue.

- Oviedo, FL, USA

problem #47

Apr 092021

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
My airbag light came on and the Ford dealer warned me that the airbags would not deploy until I got the issue fixed. This is a known issue by Ford, as they have issued tsb it. My Explorer Sport is 4 months over the 5 year/60,000 mile power train warranty, so I contacted assurant solutions because I bought a 72 month/75,000 mile extended warranty through usaa on 1/6/2016. This was my first claim and they denied the claim because they said that 'safety restraint systems' was an 'excluded item'! what's infuriating is that they cover electrical assembly, interior electronics and power train electronics, but not 'safety' electrical components!! I raised cane with the general manager of the Ford dealership and they went back to Ford for a 'goodwill' warranty coverage and they agreed to pay for all but $261 of the repair. While I sincerely appreciate the goodwill offer, Ford lost any future business from me for not proactively offering the goodwill coverage from the start before I had to pursue other options. Shame on Ford!! it doesn't rise to the level of a full recall, but it is a known defect with a critical safety feature, so they should have covered it from the start when presented with the air bag light coming on!

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #46

Nov 012020

Explorer

  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bags warning light remained illuminated on the instrumental panel. The contact took the vehicle to koons Ford of annapolis (2540 riva road, annapolis, md 21401, (410-224-2100) to have a diagnostic test performed. The contact was informed that the air bags electrical connector located underneath the driver's front seat was corroded and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact of manufacturer communications number: 16-0001 and provided an estimate for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

- Edgewater, MD, USA

problem #45

Jan 022020

Explorer

  • 80,000 miles
My driver side airbag light is on my dash I have plugged in and unplugged all of the seatbelts reset the airbag light and it stays off for a while. This is definitely a safety issue I understand it is either a sensor or they are having problems with the wiring harness this should be addressed in a recall. The front passenger side seat warmer/cooler does not work, not sure if that issue is part of the airbag light problem.

- Galt, CA, USA

problem #44

Jan 022021

Explorer

  • 53,200 miles
Broken clock spring causing disabling of airbag protection. Cost to repair $541.10

- Newburgh, IN, USA

problem #43

Jan 182021

Explorer

  • 50,000 miles
Airbag light has been coming on intermittently for over 1 year. Diagnostic test determined there is a faulty connection to the 2nd row inflatable seatbelt sensor. Ford issued a service bulletin to replace the wire harness pig tail connection. When the air bag light is illuminated due to this faulty connection, all of the air bags in the vehicle are deactivated. This is extremely dangerous, and my family has been driving the car in this condition for over a year. Upon further research, numerous cases exist reporting the same issue. Please address this safety issue.

- Red Bank, NJ, USA

problem #42

Jan 142021

Explorer

  • 47,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving down the road and the air bag light comes on and now it wont go off. It stays on 24/7. this is an issue in many 2016 Ford Explorer and it has yet to be recalled. This is a safety issue.

- Forsyth, GA, USA

problem #41

Dec 012020

Explorer

  • 47,000 miles
There is an SRS airbag warning light on the dashboard that used to intermittently display. Now it is on consistently when the vehicle is driven. It is due to a circuit failure or a broken cord leading to the driver side middle row seatbelt airbag. Directly from site: Https://Ford.oemdtc.com/1203/air-bag-warning-light-illuminated-with-dtc-B141B-B141C-2014-2016-Ford-Explorer tsb 16-0001 air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) B141B and/or B141C this is not normal wear and tear but a safety item design by Ford that has failed in the vehicle. Ford dealership claims that this is not warranty failure. But sounds like an electrical and safety issue to me...which should be covered under warranty. The truth to the matter is...Ford does not care that a potentially high risk problem has been identified as a failure on the company's end but they don't care enough to do anything about it. Well..other than charge the customer close to $1000 out of pocket to fix for a poor design on Ford's end. The Ford dealership service department does not know how this safety feature broke. If we were to get in an accident while the airbag is in this state, it would not deploy and the lives of all passengers in jeopardy!

- Valley Center, CA, USA

problem #40

Nov 242020

Explorer

  • 73,202 miles
I took my vehicle in for an airbag light and was told that the wire assembly located under the rear seat was damaged/faulty. This seems to be a very common issue (see links below) that required me to replace the wiring and was not covered under warranty but is a safety item that is well documented by others in online forums. Https://Ford.oemdtc.com/1203/air-bag-warning-light-illuminated-with-dtc-B141B-B141C-2014-2016-Ford-Explorer"fbclid=iwar1iamt7ghxqiajf_Q3eth7xlfe011S14V7P3jbmqqf1by4xp1gp55U5F-E https://"fbclid=iwar32W-nnt2R2esuv-5jm3H5uls1fw4oquhgpxwvrw5dlbbvotz4ed5or69M

- Farmingtn Hls, MI, USA

problem #39

Nov 282020

Explorer

  • 73,750 miles
Upon starting my car for the third time that day my air bag light came on and does not go off. I also have a problem with it occasionally not registering my drivers seatbelt as buckled or unbuckled.

- Easton, PA, USA

problem #38

Nov 252020

Explorer

  • miles
S air bag light is on, check and advise SRS airbag light is on. Manufacturer and dealership are aware of the issue and have a tsb for the issue but are not covering under vehicle warranty or recall. Instead they are charging for trouble shooting to look up the code and then offering to look into replacing parts to get the system working again under the already issued tsb for the faulty safety system. This is the description provided: Verified concern. Ran eec test, found B141C stored in rcm, second row inflator control seat belts. Ran oasis, tsb 16-0001 applies however not covered under active contracts cpo powertrain.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #37

Nov 142020

Explorer

  • 79,000 miles
My airbags light is on and none will deploy in the event of an accident and is not covered by any warranty. Unacceptable and very dangerous many owners are reporting this issue. Https://www-ODI.NHTSA.dot.gov/vehiclecomplaint/

- Prior Lake, MN, USA

problem #36

Nov 072020

Explorer

  • 88,000 miles
When backing out of my driveway and turning slowly there is a poping noise and my steering wheel locked up multiple times. Before this I spent 1000 bucks to get the wiring harness for air bags replaced. None of them work Ford would not cover it because there is not a recall.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #35

Aug 202020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
On August 20, 2020, my vehicle had last been driven around 12 noon. It sat in the driveway with all of us home. My son went to get in the vehicle around 6:30 pm. Smoke poured out, the seat was smoldering and flames came up. We couldn't put the fire out with extinguisher. Fire department put hose on seat. Firemen stated they see this often with heated/airconditioned seats that malfunction and burn up or cause fire. Firemen stated they could tell the way it looked "like all the other heated /air conditioned seats that ignite that they see often". insurance company says car is totaled since hose was put on it. Ford will not work with me. No one left anything burning in the seat or smoked in the car. I believe the car heated/air conditioned seat malfunctioned and Ford should help. I had purchased bumper to bumper warranty from dealership. Warranty company says if a car catches fire, warranty is voided, even if car malfunctioned causing the fire. Insurance company is trying to pay as least amount as possible. This was a well cared for, very nice car. I believe it malfunctioned. Ford Motor Company sent me a letter saying they had the dealership take pictures, and they feel it had something left burning on the seat. No one left anything burning on the seat. In the letter Ford Motor Company sent me by email, they state they inspected the car. They never came to see the car in person. They only had the service staff take pictures. The car was sitting in the driveway all afternoon. I also backed out of the driveway in my Subaru at 5:00 pm and did not smell or see smoke as I left.. the passenger seat that ignited itself had a stack of business papers and some soccer gear that could have overheated if the seat was malfunctioning too. The seat ignited by itself. As a consumer I deserve to be assisted. I would like the car repaired or replaced w/similar car. Consumer stated vehicle was totaled and settlement was offered by the insurance company. Vehicle was towed to the dealership.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #34

Oct 202020

Explorer

  • 42,000 miles
Airbag warning light illuminated on vehicle. Checked all wires under the seat and none are loose or damaged. Searched topic online and appears to be a known issue. Ford issued a service bulletin for the repairs but will not cover under warranty or issue recall. This is a safety issue as the airbags will not deploy when this light is illuminated.

- Farmington, MN, USA

problem #33

Jun 052020

Explorer

  • 54,000 miles
There is an airbag warning light on the dashboard. It is due to a circuit failure or a broken cord leading to the driver side middle row seatbelt airbag. This is not normal wear and tear but a safety item design by Ford that has failed in the vehicle. The Ford dealership service department does not know how this safety feature broke. If we were to get in an accident while the airbag is in this state, it would not deploy and put my passengers life in more jeopardy.

- Corona, CA, USA

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