64 of the 3,122 complaints about the Ford Explorer (2.0%) concern Airbags & seat belts, making it the model's #11 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Airbags & seat belts share across all tracked vehicles.
64Complaints · Airbags & seat belts
2.0%Share of complaints
0.54×vs. all vehicles
23Last 12 months
28.1%Share involving a crash or fire
5Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Airbags & seat belts complaints peak with the 2020 model (19, 2% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2019 model (2). 23 Airbags & seat belts complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 16 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
Owners most often describe: “seat”, “belt”, “airbag”, “passenger” and “deploy”. 18 of these reports (28.1%) describe a crash or fire, with 21 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V159000 (2026-03-17, model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025).
On July 8, 2026, I was traveling westbound on Highway 7 when another vehicle pulled right out in front of me from southbound Orchard Road, attempting to cross the highway. We collided and I struck the other vehicle at a 45° angle. My seatbelt was buckled.
On XXX, in the parking lot of O'Reilly Auto Parts (store #2460, telephone number: [XXX]) [XXX], between 12:10 pm and 12:45 pm, my [XXX] daughter was seated in the rear driver's side seat of my parked 2022 Ford Explorer when the unbuckled seat belt…
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-07-16 · ODI 11750920
The dash skin covering is deboning and lifting and it’s very concerning that the airbags might be compromised from inflating in an accident.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-26 · ODI 11759628
The dash board has a little split where the air bag is located. The split is in a line of or a crease of the outline of the air bag. I took it to the dealership and they were clueless.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-07-28 · ODI 11753200
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver's side front seat belt failed to click securely into the buckle. The seat belt warning light was illuminated.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-07-16 · ODI 11750883
During a severe, multi-lane impact crash, the second-row outer seatbelts completely failed to maintain restraint and failed to retract.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured. Additionally, vehicles may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt and/or seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. Additionally, dealers will inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S09.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN Campaign 21V652000 · 2021-08-23 · Model years: 2021
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during the deployment of the side air bag, resulting in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214, "Side Impact Protection".
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side air bag assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 10, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C19.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with second row center seat belt buckles that may not be properly secured to the seat.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the second row center seat assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S50.
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS Campaign 20V497000 · 2020-08-21 · Model years: 2020
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag and/or seat back module attachments may not have been properly tightened in the front seat backs.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove front seat back panels from one or both front seats (VIN-specific) and verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S48.
How common are Airbags & seat belts problems on the Ford Explorer?
64 of the 3,122 complaints about the Ford Explorer (2.0%) concern Airbags & seat belts, making it the model's #11 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Airbags & seat belts share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Ford Explorer model years have the most Airbags & seat belts complaints?
By model year, Airbags & seat belts complaints peak with the 2020 model (19, 2% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2019 model (2).
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer Airbags & seat belts problems?
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V159000 (2026-03-17, model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025).