2001 Ford Explorer Sport Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 7%of 188 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, 7% of the 188 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving on a heavily traveled road, driver 2 cars ahead of me came to a dead stop. Vehicle in front of me hit brakes hard, I also hit my brakes hard, on wet pavement. The anti-lock brake system did not kick in, and the brakes locked up.my car slid into the rear end of driver in front of me doing extensive damage to the front end of my vehicle. As I had just come through a traffic light, I was not going more than about 25 miles per hour. The wet pavement caused my car to skid quite a ways. …”
NHTSA complaint #10381949, filed 2011-02, 123,057 miles“Was involved in a collison with my 01 Ford Explorer Sport, in which the truck was totaled. Neither my driver or passenger side airbag opened. My vehicle had been serviced recently so I don't understand why they didn't open we are lucky to be alive”
NHTSA complaint #10000666, filed 2002-12, 64,000 miles“My wife was driving home from work during an ice storm and lost control of her 2001 Ford Explorer Sport SUV and struck a tree. She was traveling approximately 25 MPH at the time of the accident. No air bags deployed during the head on collision with the tree. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance company and it sustained major sheetmetal and frame damage. The radiator was pushed in and destroyed.”
NHTSA complaint #10446789, filed 2012-02, 111,150 miles“Air bag light keeps flashing off and on. Don't know if air bags will deploy or not in case of an accident. Ford has a safey memo out on this problem, but won't recall because they say it isn't a safety issue. How can this not be a safety issue if you don't know if the air bags will deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10322728, filed 2010-03, 88,000 miles“After experiencing a seizure consumer lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree. Vehicle was totaled, and the air bags did not deploy. Consumer was wearing seat belts at the time of the incident. A fire consumed the vehicle, and the driver's back was broken. Manufacturer was notified.”
NHTSA complaint #10042588, filed 2003-10, 30,000 milesAir bags: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
33 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaintsSeats
15 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsTires
12 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology