2002 Ford Explorer Sport Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 3%of 133 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 20,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport, 3% of the 133 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 20,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, 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 at 60 MPH consumer heard a loud noise, the passenger tire blew up. At the same time consumer lost the control and hit the guard rail. Upon impact, none of the air bags deployed. Consumer sustained arm injury and two fractures, had 100 stitches.”
NHTSA complaint #10062885, filed 2004-03, 15,600 miles“Ice on road, lost control of vehicle. Crashed head on into ditch embankment and airbag did not deploy (failure 1) then vehicle rolled over onto the passenger side. Unstable vehicle model.”
NHTSA complaint #10180808, filed 2007-01, 59,900 miles“I don't know if this is the right place to file this complaint but its worth a shot. My mother owned a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport. My brother was driving it home to kansas city from st. Louis missouri. The weather was perfect, the roadways were perfect, there was nothing wrong with the car, the air bags deployed, he wasn't speeding. However, he drove off the side of the highway, over corrected it to gain control and fish-tailed. Witnesses say that it looked like he had control again and then it rolled, killing him. …”
NHTSA complaint #10072354, filed 2004-05Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
32 complaintsBody and structure
28 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
8 complaintsSeats
8 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsSteering
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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