Skip to content
Air bagsPart report

2013 Ford Explorer Air bags Problems

Complaints
18about this part
Share
1%of 2,237 total for the year
Median mileage
46,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Ford Explorer, 1% of the 2,237 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,000 miles. 12 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Received a message on my dashboard power assist fault , the steering was stiff and could not turn. Turn off the car for 10 minutes and the steering was functioning ok. Later in the afternoon, I was about to hit the gas pump as my steering went stiff again. Now am scared that this may cause accident”

NHTSA complaint #11288788, filed 2019-12, 98,000 miles

“My wife experience spontaneous acceleration of our Ford Explorer. My wife was pulling into a walgreens parking lot, slowed down to turn into a parking space when the car lunged forward at a high rate of speed. My wife had her foot on the brake as she was entering the space, but the brake could not control the car. There was an extreme and spontaneous acceleration. Once the car hit the pole, it automatically shifted into reverse even with my wife applying the brake. The car came to a stop after hitting a parked truck. …”

NHTSA complaint #11329641, filed 2020-06, 101,000 miles

“I was standing at a red light and was rear ended by a speeding driver. I was catapulted into the truck standing in front of me. The front end of the car was totaled, as well as the frame bent from the rear; where I was hit originally only milliseconds before. I bought the vehicle because of the air bag protection, no airbags deployed. A fireman on scene commented that he could not believe that the airbags did not deploy. My vehicle is in the police impound lot, because of an accident resulting in injuries. …”

NHTSA complaint #10851716, filed 2016-03, 86,000 miles

“I was driving on a residential street approximately two minutes from my home to run an errand. I was using the hands-free device on my phone as per texas law. There is one way each way with a yellow double line divider and many people park on the side to check mail walk dogs etc. So I tend to drive so that I won't hit those individuals. The road is curvy and I noticed that I was starting to veer off into the grass and I tried to steer back left and press my brakes at which time I realized that my brakes were not working and I could not get back on the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #11020996, filed 2017-08, 1 miles

“I was in a front end collision and the air bags did not deploy. Ford stated the sensors where not effected by the accident, however the windshield crashed all over and $18,000 worth of front end damage.”

NHTSA complaint #10622342, filed 2014-08, 1,500 miles

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202612%
202555%
2024210%
202344%
202273%
202161%
202060%
201921%
2018112%
2017342%
2016994%
2015845%
2014473%
2013181%
2012273%
2011444%
201065%
200926%
200843%
2007126%
200681%
2005153%
2004393%
2003504%
20021625%
2001287%
2000627%
1999977%
1998402%
1997272%
1996413%
1995273%
1994111%
199351%
199210%
199130%

Other parts of the 2013 Ford Explorer

Steering
836 complaints
Body and structure
439 complaints
Other or unknown
351 complaints
Engine
225 complaints
Electrical system
163 complaints
Fuel system
153 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
119 complaints
Suspension
79 complaints
Engine cooling
67 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
63 complaints
Electronic stability control
45 complaints
Brakes
40 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Ford Explorer

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