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Air bagsPart report

2023 Ford Explorer Air bags Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
4%of 113 total for the year
Median mileage
43,000miles
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2023 Ford Explorer, 4% of the 113 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 43,000 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.

“On 11-21-24, I was traveling down the interstate going at 60mph when a car began to urgently brake, I proceeded to hit the brakes as well and my car would not stop, at the time of the impact no air bag deployed, driver seat belt did not lock, my driver seat moved, no pre-collision assist came up for this accident. No prior issues or lights on dash.”

NHTSA complaint #11630282, filed 2024-12

“Side seat airbag has exhaust port facing inwards, instead of outward, towards the door of the vehicle, that caused the hot chemical from the airbag to push out all the gas at the left side of my body, melting my clothes and causing chemical burns to my side when it deployed upon a wreck.”

NHTSA complaint #11602427, filed 2024-07

“As the passenger, following a passenger side impact, (T bone) I sustained 1st and 2nd degree burns extending from my ribs to my hip. To my knowledge the only airbags that inflated were the curtain air bags. Immediately upon impact I had a burning sensation on my right side that slowly began to spread. Once out of the car it was discovered that something had burned through 3 layers of clothing with the singed edges sticking to my skin. My vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a body shop. I spoke to the insurance company about the incident as I am receiving medical treatment for the burns. …”

NHTSA complaint #11559767, filed 2023-12

“The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle did not stop at a stop sign and crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. All of the air bags deployed. The contact's boyfriend suffered bruising to the wrist and left upper arm and redness on the right hand. The front passenger-side curtain air bag caused the contact second-degree chemical burn on the right side of the stomach when it burned through two layers of clothing. …”

NHTSA complaint #11739351, filed 2026-05, 43,000 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 2023 Ford Explorer

Other or unknown
28 complaints
Electrical system
14 complaints
Suspension
14 complaints
Steering
12 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
12 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaints
Engine
10 complaints
Body and structure
10 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
7 complaints
Lane departure
7 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2023 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