What 2,429 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH. CAUSED BY DTC B141B. FOUND TSB RELATED TO CONNECTORS UNDER REAR SEAT MP 130. CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11408288

THE 2ND ROW AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND FORD TOLD ME IT WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRES AND IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. THEY STATED THAT SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, THE SHORT IN THE WIRING WOULD STOP THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING, WHICH IN TURN IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11407970

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FORD DEALER WARNED ME THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNTIL I GOT THE ISSUE FIXED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD, AS THEY HAVE ISSUED TSB IT. MY EXPLORER SPORT IS 4 MONTHS OVER THE 5 YEAR/60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, SO I CONTACTED ASSURANT SOLUTIONS BECAUSE I BOUGHT A 72 MONTH/75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH USAA ON 1/6/2016. THIS WAS MY FIRST CLAIM AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT 'SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS' WAS AN 'EXCLUDED ITEM'! WHAT'S INFURIATING IS THAT THEY COVER ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY, INTERIOR ELECTRONICS AND POWER TRAIN ELECTRONICS, BUT NOT 'SAFETY' ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS!! I RAISED CANE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY WENT BACK TO FORD FOR A 'GOODWILL' WARRANTY COVERAGE AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR ALL BUT $261 OF THE REPAIR. WHILE I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE GOODWILL OFFER, FORD LOST ANY FUTURE BUSINESS FROM ME FOR NOT PROACTIVELY OFFERING THE GOODWILL COVERAGE FROM THE START BEFORE I HAD TO PURSUE OTHER OPTIONS. SHAME ON FORD!! IT DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A FULL RECALL, BUT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE, SO THEY SHOULD HAVE COVERED IT FROM THE START WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON! *TR

NHTSA ODI 11407222

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KOONS FORD OF ANNAPOLIS (2540 RIVA ROAD, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (410-224-2100) TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS NUMBER: 16-0001 AND PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 11394686

MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON MY DASH I HAVE PLUGGED IN AND UNPLUGGED ALL OF THE SEATBELTS RESET THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND IT STAYS OFF FOR A WHILE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE I UNDERSTAND IT IS EITHER A SENSOR OR THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMER/COOLER DOES NOT WORK, NOT SURE IF THAT ISSUE IS PART OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11390470

BROKEN CLOCK SPRING CAUSING DISABLING OF AIRBAG PROTECTION. COST TO REPAIR $541.10

NHTSA ODI 11389247

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER 1 YEAR. DIAGNOSTIC TEST DETERMINED THERE IS A FAULTY CONNECTION TO THE 2ND ROW INFLATABLE SEATBELT SENSOR. FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS PIG TAIL CONNECTION. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THIS FAULTY CONNECTION, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE ARE DEACTIVATED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN DRIVING THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION FOR OVER A YEAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, NUMEROUS CASES EXIST REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11388697

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND NOW IT WONT GO OFF. IT STAYS ON 24/7. THIS IS AN ISSUE IN MANY 2016 FORD EXPLORERS AND IT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11388278

THERE IS AN SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT USED TO INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY. NOW IT IS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. IT IS DUE TO A CIRCUIT FAILURE OR A BROKEN CORD LEADING TO THE DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE ROW SEATBELT AIRBAG. DIRECTLY FROM SITE: HTTPS://FORD.OEMDTC.COM/1203/AIR-BAG-WARNING-LIGHT-ILLUMINATED-WITH-DTC-B141B-B141C-2014-2016-FORD-EXPLORER TSB 16-0001 AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B141B AND/OR B141C THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT A SAFETY ITEM DESIGN BY FORD THAT HAS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTY FAILURE. BUT SOUNDS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL AND SAFETY ISSUE TO ME...WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRUTH TO THE MATTER IS...FORD DOES NOT CARE THAT A POTENTIALLY HIGH RISK PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A FAILURE ON THE COMPANY'S END BUT THEY DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WELL..OTHER THAN CHARGE THE CUSTOMER CLOSE TO $1000 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX FOR A POOR DESIGN ON FORD'S END. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT KNOW HOW THIS SAFETY FEATURE BROKE. IF WE WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE THE AIRBAG IS IN THIS STATE, IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY AND THE LIVES OF ALL PASSENGERS IN JEOPARDY!

NHTSA ODI 11384122

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN AIRBAG LIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRE ASSEMBLY LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS DAMAGED/FAULTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE (SEE LINKS BELOW) THAT REQUIRED ME TO REPLACE THE WIRING AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS IN ONLINE FORUMS. HTTPS://FORD.OEMDTC.COM/1203/AIR-BAG-WARNING-LIGHT-ILLUMINATED-WITH-DTC-B141B-B141C-2014-2016-FORD-EXPLORER?FBCLID=IWAR1IAMT7GHXQIAJF_Q3ETH7XLFE011S14V7P3JBMQQF1BY4XP1GP55U5F-E HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-ON-PROBLEMS.PHP?FBCLID=IWAR32W-NNT2R2ESUV-5JM3H5ULS1FW4OQUHGPXWVRW5DLBBVOTZ4ED5OR69M

NHTSA ODI 11378293

UPON STARTING MY CAR FOR THE THIRD TIME THAT DAY MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT OCCASIONALLY NOT REGISTERING MY DRIVERS SEATBELT AS BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED.

NHTSA ODI 11377383

S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, CHECK AND ADVISE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAVE A TSB FOR THE ISSUE BUT ARE NOT COVERING UNDER VEHICLE WARRANTY OR RECALL. INSTEAD THEY ARE CHARGING FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING TO LOOK UP THE CODE AND THEN OFFERING TO LOOK INTO REPLACING PARTS TO GET THE SYSTEM WORKING AGAIN UNDER THE ALREADY ISSUED TSB FOR THE FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEM. THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION PROVIDED: VERIFIED CONCERN. RAN EEC TEST, FOUND B141C STORED IN RCM, SECOND ROW INFLATOR CONTROL SEAT BELTS. RAN OASIS, TSB 16-0001 APPLIES HOWEVER NOT COVERED UNDER ACTIVE CONTRACTS CPO POWERTRAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11377041

MY AIRBAGS LIGHT IS ON AND NONE WILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. UNACCEPTABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS MANY OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS ISSUE. HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/VEHICLECOMPLAINT/

NHTSA ODI 11376436

WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING SLOWLY THERE IS A POPING NOISE AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP MULTIPLE TIMES. BEFORE THIS I SPENT 1000 BUCKS TO GET THE WIRING HARNESS FOR AIR BAGS REPLACED. NONE OF THEM WORK FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11375468

ON AUGUST 20, 2020, MY VEHICLE HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN AROUND 12 NOON. IT SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH ALL OF US HOME. MY SON WENT TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AROUND 6:30 PM. SMOKE POURED OUT, THE SEAT WAS SMOLDERING AND FLAMES CAME UP. WE COULDN'T PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT HOSE ON SEAT. FIREMEN STATED THEY SEE THIS OFTEN WITH HEATED/AIRCONDITIONED SEATS THAT MALFUNCTION AND BURN UP OR CAUSE FIRE. FIREMEN STATED THEY COULD TELL THE WAY IT LOOKED "LIKE ALL THE OTHER HEATED /AIR CONDITIONED SEATS THAT IGNITE THAT THEY SEE OFTEN". INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS CAR IS TOTALED SINCE HOSE WAS PUT ON IT. FORD WILL NOT WORK WITH ME. NO ONE LEFT ANYTHING BURNING IN THE SEAT OR SMOKED IN THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE CAR HEATED/AIR CONDITIONED SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND FORD SHOULD HELP. I HAD PURCHASED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FROM DEALERSHIP. WARRANTY COMPANY SAYS IF A CAR CATCHES FIRE, WARRANTY IS VOIDED, EVEN IF CAR MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE FIRE. INSURANCE COMPANY IS TRYING TO PAY AS LEAST AMOUNT AS POSSIBLE. THIS WAS A WELL CARED FOR, VERY NICE CAR. I BELIEVE IT MALFUNCTIONED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THEY HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE PICTURES, AND THEY FEEL IT HAD SOMETHING LEFT BURNING ON THE SEAT. NO ONE LEFT ANYTHING BURNING ON THE SEAT. IN THE LETTER FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME BY EMAIL, THEY STATE THEY INSPECTED THE CAR. THEY NEVER CAME TO SEE THE CAR IN PERSON. THEY ONLY HAD THE SERVICE STAFF TAKE PICTURES. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY ALL AFTERNOON. I ALSO BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN MY SUBARU AT 5:00 PM AND DID NOT SMELL OR SEE SMOKE AS I LEFT.. THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IGNITED ITSELF HAD A STACK OF BUSINESS PAPERS AND SOME SOCCER GEAR THAT COULD HAVE OVERHEATED IF THE SEAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING TOO. THE SEAT IGNITED BY ITSELF. AS A CONSUMER I DESERVE TO BE ASSISTED. I WOULD LIKE THE CAR REPAIRED OR REPLACED W/SIMILAR CAR.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND SETTLEMENT WAS OFFERED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11374212

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON VEHICLE. CHECKED ALL WIRES UNDER THE SEAT AND NONE ARE LOOSE OR DAMAGED. SEARCHED TOPIC ONLINE AND APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE. FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE REPAIRS BUT WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY OR ISSUE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA ODI 11365710

THERE IS AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. IT IS DUE TO A CIRCUIT FAILURE OR A BROKEN CORD LEADING TO THE DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE ROW SEATBELT AIRBAG. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT A SAFETY ITEM DESIGN BY FORD THAT HAS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT KNOW HOW THIS SAFETY FEATURE BROKE. IF WE WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE THE AIRBAG IS IN THIS STATE, IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY AND PUT MY PASSENGERS LIFE IN MORE JEOPARDY.

NHTSA ODI 11349221

I HAVE A 2016 FORD EXPLORER PLATINUM AND I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WITH AROUND 40-45,000 MILES BC THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON. TURNS OUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE FIX BC ITS NOT A RECALL EVEN WITH IT BEING STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AS I HAVE LOOKED MORE AND MORE INTO THIS IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ONE. BECAUSE ITS OUT NOW, ALL MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN I HAVE 3 KIDS (NIGHTMARE TO THINK IF SOMETHING DID). I HAVE SEEN 100'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ITS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE SUES FORD WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ON JUST THIS ALONE. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT GETTING A FORD I TURN THEM AWAY AND SHOW THEM HOW MUCH I HAVE SPENT ON REPAIRS AND ETC. AND THEY ALL END UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED.!!

NHTSA ODI 11342021

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. FORD DEALERSHIP (SOUND FORD RENTON,WA) PERFORMED $150 DIAGNOSTIC WHICH PRODUCE CODE STORED IN RCM "B141B" FOR 2ND ROW DRIVER SIDE INFLATABLE SEAT BELT DEPLOYMENT CONTROL USING OASIS THE DEALER FOUND TSB 16--0001. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN REPLACES THE CONNECTORS FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT SECOND ROW SEATING AIRBAG CONTROL AND RE-ROUTES HARNESS. VEHICLE HAS 45,319 MILES (BELOW THE 5YR/60,000 SRS WARRANTY) HOWEVER DEALER CLAIMS REPAIR IS OUT OF POCKET. DEALER ALSO STATED WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NO AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11338517

REAR AIRBAG SEATBELT FEATURE MALFUNCTIONS BY TRIGGERING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH BOARD. OBD DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCES NO ERROR CODES. WARNING LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AND MOST COMMON AFTER REAR PASSENGERS USE SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA ODI 11337611

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE CONNECTORS SECOND TIME THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED AND THE THIRD TIME MECHANIC SAYS HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO FOOT THE BILL EVEN THOUGH IT IS WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11328353

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON - WHEN LIGHT IS ON AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER TOLD WIRING HARNESS UNDER BACK SEATS NEED REPLACED, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MORE THAN JUST MY VEHICLE. THERE IS A FIX AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325155

ANOTHER 2016 EXPLORER WITH AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. OBDII CHECK IS NOT SHOWING ANY FAULTS. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO DEALER YET, BUT I AM ASSUMING IT'S THE SAME OR SIMILAR FAULT TO WHAT OTHERS ARE SEEING ON HERE AND ELSEWHERE.

NHTSA ODI 11315442

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND THEN COMES OFF. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT RAINS.

NHTSA ODI 11312173

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. RIGHT NOW IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP, HOPEFULLY TO BE FIXED

NHTSA ODI 11309762