NHTSA Complaint #10980447 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

PURCHASED USED VEHICLE JANUARY 2017. MARCH 2017 AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY AT START, WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE, OR TRAVELING AT VARIABLE SPEEDS. APRIL 2017 AIRBAG LIGHT NOW ILLUMINATES 95% OF TIME AT START AND REMAINS ON THROUGHOUT OPERATION. FORD DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED AIRBAG CODE B1212, ADVISING HIGH ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE IN GEAR SHIFTER REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AS WILL NOT INDICATE TO VEHICLE SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM THAT VEHICLE IS IN PROPER GEAR AND THEREFOR PASS FAULT DETECTING SYSTEM. REPAIR/REPLACEMENT APPROXIMATELY $515.00. TSB-12-5-11 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CODE, WAS APPLIED WITH NO RESOLVE. FAULT DISABLES CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM, IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IS OWNER'S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS AN ENORMOUS CONSUMER REPORTING TREND FOR THIS DEFECT IN MAKE/MODEL. RECOMMEND RECALL INVESTIGATION AS COMMON TREND THAT DISABLES CRITICAL VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURE IDENTIFIED BY MANUFACTURER IN TSB-12-5-11. INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER SUBSTANTIATES MULTIPLE AND REPEATED OWNER/MANUFACTURER HISTORICAL DATA SUPPORTING CLAIM.