NHTSA Complaint #11229287 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

AIRBAG LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND OFF ON MY CAR FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. FORD FIXED ISSUE ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY. FAULTY WIRE CONNECTION IS WHAT I WAS TOLD AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FINE, ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERSHIP. MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON ONCE AGAIN AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORERS. IT SEEMS THAT 2011-2018 ARE AFFECTED BY SOME SORT OF AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. FORD IS NOT HELPING ANYONE AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING FORD HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO STILL EXIST. IT IS WIDE SPREAD AND NOT JUST AN ISSUE IN CERTAIN CLIMATES. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE MANUFACTURER BECOME LIABLE FOR FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT? WE ARE ALL BEING TOLD THAT OUR AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF IN ANY ACCIDENT, LARGE OR SMALL, AND TO ME THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. HOW MANY LIVES NEED BE LOST OR IN JEOPARDY BEFORE SOMEONE CAN HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OBVIOUS DEFECT? THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY VEHICLE DAILY AND NOW I FEEL THEIR LIVES ARE AT RISK WHENEVER WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. I DON'T HAVE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP DUMPING INTO MY VEHICLE FOR A REPAIR THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THEMSELVES. THERE ARE A FEW TSB'S OUT AT FORD CURRENTLY FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEMS AND THEY SEEM TO BE PRIMARILY AN ISSUE WITH NEEDING DIELECTRIC GREASE ADDED AT THE CONNECTORS. I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME CONCERNS AND RECEIVING LITTLE TO NO HELP FROM FORD. IT'S A MATTER OF THEM SAYING 'OH WELL' OR 'THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO'. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND QUITE FRANKLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT IT'S HAPPENING ON A 40K CAR. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE ALSO STATED THAT A SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD BE A RECALL.