NHTSA Complaint #11299538 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING OR INCIDENT (NO ACCIDENT OR IMPACT, JUST STARTED MY CAR ONE DAY AND THE LIGHT STAYED ON). PER RESEARCH DONE ONLINE WITH SAME WARNING LIGHT, MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE, ISSUE APPEARED TO BE WITH THE REAR/2ND ROW SEAT BELT AIRBAGS DISENGAGING AND THIS CAUSES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS TO WORK IN THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. AT THE TIME THE LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON I HAD ABOUT 72K MILES ON MY CAR, AND IT APPEARS THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE OF ALL OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THIS ISSUE. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE LIGHT AND INCURRED REPAIRS TOTALING JUST UNDER $1,000 TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED AND THE AIRBAGS FUNCTION AGAIN. THE FACT THAT I DID NOTHING (OTHER THAN TURN ON MY CAR WHEN IT WAS APPROACHING THE 70-75K MILEAGE MARK) TO CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAGS BUT HAD TO PAY $1,000 TO FIX IT AND HAVE AIRBAGS WORK IN MY CAR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IS DISAPPOINTING. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE OWNER AND PASSENGER SAFETY COMPROMISED THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE OWNER, AND HAVE TO INCUR COSTLY REPAIRS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. I KEPT MY RECEIPTS AVAILABLE TO PROVE CAUSE AND COST OF AIRBAG LIGHT ISSUE.