NHTSA Complaint #11322886 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

I BOUGHT THIS VEH. IN 2016 WHEN IT HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS I GOT A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE SENSOR GIVING TROUBLE WAS IN THE SEAT BELT AIRBAG FOR THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FOR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0001 PUBLISHED JANUARY, 2016. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE OFF AND ON EVER SINCE WITH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. IT WOULD STAY ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN GO OFF. I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITHOUT THE LIGHT BEING ON. THIS WEEK IT STAYED ON SO I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT. IT HAD THE CODE B141B WHICH WAS THE SAME CODE REPAIRED IN 2016. SINCE THE REPAIR WAS WARRANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS THE DEALER WANTS $797 TO FIX THE CURRENT ISSUE, WHICH IS THE SAME ONE FROM 2016. I VERY SELDOM USE THE BACK SEAT AS I HAVE NO CHILDREN IN MY HOUSE. I WOULD RATHER NOT SPEND THAT MONEY, SINCE I AM RETIRED, BUT IF I DON'T GET IT FIXED ALL OF THE OTHER AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT WORK. I CONFIRMED WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR THAT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD DEPLOY IF THAT LIGHT IS ON. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A WAY TO BY-PASS IT IN THE SYSTEM SO THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND HE SAID IT IS A FMVSS THAT COULD NOT BE MODIFIED AND MUST BE FIXED THE RIGHT WAY. I FEEL LIKE I AM BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE UNLESS I PAY THE $797 TO GET IT FIXED (AGAIN).