NHTSA Complaint #11525396 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code B141B and/or B141C as listed in Ford TSB 15-0113. Independent service center identified the problem and confirmed that the circuit / wires had been severed and the airbag would not have deployed. The independent service center let me know that our safety was at risk and that we should definitely have the repair completed prior to putting the vehicle back on the road. They also are the ones that made us aware of the Ford technical service bulletin and that the problem had never been made into a company recall. The component has not been inspected by Ford, however the independent service center followed Fords recommendation for repair. I have been working with the Ford Corporation who told me that the service center would reimburse me for the repair. However, the Ford service center said that the repair was done outside the dates of the released Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 21B11. In addition they notified me that my vehicle was outside the "build-date" that was covered under the CSP. However, it is obvious through research that the problem still exists. The CSP was in effect from January 21, 2021 to January 21, 2023 . The repair we had done by the independent service center was performed on January 30, 2023. This only days after the program ended. I explained to the Ford service center that this was an ongoing problem even in some newer models of Ford vehicles. It is documented all over the internet that this problem has persisted since 2015 and Ford has still not made it into an official recall. In addition, I told them an emergency repair is defined as when a vehicle needs a repair to ensure no one gets injured during use of the vehicle, and an emergency part is defined as a component or part that is essential to ensure no one gets injured during the use of the vehicle. They still refused to reimburse me for the repair. Ford corporation recommended I file this complaint.