There are 30 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2012 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, her grandson who was occupying the second-row driver's side seat informed the contact that the seat belt had failed to remain buckled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and moved her grandson to the second-row middle seat. The contact stated that the plastic on the second-row driver's side seat belt clip was fractured and had detached, which caused the seat belt to not buckle as needed. The contact also stated that the plastic on the second-row passenger's side seat belt clip was fractured, but the seat belt was able to be buckled. The local dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact in scheduling an appointment with another dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the passenger's side and driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trims had fractured and had partially separated from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Airbag lights kept going on and off and now stays on giving code B1212. It is a safety issue since it has to do with the Driver seatbelt buckle pretensioner circuit. Airbags may not deploy incase of an accident. Apparently it is a problem with ford explorer vehicles which ford has failed to rectify or have a recall for it. I need to know the fix or resolution for this before anything unfortunate happens.
Airbag light suddenly comes on for the last few weeks. I did some research and found that when the airbag light is on that it is disabled. If the vehicle was to be involved in an accident the airbag would not deploy. I am concern that this vehicle is a family vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to two Ford Dealership and was told they are so backed up that it would take at least two weeks before I can get an appointment. One of the service tech even joke about making sure to wear my seatbelt because the airbag is not working. I tried looking for a recall but have not found one. I also learned this is a very common problem with most Ford vehicle and there is not permanent fix.
Air bag light on dash is on. Comes on and have taken it in several times to be fixed only to come back on
2/17/21 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON... BUT WHEN I LOOKED FOR A RECALL OR WHAT TO DO IT SAYS I DON'T HAVE A RECALL....
FOR ALL THREE REAR SEAT BELTS THE LATCH PLATE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE REAR SEATS ARE RARELY USED SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE.
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WEEK NOW. TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE WIRING IS MALFUNCTIONING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2012 MODELS. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. NOW I AM HAVING TO PAY UPWARD OF $400 TO REPAIR.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear second passenger’s side seat belt was faulty. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear second passenger’s side seat belt to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The contact stated the issue has been resolved via local dealer opening up mechanism and finding twist in seatbelt, which wouldn’t allow use of the seatbelt but haven't received a new seatbelt which seems to be on backorder.
WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE WATER COMING INTO MY VEHICHLE AND IT EVEN COMES THROUGH THE SEATBELTS. I HAVE WATER IN MY FLOOR NOW.
THE SAME COMMON PROBLEM WITH EVERY SINGLE 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND POSSIBLY DISABLED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO HUNDREDS OF EXPLORER OWNERS THIS ISSUE IS AN ENDLESS MONEY PIT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX AND FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE COST FOR TURNING OFF THE LIGHT AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WILL BE UPWARDS OF $400 AND WILL ONLY TURN THE AIRBAG LIGHT OFF FOR A SHORT WHILE. I WAS PROMISED BY LOCAL FORD DEALER "THERE'S A HIGH PROBABILITY I'LL HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN FOR THIS ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD AND THEIR APOLOGIES BUT THERE'S NOTHING FROM FORD TO HELP ME COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR". UNSAFE RIP OFF.... PURE AND SIMPLE
WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT TENSIONER. WATER RUNS DOWN THE SEAT BELT AND POOLS ON THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. WATER IN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IS A SAFETY RISK. I REPORTED IT TO FORD, THEY DECLINED TO FIX IT.
ON 4/17/2019 MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ITS NOT BLINKING JUST SOLID ITS BEEN ALMOST A WEEK AND LIGHT IS STILL ON. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY FORD YEAR AND MODEL. FROM WHAT I RESEARCHED NONE OF THE FORD REPAIRS HAVE PERMANENTLY REPAIRED THIS ISSUE. FROM I HAVE READ IN THESE COMPLAINTS IS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON WONDERING WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I AM NOT TAKEN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A TEMPORARY FIX THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP.
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.
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES SOON AFTER BEING FIXED AT DEALER. LITERALLY WENT ON PRIOR TO DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND BRING IT BACK. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST YEAR. NO ONE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION: IS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM DISMANTLED WHILE ON? IF YOU TURN CAR OFF AND ON IT WILL DISAPPEAR AND COME ON SOON AFTER. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. BEEN DEALING WITH THIS CONSTANTLY SINCE PRIOR TO AUGUST 2017
THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE BY THE DEALER BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE THAT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR.
SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
THE WIPERS WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS OFF. I HAVE FOUND THAT I HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON TO THE HIGHEST SETTING THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN THEM OFF YOU GET THE WIPERS TO STAY OFF. MY SECOND PROBLEM IS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I CAN GO WEEKS OR MONTHS WITH OUT IT TURNING ON BUT I CAN ALSO GO WEEKS WITH IT STAYING ON 24/7. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS 'WE ARE NOT SURE WHY IT'S DOING IT BUT JUST PUT A TOWEL ON THE DASH TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING HOT AND THAT SHOULD FIX IT MAYBE'. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHILE DRIVING IF MY WIFE TURNS AROUND TO GET/GIVE SOMETHING TO OUR CHILD THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON WHEN SHE FULLY SITS BACK DOWN.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. IT DOES NOT FLASH IT'S JUST ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME AND WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS COVERED THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY AND ASKED ABOUT BRINGING IT IN AND ERIC AGAIN SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL OR ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THERE ARE OVER 850,000 FORDS WHO HAVE A RECALL DUE TO THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONING. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE.
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS THE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS COME ON, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE SOLUTION WAS TO APPLY SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE TO THE ELECTRIC CONNECTORS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS FIX WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS ON THE 3RD THEY AGREED TO APPLY THE GREASE AT NO COST TO ME. MY SERVICE CENTER HAS TOLD ME THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. WONDERING WHY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS AN AIRBAG HAS LOOSE CONNECTORS WHICH HANG DOWN UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT, SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW? WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LOMBARD FORD, INC LOCATED AT 385 NEW HARTFORD RD, BARKHAMSTED, CT 06063; (860) 379-3301) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-12821614. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,149.
Showing 1–20 of 30 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026