Federal safety regulators launched a preliminary evaluation on November 6 into more than 1.2 million Ford Explorer SUVs following reports that seat-mounted side airbags deployed and caused severe second- and third-degree burn injuries to front-seat occupants.
Federal Safety Regulators Open Preliminary Evaluation PE26008
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened Preliminary Evaluation PE26008 to examine an estimated 1,236,155 Ford Explorers from the 2021 through 2026 model years, according to the Office of Defects Investigation. The agency states that deployment of the seat-mounted side airbag may result in serious burn injuries to front-seat occupants.
Federal regulators count 11 incident reports involving the alleged defect, which have resulted in 10 reported injuries. The agency received eight Vehicle Owner Questionnaires and four Early Warning Reporting Death and Injury
reports, with no fatalities recorded.
Police Interceptor Deployments Cause Burns
Law enforcement agencies across the country utilize the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor as a vehicle of choice. Several complaints in the federal database involve police officers whose side airbags deployed during collisions.
One complaint describes a crash involving a 2024 Police Interceptor where the 2024 complaint refers to “one of our other officers,” which reads like a department filing for its people. If not for the police belt there is a high probability that the driver would have suffered burns similar to one of our other officers,
the filing states.
Airbag Exhaust Port Causes Chemical Burns to Passengers
The remaining five filings outline deployment-related burn injuries without mentioning the vent, and their accounts vary.
Side seat airbag has exhaust port facing inwards, instead of outward, towards the door of the vehicle, that caused the hot chemical from the airbag to push out all the gas at the left side of my body, melting my clothes and causing chemical burns to my side when it deployed upon a wreck.
Explorer owner, via Torquenews
Federal regulators noted that reported burn injuries for both drivers and front passengers were typically diagnosed as second- or third-degree burns requiring medical treatment.
NHTSA Opens Probe Into 1.2 Million Ford Vehicles Over Burn Risk from Airbag https://t.co/Axczfmawzh
Prior Explorer Airbag Recalls Face New Probe
Recall 21V652 was issued in August 2021 to address certain 2021 Aviators and Explorers whose side airbag attachment weld studs were at risk of breaking off during deployment, thereby violating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214 concerning side impact defense.
Safety is a top priority at Ford. We are working with NHTSA to support its investigation.
Ford spokesperson, via Road & Track
The Office of Defects Investigation received a total of eight public complaints alongside four early warning reports detailing these thermal incidents.
Recall 21V652 was issued in August 2021 for more than 1.2 million vehicles.
Earlier coverage: NHTSA Opens Probe Into 1.2M Ford Explorers Over Airbag Burn Risks
