YearToAvoid

2005 Ford Explorer Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 15 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2005 Ford Explorer, 3% of all 497 complaints for this model year. That is #8 highest airbag complaint count among 21 Explorer model years. These complaints report 8 crashes and 7 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 63,500 miles.

Airbags complaints
15
3% of 497
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
63,500 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2005 Ford Explorer airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 7, 2005, latest Mar 12, 2019.

2005 Ford Explorer airbags complaints: complaints filed per month1Apr 2005May 2006Aug 2007May 2009May 2010Dec 2012Feb 2016Mar 2019
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2005 to Mar 2019; peak Apr 2005 (1).

Airbags recalls for the 2005 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200515 (3%)
  2. 20068 (1%)
  3. 200712 (6%)
  4. 20084 (3%)
  5. 20092 (6%)
  6. 20106 (5%)
  7. 201144 (4%)
  8. 201227 (3%)
  9. 201318 (1%)
  10. 201447 (3%)
  11. 201584 (5%)
  12. 201699 (4%)
  13. 201734 (2%)
  14. 201811 (2%)
  15. 20192 (1%)
  16. 20205 (0%)
  17. 20216 (1%)
  18. 20227 (3%)
  19. 20234 (4%)
  20. 20242 (10%)
  21. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Ford Explorer have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 15 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2005 Ford Explorer, 3% of all complaints for this model year, including 8 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 63,500 miles.
Which Ford Explorer year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2016 Ford Explorer has the most airbag complaints (99), compared with 15 for the 2005.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2005 Ford Explorer?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Ford Explorer is classified under airbags. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.