YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Explorer Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 18 airbag complaints for the 2013 Ford Explorer, about 1% of its 2,234 total complaints that year. Most describe airbags failing to deploy in a crash; 12 complaints involve crashes and 11 involve injuries, with a median failure mileage of 46,000. No related recall is listed for this area.

Airbags complaints
18
1% of 2,234
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
11
Median mileage
46,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report frontal or side-impact collisions where the airbags failed to deploy at all, including hits at 30-40 mph that caused significant vehicle damage.
  • Several drivers describe being injured, including neck, chest, and facial injuries, after airbags did not activate during a crash.
  • One complaint describes airbags deploying unexpectedly while driving at 25 mph with no collision, causing loss of control.
  • A few complaints mention the steering seizing or going stiff shortly before or after a crash where airbags failed to deploy.
  • One owner reported airbag sensors being replaced around the same time as a transmission repair, though the vehicle had low mileage.

When 2013 Ford Explorer airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 9, 2012, latest Jan 17, 2024.

2013 Ford Explorer airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2012Aug 2014May 2016Jun 2017Mar 2018Dec 2019Apr 2021Aug 2023
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2012 to Jan 2024; peak Jun 2014 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2013 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. 20106 (5%)
  2. 201144 (4%)
  3. 201227 (3%)
  4. 201318 (1%)
  5. 201447 (3%)
  6. 201584 (5%)
  7. 201699 (4%)
  8. 201734 (2%)
  9. 201811 (2%)
  10. 20192 (1%)
  11. 20205 (0%)
  12. 20216 (1%)
  13. 20227 (3%)
  14. 20234 (4%)
  15. 20242 (10%)
  16. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Ford Explorer have an airbag recall?
According to the data collected, there is no related recall listed for airbag complaints on the 2013 Ford Explorer.
How many airbag complaints does the 2013 Ford Explorer have?
NHTSA lists 18 airbag complaints for the 2013 Ford Explorer, making up about 1% of the 2,234 total complaints filed for that model year.
What is the most common airbag problem reported?
The most common pattern in owner complaints is airbags failing to deploy during a crash, reported in multiple incidents involving frontal and side impacts.
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to occur?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2013 Ford Explorer is 46,000 miles.
Were people injured in these airbag incidents?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 11 injuries and 12 crashes among the 18 airbag complaints for the 2013 Ford Explorer.

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.