YearToAvoid

2015 Ford Explorer Seat Belts Problems

NHTSA lists 38 seat belt complaints for the 2015 Ford Explorer, 2% of its 1,791 total complaints. Owners report 3 crashes and 8 injuries tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 68,000 miles. No related recall is on file for seat belts.

Seat Belts complaints
38
2% of 1,791
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
68,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical seat belt symptoms owners report

  • Second-row bucket seat belts lock up and will not release the buckle even when the red button is pressed, sometimes trapping a child in the seat.
  • Some drivers report the seat belt buckle sticking or failing to lock/unlock as mileage climbed toward the 68,000-mile median failure point.
  • In at least one crash, the seat belt pretensioner reportedly did not fire and the buckle assembly did not perform as expected during a side-impact rollover.
  • Owners describe the seat belt failing to tension properly during a rear-end collision, allowing the occupant's head to strike the steering wheel.
  • A few complaints describe the seat belt releasing unexpectedly on impact despite being fastened, leaving bruising and injury.

When 2015 Ford Explorer seat belt complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 21, 2016, latest Sep 18, 2026.

2015 Ford Explorer seat belts complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2016Dec 2017Sep 2019Mar 2021May 2023Jan 2024Dec 2025
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2024 (3).

Seat Belts recalls for the 2015 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Seat Belts complaints by Explorer model year

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

  1. 20101 (1%)
  2. 201114 (1%)
  3. 201214 (2%)
  4. 201320 (1%)
  5. 201427 (2%)
  6. 201538 (2%)
  7. 201640 (2%)
  8. 201723 (1%)
  9. 20188 (1%)
  10. 20191 (0%)
  11. 202018 (1%)
  12. 20213 (1%)
  13. 20225 (2%)
  14. 20235 (5%)
  15. 20241 (5%)
  16. 20251 (1%)

Frequently asked questions

Are there many seat belt complaints for the 2015 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists 38 seat belt complaints for the 2015 Explorer, which is 2% of the 1,791 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a seat belt recall for the 2015 Ford Explorer?
No related recall is listed in the data for seat belt problems on the 2015 Ford Explorer.
At what mileage do seat belt problems usually appear on the 2015 Explorer?
The median mileage at failure for seat belt complaints is 68,000 miles.
Have seat belt issues on the 2015 Explorer led to crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 8 injuries associated with seat belt complaints on the 2015 Ford Explorer, with no fires reported.
How does the 2015 Explorer compare to other years for seat belt complaints?
The 2015 model's 38 seat belt complaints (2% share) are close to 2014 (27 complaints, 2%) and 2016 (40 complaints, 2%), suggesting this issue spans several consecutive model years rather than being isolated to 2015.

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.