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2010 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

95 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2022
Air Bags

The air bag light will not go off. I have checked the the wiring, cleared the area, and checked all fuses. All checked out okay. I'm a new buyer and can't register the car until it passes inspection. My only conclusion is that it possibly has a defect or has been previously been deployed. There is no record of a previous collis…

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The air bag light will not go off. I have checked the the wiring, cleared the area, and checked all fuses. All checked out okay. I'm a new buyer and can't register the car until it passes inspection. My only conclusion is that it possibly has a defect or has been previously been deployed. There is no record of a previous collision as of yet, although that may not be factual as the car has had a drivers door panel replaced. Can you help with the air bag information? Also, Is there a financial aid grant or some help in obtaining/repairing the problem for low or no income families? Thank you for your time in this matter. Sincerely, Kelly F. kewkarooo@gmail.com

NHTSA ODI #11496120

68,560 miles · Oct 26, 2018
Air Bags

HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON AIR BAG . LIGHT COME ON AS I WAS DRIVING O ROAD. IT DOSE THIS SOME TIMES AND DON'T AT OTHER TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11142914

60,000 miles · Dec 4, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10808340

32,800 miles · Apr 16, 2015
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. LAST FEB 2014 CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT GAVE CODE B2292 AND WAS CORRECTED BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706065

6,500 miles · Feb 13, 2011
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES BUT AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, IT WENT OUT AFTER 3-4 SECONDS. 2 INCIDENTS: ONE DAY LOW WAS -7 2ND LOW WAS -12 TEMP AT TIME OF ENGINE START AND OCCURRENCE WAS 1ST DAY + 7 2ND + 15 DOES THIS MEAN WHEN BELOW ZERO AIR BAG PRESSURE CHARGE FALLS BELOW A LEVEL …

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AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES BUT AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, IT WENT OUT AFTER 3-4 SECONDS. 2 INCIDENTS: ONE DAY LOW WAS -7 2ND LOW WAS -12 TEMP AT TIME OF ENGINE START AND OCCURRENCE WAS 1ST DAY + 7 2ND + 15 DOES THIS MEAN WHEN BELOW ZERO AIR BAG PRESSURE CHARGE FALLS BELOW A LEVEL THAT CAN OPERATE THE AIR BAG? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381747

10 miles · Jun 20, 2010
Air Bags

MY 85 POUND, 55 YEAR OLD, 5 FOOT 3 INCH, GOOD HEALTH WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED BY AIR BAGS WHEN SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. AIR BAGS IN MY FORD 2010 EXPLORER ARE DESIGNED TO GO INACTIVE WHEN A PERSON OF MY WIFE'S STATURE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT THE AUTO COMPANY TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXPLORERS TO DETERMIN…

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MY 85 POUND, 55 YEAR OLD, 5 FOOT 3 INCH, GOOD HEALTH WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED BY AIR BAGS WHEN SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. AIR BAGS IN MY FORD 2010 EXPLORER ARE DESIGNED TO GO INACTIVE WHEN A PERSON OF MY WIFE'S STATURE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT THE AUTO COMPANY TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXPLORERS TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS THE SAME IN ALL OF THEIR EXPLORERS, ONLY ONE EXPLORER WORKED PROPERLY AND PROTECTED MY WIFE. FORD REFUSES TO OFFER ANY REMEDIES OR REPAIR THIS DEFECT, AND AS INDICATED ABOVE EXISTS IN MORE THAN THE VEHICLE I BOUGHT.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339193

Official recalls

1

10V161000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Apr 20, 2010

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.

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