NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation is examining seat-mounted side airbags in an estimated 1,236,155 Ford Explorer SUVs built between 2021 and 2026 model years. The investigation follows eight vehicle owner questionnaires and four early warning reports alleging burn injuries from airbag deployment.
The reported injuries were typically diagnosed as second- or third-degree burns and required medical treatment. Injuries occurred to drivers, front passengers, or both. Some reports involved law enforcement officers whose Police Interceptor side airbags deployed.
NHTSA's preliminary evaluation will determine the scope, frequency, and safety ramifications of the defect. No official recall has been issued, and the agency has not yet confirmed it will force one. Owners must wait for the investigation's outcome to learn whether their vehicles are affected.