Five problems related to front air bag have been reported for the 1997 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Consumer was traveling about 60mph on highway and a bear was in the lane, she hit the bear and dual airbags didn't go off. Dealership was aware of problem.
Vehicle was traveling at 40 to 50mph, when it was rearended by another vehicle. Vehicle completely rolled over, and landed upside down. Consumer has yet to contact dealer. None of airbags deployed. There were four injuries.
I was involved in an accident in February that was not my fault. The other driver failed to stop at a stop sign and came into the intersection as I was coming from through it. I was wearing my seat belt and the airbag did deploy, causing the majority of my injuries. I had several lacerations on my cheeks, chin and mouth. My upper lip was split open and I sustained a serious injury to my jaw. All of these injuries were caused when my head went forward as the airbag cover popped back and the airbag was inflating. The airbag hit me in the face with such force that it left my jaw permenantly injured. I am an 5' 5 1/2" tall and do not sit particularly close to the steering wheel. There is an obvious flaw with the design of the airbag.
While driving at 30 mph owner was in direct frontal crash, there was no deployment of drivers or passengers airbags. The cause has not been determined. Vehicle is currently at dealers.
Car was hit in the right front at 50mph and then hit in rear when the airbags and seatbelts did not work.