Ford is facing a new investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) covering more than 1.2 million Ford Explorer vehicles over concerns that side airbag deployments could cause burn injuries.
The details: The preliminary evaluation, prompted by eight complaints and four earlier warning reports received by the NHTSA, covers an estimated 1.2 million 2021–2026 model-year Ford Explorer vehicles, Reuters reported.
The probe focuses on side airbags designed to deploy during certain crashes to protect occupants from serious injuries.
Front-seat passengers and some law enforcement officers in Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles suffered second- and third-degree burns following side airbag deployments, according to the NHTSA.
Dealer angle: The investigation raises potential safety and service concerns for Ford dealers, particularly given the number of Explorer vehicles involved. While no recall has been announced, dealers could face increased customer inquiries and potential service demands if the probe leads to corrective action.
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Between the lines: The NHTSA investigation comes as Ford aggressively works to improve overall vehicle quality, from leadership changes to stronger engineering safeguards, while making notable progress in those efforts.
In the JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), Ford ranked highest among mass-market brands for the first time since 2010, with 152 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), followed by Nissan (156 PP100) and Buick (162 PP100).
Ford models that ranked highest in their respective segments in the J.D. Power initial quality study, released in June, included the Ford F-150, Ford Mustang and Ford Super Duty.
The Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition and Ford Maverick also ranked among the top three in their segments, according to a Ford report.
Bigger takeaway: Ford's latest safety investigation highlights the challenges of maintaining product quality even as the automaker makes measurable improvements, reinforcing the importance of dealers staying prepared to address safety issues to maintain customer trust.
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