Vehicle recall 00V179000 · July 5, 2000

Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer

Vehicle description: 4-door sport utility vehicles equipped with side air bags.

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

Summary: Vehicle description: 4-door sport utility vehicles equipped with side air bags. The subject vehicles have a revised level side crash sensor that could deploy the side air bag if the ignition key is in the "run" position and the seatbelt webbing is forcibly extracted from a locked retractor with a jerking motion.
Consequence: Inadvertent side air bag deployment could cause personal injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side crash sensors with a revised design that will reduce the likelihood of an unexpected side air bag deployment.
Notes: Owner notification began July 10, 2000.OWNERS who their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Recall details

NHTSA campaign: 00V179000
Reported to NHTSA: July 5, 2000
Filed by: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Manufacturer campaign: 00S17
Owner notification: July 10, 2000
Vehicles potentially affected: 2,300
Initiated by: the manufacturer
Components: Air bags › Side/window

Recall 00V179000 on nhtsa.gov, with the manufacturer’s documents

Vehicles covered

As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.

Ford Explorer (2000): 2000
Mercury Mountaineer (2000): 2000

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