Ford F-150 Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 1,089 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Ford F-150 across 31 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (101). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (33% of reports).
- 1,089air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 631mention a crash
- 441mention an injury
- 9related recalls
- $1,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 364 of 1,089 complaints (33%)
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 148 of 1,089 complaints (14%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 81 of 1,089 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the Ford F-150 at $1,200, and half of them between $720 and $1,300.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 562 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,089 complaints, 631 mention a crash, 32 a fire, 441 an injury.
Ford F-150 air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2024 F-150 | 4 | 2% | — |
| 2023 F-150 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2022 F-150 | 4 | 1% | 15,400 |
| 2021 F-150 | 5 | 0% | 59,000 |
| 2020 F-150 | 10 | 1% | 39,000 |
| 2019 F-150 | 24 | 2% | 51,407 |
| 2018 F-150 | 38 | 2% | 27,500 |
| 2017 F-150 | 23 | 2% | 27,220 |
| 2016 F-150 | 35 | 2% | 46,419 |
| 2015 F-150 | 35 | 2% | 52,128 |
| 2014 F-150 | 31 | 2% | 45,892 |
| 2013 F-150 | 39 | 1% | 76,750 |
| 2012 F-150 | 37 | 2% | 49,500 |
| 2011 F-150 | 14 | 1% | 60,992 |
| 2010 F-150 | 19 | 2% | 75,000 |
| 2009 F-150 | 12 | 4% | 78,000 |
| 2008 F-150 | 29 | 8% | 98,000 |
| 2007 F-150 | 27 | 6% | 62,000 |
| 2006 F-150 | 48 | 8% | 82,150 |
| 2005 F-150 | 101 | 9% | 79,500 |
| 2004 F-150 | 85 | 4% | 68,500 |
| 2003 F-150 | 29 | 7% | 90,000 |
| 2002 F-150 | 35 | 4% | 84,000 |
| 2001 F-150 | 66 | 5% | 62,000 |
| 2000 F-150 | 69 | 6% | 91,000 |
| 1999 F-150 | 69 | 7% | 108,450 |
| 1998 F-150 | 42 | 3% | 165,569 |
| 1997 F-150 | 99 | 4% | 142,000 |
| 1996 F-150 | 23 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 1995 F-150 | 35 | 6% | 100,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (9)
Steering:column; air bags:frontal:driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 and Ford SD F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 vehicles. The steering wheel clock spring may have an insufficient weld, causing a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: A deactivated air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the clock spring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 vehicles. The instrument panel top cover on the passenger-side may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger instrument panel top cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 16, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C01.
Air bags
Model years: 2022
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 F-150 vehicles. The right-side instrument panel cover may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to not deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: During air bag deployment, the air bag cover my break and project fragments into the vehicle, or the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the right-side instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 26, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C23.
Air bags:sensor:side impact; air bags:side/window
Model years: 2021
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Model years: 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 and Mustang vehicles. The air bag inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may rupture in the event of a crash.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S26.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Model years: 2016
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 F-150 trucks manufactured April 27, 2015, to November 22, 2015, and equipped with Multi-Contour Seats (MCS). The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) that calibrates the air bag deployment level may incorrectly classify an adult as a child when the seat massage feature is activated.
Risk: If an adult is incorrectly classified as a child, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Classification System Module (OCSM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on March 11, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S05.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 2012
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 f-150 vehicles manufactured from november 6, 2011, through november 15, 2011. Incorrect software for the occupant classification system module (ocsm) was installed on the vehicles either at the time of manufacturing or during the course of replacement of the module as part of a service repair. Under certain driving conditions, the ocsm may misclassify the passenger seatâs occupant such that the passenger side airbag does not deploy when it should, does not deploy as intended, or deploys when it should not.
Risk: A failure to deploy, failure to deploy as intended, or a deployment when not intended, increases the risk of injury to the passenger side seat occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ocsm free of charge. The safety recall began on may 21, 2012. Owners may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2004, 2005, 2006
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 f-150 pick up trucks as well as certain model year 2006 lincoln mark lt vehicles. If the clockspring jumper wire comes in contact with the driver side frontal air bag lower horn plate, the wire insulation may become chafed, creating a potential for a short circuit. If this occurs the air bag warning lamp may illuminate indicating that service is required.
Risk: The driver side frontal air bag could inadvertently deploy increasing the risk of injury or loss of vehicle control if occurring while in motion.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a ford or lincoln/mercury dealer to have a new clockspring jumper wire installed that incorporates a protective mesh cover. Repairs will be performed free of charge. This safety recall began on some vehicles in march 2011. The recall campaign on the expanded population is expected to begin on or about may 9, 2011. Owners may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The inflator canister in the driver air bag module may have an inadequate weld near the igniter.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in reduced occupant protection, or a burn injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a driver air bag module. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. Owners who take 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle was in an accident with major front and damage and none of the airbags deployed
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V847000…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the horn pad on the steering wheel, the horn failed to provide an audible sound as intended. The air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined…
This is a supplemental complaint to my earlier report regarding NHTSA Campaign 26V237 / Ford Safety Recall 26S28. The recall remedy (PCM software update) was performed at W.C. Sanderson Ford in Healdsburg, CA on XXX. The original downshift defect recurred within weeks, including a near-miss where I…
The driver side air bag went off while reversing out of my home. The air bag went off while my arm was across the steering wheel. Powder went in my eyes from it and my arm was bruised and burned from the impact. It hurt so bad that my I had someone pick me up from home and drive me to the hospital…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-150s have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,089 owner complaints about air bags for the Ford F-150. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-150 air bags?
Yes: 9 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the Ford F-150?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,200 (half paid between $720 and $1,300), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 364 of 1,089 complaints, followed by “bags deploy” (148).
Other Ford F-150 problems
- Power Train problems (8,971)
- Engine problems (4,524)
- Electrical System problems (3,642)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (2,690)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,502)
- Steering problems (2,253)
- Service Brakes problems (2,080)
- Visibility problems (2,074)
See all Ford F-150 problems.