Ford F-250 SD Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Ford F-250 SD across 21 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (35). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (29% of reports).
- 101air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 44mention a crash
- 32mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 46%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 29 of 101 complaints (29%)
- Bags contacted: mentioned in 10 of 101 complaints (10%)
- Airbags deploy: mentioned in 9 of 101 complaints (9%)
- Clock spring: mentioned in 6 of 101 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 56 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 101 complaints, 44 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 32 an injury.
Ford F-250 SD air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 F-250 SD | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 3 | 2% | 89,072 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 4 | 2% | 10,332 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 4 | 2% | 66,000 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 4 | 0% | 14,500 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 4 | 1% | 25,000 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 8 | 1% | 27,000 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 35 | 12% | 90,000 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 1 | 0% | 80,000 |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 2 | 10% | 11,750 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 1 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 2 | 4% | 61,500 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 98,154 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 5 | 2% | 60,950 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 3 | 1% | 63,000 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 4 | 1% | 57,235 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 6 | 3% | 120,000 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 7 | 3% | 126,500 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 1 | 3% | 130,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
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:driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Model years: 2016
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Dust may accumulate in the steering wheel clock spring, causing a disconnection in the electrical connection resulting in the driver's air bag not deploying as intended.
Risk: A disconnected driver's air bag can result in it not deploying, as intended, during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering wheel clock spring, free of charge. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. An interim notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on July 6, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S35.
Air bags
Model years: 2022
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250 and F-350 vehicles. The strength of the driver-side air bag cover may be insufficient.
Risk: During a crash, the air bag cover may break apart and project fragments towards occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S49.
Air bags:sensor:side impact; air bags:side/window
Model years: 2022
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The leather covering on the instrument panel top pad of my 2022 F-250 Limited has shrunk and pulled away from its substrate on both the driver and passenger sides. On the passenger side, the covering has contracted enough that it has separated at the seam and lifted at the A-pillar corner, leaving…
A Ford Dealer came on a mobile call the replace the Clock spring in the steering wheel. It was an recall NHTSA # 22V337 ------- Manufactures # 22S35 They replaced it and now nothing works on my steering wheel. Dealer came to pick up my truck and take it to the Dealership. Has not been repaired yet .
Left rear seat belt buckle or system failed causing a fault in the Airbag/Restraint system. The fault initially happened in June of 2025 with about 50k miles on the vehicle. I took it to a dealer who told me the buckle was not available and the whole system needed to be replaced for over $1500…
The contact's former employer owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while exiting the freeway at 45-50 MPH around a bend, the steering wheel failed to move and crashed into a tree. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number:Â 22V337000 (Air Bags). The air bags did not deploy…
The contact called to report a failure on a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact, who is a Crash Investigator, stated that the owner of the vehicle was involved in a crash. While the owner was driving at an undisclosed speed in the opposite lane, the driver ended up in a head-on collision. No other…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-250 SDs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 101 owner complaints about air bags for the Ford F-250 SD. 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-250 SD air bags?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Ford F-250 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 29 of 101 complaints, followed by “bags contacted” (10).
Other Ford F-250 SD problems
- Steering problems (2,485)
- Suspension problems (2,211)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (692)
- Electrical System problems (500)
- Power Train problems (457)
- Engine problems (323)
- Wheels problems (284)
- Tires problems (244)
See all Ford F-250 SD problems.