Ford F-250 Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Ford F-250 across 17 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (40). The words owners use most often: “upon impact” (17% of reports).
- 116air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 90mention a crash
- 56mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 44%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.
- Upon impact: mentioned in 20 of 116 complaints (17%)
- Air bags deploy: mentioned in 16 of 116 complaints (14%)
- Driver passenger: mentioned in 11 of 116 complaints (9%)
- Involved frontal: mentioned in 8 of 116 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 33 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 116 complaints, 90 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 56 an injury.
Ford F-250 air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 F-250 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2013 F-250 | 3 | 3% | 121,000 |
| 2012 F-250 | 5 | 2% | 113,000 |
| 2011 F-250 | 4 | 2% | 89,000 |
| 2010 F-250 | 1 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2008 F-250 | 5 | 3% | 92,000 |
| 2007 F-250 | 1 | 2% | 226,000 |
| 2006 F-250 | 5 | 2% | 45,500 |
| 2004 F-250 | 4 | 3% | 6,000 |
| 2003 F-250 | 2 | 2% | 192,778 |
| 2002 F-250 | 7 | 4% | 37,000 |
| 2001 F-250 | 9 | 4% | 46,000 |
| 2000 F-250 | 15 | 5% | — |
| 1999 F-250 | 40 | 7% | 67,000 |
| 1998 F-250 | 3 | 5% | — |
| 1997 F-250 | 7 | 2% | 204,000 |
| 1995 F-250 | 4 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2008
Problem: Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements specified in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the driver air bag module may not have been properly assembled.
Risk: This condition may prevent the driver air bag from properly deploying and reduce occupant protection in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace your driver air bag module free of charge. The recall began on november 20, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
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.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty trucks. The cast tow hooks changes the crash pulse of the vehicle in frontal barrier impacts and the air bag sensor was not calibrated to this new crash pulse which may cause the air bags to deploy in lower speed impacts than design intent.
Risk: Unexpected air bag deployment can result in personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the cast tow hooks with forged hooks.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Component/System: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) â frontal airbags and crash sensors. Vehicle is in insurance/salvage custody and available for inspection upon request. On or about December 17, 2025, at approximately 0600, the reporting party was operating a 2013 Ford Super Duty F-250 Lariat…
I was recently hit in the drivers door causing the door, the cab, and the running board to be damaged. The side impact air bag did not deploy. the entire drivers door is damaged and the cab of the truck behind the door is damaged. the running board was completely under the cab of the truck.
Clock spring frayed and uncoiled. Unknown steering issue till clockspring checked. Airbag inflator is unoperational. Current clockspring recall for Ford does not cover this vehicle. Widen your recall. Most owners would believe it to be a power steering issue with pump and fluid, like we did.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that after parking and exiting the vehicle, an alarm sounded, and the front driver's side air bag deployed simultaneously without impact. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven to another destination. The contact stated that after…
i was involved in a collision on US30 3 miles west of Rainer Oregon. where I struck another Ford truck while cruising at 55 mph. The vehicle I struck pulled in front of me, my vehicle was severely damaged in the front end and the steering wheel and lower dash panel injured me.,
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-250s have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 116 owner complaints about air bags for the Ford F-250. 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 air bags?
Yes: 3 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?
The most frequent phrase is “upon impact”, in 20 of 116 complaints, followed by “air bags deploy” (16).
Other Ford F-250 problems
- Steering problems (808)
- Suspension problems (766)
- Tires problems (460)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (387)
- Power Train problems (319)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (290)
- Electrical System problems (259)
- Engine problems (244)
See all Ford F-250 problems.