Ford Focus Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 926 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Ford Focus across 20 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (191). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (31% of reports).
- 926air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 573mention a crash
- 409mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $830typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%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 286 of 926 complaints (31%)
- Bags deployed: mentioned in 108 of 926 complaints (12%)
- Failed deploy: mentioned in 73 of 926 complaints (8%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 68 of 926 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 Focus at $830, and half of them between $360 and $1,250.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2022), 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 524 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 926 complaints, 573 mention a crash, 22 a fire, 409 an injury.
Ford Focus air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 9 | 1% | 21,043 |
| 2017 Focus | 15 | 2% | 42,350 |
| 2016 Focus | 15 | 1% | 52,288 |
| 2015 Focus | 18 | 2% | 43,500 |
| 2014 Focus | 32 | 1% | 15,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 26 | 1% | 66,000 |
| 2012 Focus | 55 | 1% | 52,299 |
| 2011 Focus | 6 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2010 Focus | 12 | 4% | 49,500 |
| 2009 Focus | 22 | 10% | 44,576 |
| 2008 Focus | 26 | 10% | 57,475 |
| 2007 Focus | 118 | 30% | 60,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 40 | 20% | 65,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 51 | 12% | 55,000 |
| 2004 Focus | 24 | 6% | 53,374 |
| 2003 Focus | 46 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2002 Focus | 72 | 8% | 37,500 |
| 2001 Focus | 147 | 8% | 58,000 |
| 2000 Focus | 191 | 5% | 76,441 |
| 1999 Focus | 1 | 9% | 125 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Blind sides reflectors cause accidents has fuel system problems over heat makes car catch on fire
This diagnostic code B00C0-11 Passenger Seat Occupant Classification Sensor A - Circuit Short to Ground - Not Current DTC came up when I took it to the transmission service center for another issue. I was not aware of this until then. I bought this car about 4 months ago from a private owner who…
N/a
During their recall repair work on my cpv/ecm recall Rowe Auburn Ford allowed my car to leave their custody with the airbag light on and have refused to take responsibility or offer resolution to fix this issue without costing me more money.
My sister was driving my 2006 Ford Focus along a highway. Out of nowhere, the airbag in the side of the driver's seat deployed. This was the only airbag that deployed. The airbag deployed into the side of my sister emitting a white smoke or powder substance. She saw black from the trauma of the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Focuss have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 926 owner complaints about air bags for the Ford Focus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Focus air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall 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 Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $830 (half paid between $360 and $1,250), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 286 of 926 complaints, followed by “bags deployed” (108).
Other Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (6,803)
- Electrical System problems (4,342)
- Engine problems (2,318)
- Steering problems (2,099)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,440)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,281)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,158)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,076)
See all Ford Focus problems.