2005 Ford Mustang Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2005 Ford Mustang, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 58,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (27% of reports).
- 235air bags complaints
- 58,000median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- 20%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.
- Takata air bags: mentioned in 64 of 235 complaints (27%)
- Able confirm: mentioned in 22 of 235 complaints (9%)
- Side airbag: mentioned in 15 of 235 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 43 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 235 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 11 an injury.
Ford Mustang air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Mustang | 6 | 7% | 6,100 |
| 2023 Mustang | 1 | 7% | 15,000 |
| 2022 Mustang | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Mustang | 2 | 4% | 5,000 |
| 2020 Mustang | 8 | 7% | 28,000 |
| 2019 Mustang | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Mustang | 2 | 1% | 35,500 |
| 2017 Mustang | 10 | 4% | 17,500 |
| 2016 Mustang | 15 | 4% | 17,100 |
| 2015 Mustang | 23 | 5% | 35,100 |
| 2014 Mustang | 245 | 68% | 24,353 |
| 2013 Mustang | 145 | 54% | 25,000 |
| 2012 Mustang | 158 | 34% | 38,923 |
| 2011 Mustang | 125 | 27% | 58,000 |
| 2010 Mustang | 179 | 69% | 43,000 |
| 2009 Mustang | 135 | 75% | 45,000 |
| 2008 Mustang | 240 | 69% | 39,500 |
| 2007 Mustang | 348 | 57% | 70,000 |
| 2006 Mustang | 228 | 54% | 70,967 |
| 2005 Mustang | 235 | 33% | 58,000 |
| 2004 Mustang | 9 | 8% | 36,000 |
| 2003 Mustang | 11 | 8% | 48,000 |
| 2002 Mustang | 20 | 17% | 35,600 |
| 2001 Mustang | 26 | 15% | 54,000 |
| 2000 Mustang | 42 | 14% | 53,500 |
| 1999 Mustang | 32 | 15% | 87,500 |
| 1998 Mustang | 15 | 6% | 111,500 |
| 1997 Mustang | 6 | 3% | — |
| 1996 Mustang | 21 | 9% | 62,123 |
| 1995 Mustang | 27 | 4% | 108,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V-802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S21. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V-802.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Ford is recalling 434,593 my 2008 mustang vehicles for failing to comply with one of the neck injury requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection," for an unbelted 5th percentile female sitting in the passenger seat while it is in the full forward position.
Risk: During an air bag deployment, if a small female in the front passenger seat is not wearing the safety belt, and has the seat in the full forward position, there may be an increased potential for a neck injury.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the restraint control module free of charge. The recall began on march 3, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332 or through email to www.ownerconnection.com.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that during inclement weather, water was entering the cabin of the vehicle through the passengerâs side glove box. The contact stated that due to the failure, mold had developed throughout the vehicle on the carpet, doors, and interior…
Took the 2005 Mustang GT in several years ago to have one airbag replaced. Dealer (Autonation Torrance, California) stated parts were not available for the other side. One of the airbags has never been replaced. I now read there is a "Do Not Drive" recall for vehicles of this year and model in…
I have done all my airbag recalls and the light came on a few months ago and is steady flashing. Called Cresent Ford in High Pint and they looked up my VIN and my car replacement history. They told me it had been replaced but it was still under warranty and to make an appointment to have it looked…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2005 Ford Mustangs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 235 owner complaints about air bags for the 2005 Ford Mustang (33% of the 705 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Ford Mustang air bags?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 58,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2005 Ford Mustang?
The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 64 of 235 complaints, followed by “able confirm” (22).
Other 2005 Ford Mustang problems
See all 2005 Ford Mustang problems or air bags problems across all Mustang years.