Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact was also informed that the repair could not be covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V107000 (Air Bags) because the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the seatbelt pretensioners for all seats failed, and the frontal airbags for the driver seat and front passenger seat were inoperable. The seatbelt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with faulty seatbelt pretensioners. A dealer was contacted and informed that parts were unavailable for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,800.
On September 16, 20018 I was involved in a traffic collusion. My vehicle was impacted enough for a total loss. My airbags never deployed.in the attached police report I am vehicle 2, I was heading from north to south on owensmouth street, vehicle 1 was traveling from west to east on victory. I was waiting at a red light. Another vehicle (vehicle 3)was waiting at the red light next to me. When the light turned green I began to drive and the vehicle 1 traveling east on victory ran a red light and slammed into the front of my vehicle. My airbag never went off and I now suffer from extreme pain in my right rib, left hip, major headaches and very severe neck pain.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford f-150. While reversing, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact shifted into drive and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle crashed into a pole and a fence. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a bruised arm that did not require medical attention. In addition, the front and the rear passenger sustained neck, head, back and knees injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
This a.m. As I entered my driveway, a neighbor stopped me to talk. I stopped and rolled down my window. He went on and on. Suddenly, my truck accelerated at full throttle toward my garage 70 feet away. My foot was on the brake to no avail. I turned slightly to the right and hit the corner of the garage. The air bags deployed. My glasses went flying. I was not hurt. A tree had soften the impact. I was severely shaken. My blood pressure was elevated. Ford motor company is not helpful. My insurance company, geico, is handling the issue.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford f-150. After the gear shift was switched into the drive position with the brake pedal engaged, the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the contact crashed into a ditch and the vehicle rolled over multiple times. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a broken hand and arm, a severed finger, and bruising on the body that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford f-150. While driving 45 MPH in inclement weather, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a light pole. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back home. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.
Takata recall I was in a accident last week. None of my airbags deployed it was a front end accident which resulted in the windshield and nearly all galss being broken as well as the other vehicles airbags deploying. Not a single airbag in my vehicle deployed. I was doing approxiamately 43 MPH and the other vehicle pulled out in front of me causing me to t-bone the other vehicle. None of my airbags deployed.
My Teenage daughter was in a car accident and the airbags did not deploy and her seatbelt did not lock , and smashed into her steering wheel.
Vehicle was in an accident with major front and damage and none of the airbags deployed
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent airbag deployment
ODI opened this investigation based on reports of inadvertent airbag deployment.Data provided by Ford indicated that the airbag clockspring jumper wire, which is situated inside the steering wheel assembly, was installed in a manner that would allow it to rub (abrade) against a sharp metal edge on the nearby horn plate.Because the horn plate is electrically grounded the abrasion of an airbag wire on the sharp edge…
Airbag complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 85 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Ford F-150, 4% of the model year's 2,029 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (31 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford F-150 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-107 (inflator module, Feb 23, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford F-150 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 35 crashes, 3 fires and 44 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.