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 2006 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's son lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into a guardrail and landed on its side. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. A Police report was filed; the information was unavailable. No injuries were sustained. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that the air bag waring light needed to be serviced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V107000 (Air Bags) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,500.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V107000 (Air Bags). The contact was provided the cost for a diagnostic fee to determine the cause of the failure. The contact declined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred him to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
I was driving down the interstate on the way to work around 8 pm. When the car in front of my slammed on their brakes. I reacted in accordance and hit my brakes pretty hard. When I did my truck pulled to the left and took me into the median. When I tried to correct my vehicle the back end started sliding out as I tried to get back on the road. When my truck finally caught traction it shot me to the other side of the road where it did the same thing. Sliding the back end out. This time I was sliding perpendicular to the highway and when my truck found something solid to stop the slide it started to roll. During the crash I was thrown through the windshield after the first roll and knocked unconscious. After I was released from the hospital I went to collect the things from my truck that had been picked up. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Ford f-150. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle due to a patch of ice. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a front end collision with a guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to automax Ford (3301 e central texas expy, kileen, tx), but they refused to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. There were no injuries. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000. The VIN was not provided.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-150. While driving approximately 55 MPH, two deer jumped in the middle of the road. The contact slammed on the brake pedal to avoid the animals. As a result, the vehicle drove into a ditch and rolled over three times. None of the frontal air bags deployed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed and was being evaluated by the insurance company. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.
Had impact with other vehicle airbag detonated to late broke collar bone in two places at once . Driving bone into heart valve and right lung causing p.e. Underwent surgery to remove bone from heart and lung. Accident in arlington texas 10/6/2016 . Rotted to NHTSA in September of 2018. You had requested to forward info to Ford motor co.. Any feedback would be appreciated if you could please y me any information . Thank you so much. [redacted]
Tl* the contact's husband owned a 2006 Ford f-150. While driving 70 MPH, another vehicle drove in front of the contact. The contact crashed into the other vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head and thighs that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer and the dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 202,000.
Woman ran left turn signal I hit her broadside airbag deployed without bag inflated struck meupper chest atneckline breaking clavical in, 2plases drive ing bone into heart and lung jan 4 2017 was going to have surgery for vent tube port. When awaken from surgery was told 4 inches of clavical removed from heart and right lung
In June 2015, the air bag light in my Ford f150 illuminated, indicating a problem. I took my vehicle to a Ford dealership. They told me that the deployable restraint system, specifically the pretensioner, had malfunctioned and possibly would fail to function as intended in the event of a crash. The service technician indicated that the restraint system is connected to my air bags, which might fail to work in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. After paying the diagnostic fee, I was given a repair estimate of an additional $392.21. Not wanting to risk injury in the event of a crash, I had the pretensioner replaced. The buckle pretensioner is a critical safety device that should never fail under normal use. My vehicle has never been in an accident. …
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 2006 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Ford F-150, 8% of the model year's 585 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 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 2006 Ford F-150 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 28 crashes, 0 fires and 20 injuries and 1 death 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.