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 2008 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The driver side air bag went off while reversing out of my home. The air bag went off while my arm was across the steering wheel. Powder went in my eyes from it and my arm was bruised and burned from the impact. It hurt so bad that my I had someone pick me up from home and drive me to the hospital. I also had my ear drums ringing for a good while. No police has inspected it as it happened at my home and there were no warning lights for it on. I didn't hit anything either. I was simply reversing when it went off.
My 5.4 v8 triton motor timing came phasers are bad the truck runs fine when cold when it gets warmer up it rattles and shakes and stalls air bag light stays on I had to pull the fuse bc it beeps and warning light so it's not active
I was taking the grandkids home,5miles west of hwy 24 on 1025 badger trl.dr.florissant,co.80816,to my son an his wife and going a little fast on the dirt road an swerved to keep from hitting deer that jumped in front of me,well I oversteered,done a 360 and ended up on my sons Land with the truck in the middle of a big tree,crammed the front end to engine block,but no airbags deployed,all that were in truck were hurt,I got whiplash,my great niece got her arm hurt,my grandson got a hurt leg,and my grandaughter hurt her head,I had full coverage insurance,but geico said they were not paying the x-rays an have been stranded all summer long,never had a more miserable summer over an accident,missed a few doctor appointments due to no transportation,no attourneys would take my case,so I give up knowing the devil is responsible grandkids home,like alway`s
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Eighteen months later, while reversing at 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. As a result, the contact crashed into the driver side of another vehicle and the rear of a second vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Airbag did not fully deploy in frontal collision driving highway speed of 65mph and upon striking a tree after losing control over tire issue. I remember airbag opened like a balloon and then deflating as soon as it opened up and it seemed like it was rolled. I remember waking up to find myself being life flighted to hospital. I sustained several injuries which I'm blessed to be alive. I suffered head injury which needed staples and stitches, broken ribs and sternum, hip dislocation and surgery for acetabular fractures or I would not be able to walk again, knee injury from dashboard, broken left ulna on left arm and ulnar styloid on right wrist. All due to airbag not fully deploying like any owner of a vehicle expects in a serious accident.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Ford f-150. The contact stated while driving an unknown speed, when the vehicle hit a deer causing the contact to lose control and hit a tree. The contact stated the front of the vehicle received the majority of the impact. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated medical attention was provided for 4 people but the injuries were unknown. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact has called local dealer phil long Ford of motor city located at 1212 motor city dr, colorado springs, co 80905, [phone] to notify failure of the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer has not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 119,401.
The incident took place on an exit on interstate (I-610 loop south in houston). My son came to a stop when car in front stopped abruptly. This is when my son was rear ended by 2016 f-250 that was towing horse trailer. This pushed my son's truck into the car in front. Impact completely buckled my son's truck bed and damaged the front and the inside cabin. Both the front seats broke (back reclining portion snapped backward) plus neither airbags inflated from the impact. So my question is why would the front seats snap backwards (is it design flaw?) and why didn't the airbags inflate from the impact to the car in front? From the damage to all the vehicles involved you can see that it was a very hard impact.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. While driving 30 MPH, the contact rear ended a vehicle. In turn, the contact's vehicle was also rear ended by another vehicle. The frontal air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and the passenger were injured, but did not receive medical attention. The driver who rear ended the contact was transported to the hospital in an ambulance as a precaution. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle had not yet been towed to the insurance company for an appraisal. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 129,000.
"Takata recall" I was taking my grandchildren home on a dirt road and hit a deer which spun me around and smashed into a big tree head on.the crash was so hard that the front bumper was crushed against the motor block,declared totalled from my insurance company.myself,I had a whiplash,my great niece (passenger) broke her wrist,my grandson has leg problems and my granddaughter hit her head real hard!mr. ([redacted]) the owner was driving!!!!!!! Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. While making a left turn, another vehicle failed to yield for a red light and crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The frontal air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The ambulance took the contact to the hospital with a contusion and bruises to the legs, left arm, abdomen, and neck. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,855.
Airbag complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Ford F-150, 8% of the model year's 369 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Ford F-150 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2008 Ford F-150, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford F-150 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 0 fires and 31 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.