Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's husband owned a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 62 MPH, he hit the back of the semi-truck on the front driver which sent the vehicle to tailspin and caused her husband to hit the semi-truck for a second time. The second collision sent the vehicle into another tailspin before coming to a complete halt. A police report was filed. According to the police department investigation, the airbag inflator had deployed which struck her husband's forehead. The investigation also determined that her husband's injuries were not consistent with proper airbag deployment. The report also noticed that both the air bag and air bag inflator were found on the floor near the rear passenger side seat. In addition, the report showed bruising constant with the lower lap belt locking but the driver did not have any bruising/burns from the upper seatbelt. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that prior to the crash he had driven into some mud and the ABS and engine lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving in snow at approximately 40 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck. The brake pedal was applied but failed to respond. The driver made a sharp U-turn into a patch of grass and crashed into a fence, hydroplaned, and crashed into a dumpster. The contact sustained injuries to his back and neck that required medical attention. The passenger sustained unknown injuries and received medical attention. A police report was filed. There were no reported fires. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The insurance company evaluated the vehicle and towed it to another repair shop. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, he was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. The contact stated the front end of his vehicle impacted the front driver-side wheel of the other vehicle. The contact stated that not a single air bag deployed during the impact, and no brake collision warning was activated. No warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the crash. The contact stated he received a pre-collision notification on his phone approximately 30 seconds after the accident occurred, but he was unable to avoid the collision. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle. The contact sustained neck pain, a herniated disc, and a bulging disk in the lower back. The contact was taking no pills and undergoing physical therapy. A police report was filed. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 45 MPH, he attempted to avoid a slowdown on the highway. While attempting to avoid the slowdown, the contact's husband crashed into a parked vehicle on the highway. The air bags did not deploy upon collision. Due to the failure, the contact's husband injured his sternum and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact was treated for a broken sternum. A police report was filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic before the contact had the vehicle towed to a local Ford dealer where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 137,447.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph when the vehicle's side air bags on the driver-side, front and rear, suddenly deployed without impact. The contact then noticed that a small fire had sparked on the floorboard near their feet. The contact had pulled over to the side of the road where an observer was able to retrieve a fire extinguisher from their home and put out the fire. The contact was unable to verify if a fire report was made. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who had not diagnosed or repaired the vehicle as of yet. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
On February 16, 2024, The vehicle (F150 XLT Super Crew) that was being driven was going approximately 40 miles ph when an other vehicle came out of a side street who had a traffic stop sign. There were two school buses blocking their view and my view of anyone coming out of the development. My vehicle hit head-on the other vehicle and I blacked out. No Airbag Driver side deployed, but the seat-belt tension-er fully pulled on me. I awoke with alarms going off and smoke in the cab and in the engine. Fire Department cut all wiring. I was taken out of the vehicle by Paramedics and taken to the hospital with fractured sternum and bruises. Police were on the seen and did a report with the other driver at fault. Insurance company proceeded to have the vehicle towed and inspected and totaled the vehicle. Did not have vehicle inspected by independent company that I know of. …
I had a front end collision with my truck. The damage was a direct hit on the airbag sensor, and my airbags nor my seatbelts deployed. I was going about 45 to 50. The pre-collision warning appeared right before I hit the vehicle but no automatic braking. The body shop that has my vehicle had safety concerns because my vehicle took the brunt of the crash right on the airbag sensor. No airbags or anything deployed, but the sensor was broken in the accident. The concern is if the sensor was hit directly, why didn't it send a signal to through the system to deploy safety restraint systems. I called Ford to inform them of my concerns. After going through several people, I was finally given a case number CAS37213430 after days of trying to get them to take me seriously. They told me to take it to a Ford dealer to have it checked, but it is wrecked so how will they check it. …
The contact owned a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, an oncoming driver veered into his lane. The contact stated that he swerved to the left to avoid a head-on collision with the other driver. The vehicle drove off the road into the woods. The contact stated that all the airbags but the front driver's airbag deployed. The contact stated that he was able to exit the vehicle through to front passenger's side door. Police officers assisted the contact out of the wooded area. The contact sustained a laceration between the right eye and the ear, and a laceration on the chin. Additionally, the contact sustained severe pain on the left hip and ankle. The contact did not receive medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was in the process of being totaled. …
This vehicle was involved in an offset rear-end collision with a semi-trailer, with the driver's side making the primary impact. The crash resulted in the death of the driver and only occupant. Both the driver's airbag and left passenger curtain airbags deployed. During the police investigation of the crash, it was determined that the steering wheel-mounted airbag assembly completely dislodged from the steering wheel, with the airbag and its assembly being located in the rear floorboard post-impact. The driver sustained a head injury possibly consistent with the airbag assembly striking their forehead area. Two out of three of the plastic retaining tabs were found to have sheered off, likely leading to the airbag assembly being ejected from the steering wheel. Police investigators documented this incident with photographs and have taken the airbag assembly as evidence.
02/08/2022 Complaint Airbag steering wheel assembly when deployed detached like a rocket into my face and then blew out the rear window i am assuming or it was from the collision. Front end collision into the wall of the 101 southbound fwy in Mesa arizona all airbags deployed. i suffered air bag burns and bruising and my glasses frame were broken in half cutting my right eye lid. My concern is the steering wheel airbag deployed and the whole steering wheel airbag assembly detached from the steering wheel struck my face and possibly blew out the rear window. My investigation when steering wheel air bag deploys the airbag assembly remains attached to the steering wheel. i uploaded pictures of steering wheel airbag assembly notice the back was melted. in the collision the battery was damaged and post was severed possibly saving me from a electrical fire.
Airbag complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2018 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the air bags of the 2018 Ford F-150, 2% of the model year's 2,322 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford F-150 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2018 Ford F-150, though it has 18 recalls 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 2018 Ford F-150 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 31,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 24 crashes, 8 fires and 22 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.