Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 2% | 89,000 miles |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% | 10,000 miles |
| 2020 | 4 | 1% | 66,000 miles |
| 2019 | 4 | 0% | 25,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 8 | 1% | 27,000 miles |
| 2016 | 35 | 12% | 90,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% | 80,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 10% | 12,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% | 40,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 4% | 87,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% | 115,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% | 65,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% | 63,000 miles |
| 2001 | 4 | 1% | 62,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 3% | 120,000 miles |
| 1999 | 7 | 3% | 140,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 3% | 130,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was in a really bad accident nd went off n embankment. My chest hit the steering wheel md broke my sternum. My seatbelt also didn't do it port by locking me in place and let me hit forward. Everyone at the scene. Could not believ the airbags didn't deploy and the seatbelt didn't help more. I am blessed and very fortunate to be alive!! Both doors on passenger side and driver side are hard to open . The damage where the car hit me was in the front.
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, his daughter observed a crack under the Ford emblem where the air bag was located. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 89,072.
The contact called to file a complaint on a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact was a Crash Investigator. The contact stated that the vehicle owner was involved in a crash. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in the opposite lane, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. No other information was available. The contact stated that while inspecting the Air Bag Control Module, it was downloaded; however, there was no reported crash data information of the crash or that the air bags were deployed. The contact stated that there was a pattern with the faulty part being distributed from a manufacturing plant for the manufacturer located in Kentucky. The contact stated that other similar vehicles had experienced similar failures. …
The contact called to report a failure on a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact, who is a Crash Investigator, stated that the owner of the vehicle was involved in a crash. While the owner was driving at an undisclosed speed in the opposite lane, the driver ended up in a head-on collision. No other information was available. While inspecting the Air Bag Control Module after downloading the information, there was no crash or air bags deployment information retrieved. The contact stated that there was a pattern of the faulty part being distributed from a manufacturing plant for the manufacturer located in Kentucky, because this was not the first issue with a Ford F-250 vehicle experiencing the exact failure. The contact was concerned that if vehicle owners were involved in a crash, the air bags modules would not collect or store data, making it difficult to investigate the crash. …
The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 63 MPH, several warning chimes and alarms began to sound off and the warning message stating, "Traction Control Failure," had illuminated. At the same time, the steering wheel had suddenly seized which caused the vehicle to veer off the side of the road and further into the woods. The contact was unsure of how the vehicle came to a stop due to being knocked unconscious during the incident. Due to injuries, the contact was unable to recall details. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact received head, back, and leg injuries The vehicle was towed and totaled. There was a police report filed. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer, diagnosed, or repaired. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
Left rear seat belt buckle or system failed causing a fault in the Airbag/Restraint system. The fault initially happened in June of 2025 with about 50k miles on the vehicle. I took it to a dealer who told me the buckle was not available and the whole system needed to be replaced for over $1500. Vehicle seldom has anyone in the back seat but that is where my children sit. Looking at posts on the internet, this seems to be a common enough problem that this should be taken care of under recall or customer service warranty.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH and after driving over a bump in the road, the vehicle experienced a "Death Wobble" causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into a garbage truck. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bag did not deploy. The driver sustained a head injury and later received medical treatment which revealed multiple strokes had occurred during the crash. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact indicated that prior to the crash the steering arm had been replaced on three separate occasions. The failure mileage was 25,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the trailer hitch bolt lock that connected a trailer to a nearby truck detached and crashed into his vehicle's front bumpers. The air bags failed to deploy. An unknown warning light illuminated. The contact decelerated but continued to drive the vehicle. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed for the air bags failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
Related recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Dust may accumulate in the steering wheel clock spring, causing a disconnection in the electrical connection resulting in the driver's air bag not deploying as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering wheel clock spring, free of charge. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 3rd Quarter of 2023.
Air bags
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250 and F-350 vehicles. The strength of the driver-side air bag cover may be insufficient.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags › Sensor › Side impact
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-250 SD years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (35), 2017 (8), 1999 (7), 2000 (6) and 2004 (5) model years. Airbag complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Ford F-250 SD airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 22V-337 (driver clockspring/spiral cassette, May 13, 2022); 21V-923 (air bags, Nov 24, 2021); 21V-805 (side impact, Oct 15, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford F-250 SD airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (8 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (1).
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.