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 1999 Ford F-250 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
i was involved in a collision on US30 3 miles west of Rainer Oregon. where I struck another Ford truck while cruising at 55 mph. The vehicle I struck pulled in front of me, my vehicle was severely damaged in the front end and the steering wheel and lower dash panel injured me.,
The vehicle was involved in a front collision and neither air bag deployed. Dealer notified. A vehicle ran the stop sign and the consumer hit the vehicle on a 90 degree angle. The consumer's vehicle veered upon impact and went into an embankment. There four horse trailer with three horses on board jacknifed and caused the truck to head eastbound as it rolled over the driver's side door. All windows except the windshield popped out. There was more damage to the right front side than the left side.
On January 30, 2001 our vehicle was involved in a one car collision with a bridge overpass causing a total loss to our truck. This was mainly a front impact with collatoral damage to the rest of the truck. My wife was in the passenger seat, our son was in a rear seat and all were wearing our seatbelts. Luckily for us the seatbelts did their job and our only injuries were related to the seat belts holding us in place. Although the front of the truck was heavily damaged neither airbag deployed as they should have. Since there were not serious injuries we were not concerned about the airbags not deploying. My nagging concern was what if we had needed them? That is why I've decided to report at this time plus we received no acknowledgement from Ford that they are addressing the problem. Thank you.
While driving 50mph the vehicle experienced a loss of control, unknown as to why the vehicle lost control, and went through a mailbox/tree/ embankment until it stopped on a field on its own. Also, the bumper experienced frontal impact damage, but the driver's airbag did not deploy and did not protect the occupant in this accident. Caused unknown. Please provide details.
Consumer had lost control of vehicle and ran off road, htting two trees head-on. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy, and seatbelt came loose, causing injuries, and $11,000 worth of damage. Body shop that repaired vehicle could not find airbag sensors, and felt that they were missing, that they were never installed at factory.
While travleing approximately 50 MPH consumer was involved in a full frontal crash. Both air bags, driver's and passenger's, failed to deploy. There were no injuries, and no determination has been made by dealership as to the reason for air bag failure. Please provide any additional information / attachments / photographs.
While traveling at 42mph another vehicle got in the way of consmer's vehicle, and it ran into other vehicle head-on. Upon impact, none of frontal air bags deployed. Consumer and passenger were seriously hurt in the crash. Contacted dealer, and the dealer wasd not willing to look into defect of vehicle.
While driving 45 MPH had a direct frontal impact with a truck traveling about 50 MPH. Upon impact, driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in the crash. Other truck's airbags did deploy. Please provide further information.
While driving 40-45 MPH had a frontal impact with a tree in which driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy. This did not protect occupants in the crash. Front end of the vehicle was destroyed, and vehicle was totaled. Please provide further information.
Vehicle was involved in a head-on collision at approximately 30-35 MPH, causing vehicle to hit a steel light pole. Upon impact, both airbag's experienced no deployment, which resulted in head injuries, minor wrist and back injuries. Manufacturer was notified.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: light duty trucks. The cast tow hooks changes the crash pulse of the vehicle in frontal barrier impacts and the air bag sensor was not calibrated to this new crash pulse which May cause the air bags to deploy in lower speed impacts than design intent.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cast tow hooks with forged hooks.
Airbag complaints in other F-250 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Ford F-250?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Ford F-250, 7% of the model year's 581 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (29 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford F-250 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-303 (sensor/control module-inactive, Dec 1, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford F-250 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 31 crashes, 0 fires and 23 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.