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 2016 Ford F-350 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a head-on crash. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The contact's wife, who is a certified RN took the contact to the local medical center. The contact sustained injuries to the back and neck. The contact sustained whiplash. In addition, the contact sustained inoperable disk injuries to his back. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving, the air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact then stated that he received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the horn and several other electrical functions on his steering wheel had failed to operate as needed, with the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags), and the vehicle was repaired under recall. Upon retrieving the vehicle, the contact became aware that none of the buttons on the steering wheel were functioning, including the horn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the failure was unrelated to the recall but was unable to provide a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags), and the VIN was included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F- 350. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool displayed no unrepaired recall on the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the instrument panel occasionally went black intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was related to the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however, the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,484.
Ford announced NHTSA Recall 22V337 on May 16, 2022. In December 2022, they advised about the remedy, to have the steering wheel clock spring replaced, and that parts were "anticipated to be available early first quarter 2023". My 2016 Ford F-350 had the Airbag Warning Indicator warning light on indicating a malfunction. My local authorized Ford dealer, Capital City Ford in Pierre, South Dakota, checked my pickup's system and verified the clock spring recall was indeed the reason for the circuit disconnect. The clock spring needed to be replaced. My airbag would not work until it was replaced. My 15 year old daughter will be driving that pickup, pulling a horse trailer with her horses in it, going to high school rodeos. Not having an operable air bag is not an option. …
There is an "advanced" recall on the clockspring contamination on my vehicle. The local ford dealership is stating that they do not have access to the parts to fix this issue, as it's an advanced warning. The issue is that the truck is having the malfunction. The buttons on the steering wheel do not work, which is now causing me to not be able to see the display b/c it's blocked by a warning, the airbag light is on which is an indication that it does not work. Ford won't look at it without charging $200 for diagnostics and then I will be responsible for paying for the repairs, even if it has to do with the recall. They aren't even sure if the truck can be repaired because they don't have the parts for the repair?????? This is a safety issue, and is basically forcing me to find another vehicle to drive since the airbags are showing they won't work. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer later called the contact back and advised him to pick up the vehicle because they had received the wrong part and was unable to complete the recall repair. The contact stated that he had contacted the dealer several times, and the dealer informed him that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the dealer had already marked the recall as complete. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool showed no open recall.
Just had to pay $239.58 for my steering wheel clock spring Ford F-350 "Recall" for the parts and labor. The dealership said that Ford still has not "provided parts" for the recall. The dealership was able to get the clock spring part and replace it but had to charge me. I paid for it because I'm not driving my vehicle with no operable diver-side air bag. Ford KNOWS that the clock spring needs to be replaced for the air bag to work. How is that possible that they can not pay for the parts and labor and have a 1 ton pickup with no operable airbag? Ford webiste chat told me all recalls will be covered - parts and labor. Plz advise
Related recalls
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.
Airbag complaints in other F-350 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2016 Ford F-350 SD?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Ford F-350 SD, 10% of the model year's 209 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Ford F-350 SD airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 22V-337 (driver clockspring/spiral cassette, May 13, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford F-350 SD airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 8 injuries 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.