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-350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford f-350. While the contact's father was driving 55 MPH, he swerved to avoid striking another vehicle. When the brake pedal was depressed, the driver's side tires did not stop and the steering seized. As a result, the driver struck a tree and the vehicle rolled into a ditch. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's father sustained blunt force trauma to the torso and was fatally injured upon impact. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.
I was involved in a serious auto accident on 11/17/98. I topped a hill and was struck headon by truck driving on the wrong side of the road. The blow was serious enough that it broke tie rods and suspension rods on my truck. I then went further down the road and down a 20 ft embankment, striking a large pine tree. Though both impacts were on the front of the truck and the truck will likely be totaled (1999 truck), the air bags never deployed. Calls to the dealer and to Ford consumer department were ignored. I think that Ford has a problem with the air bags on the new trucks. I checked my sticker and it indicated that air bags were part of the equipment.
Dt*: the contact stated the left rear tire blew out while driving 65mph. The front driver side airbag immediately deployed, although there was no contact with the sensor. The vehicle was driven to the contact's garage, but has not been inspected. The police were alerted in order to assist with traffic while the tire was being changed. The driver received minor injuries to the arm, but was wearing a seat belt. There was no concern about the safety of the tire because the contact felt the blow out could have been related to a normal road hazard. The primary concern expressed was with the unwarranted deployment of the frontal air bag.
While making a sharp right turn and applying the brakes vehicle would not steer and kept going. Driver hit a little embankment and ended up in a hay field. Air bags did not deploy when this happened, and no one was injured. Vehicle was towed to the dealership for repairs. Also, whole steering gear box was being replaced because the shaft broke.
While driving on highway south bound about 45mph a vehicle coming off the exit ramp east bound pulled out in front of consumer's vehicle, and hit it right smack in the middle. Upon impsct, neither airbag deployed. Contacted dealer.
Consumer was driving at approximately 20-25mph, slowed down when a vehicle from opposite direction hit consumer's vehicle head-on with a 40 MPH impact, and dual airbags did not deploy, causing severe injuries . Both vehicles were totaled.
While traveling on highway, a car going in opposite direction lost control and crossed in front of consumer's vehicle. Consumer hit other vehicle. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy. Also, bumper was torn off frame.
While driving at 35 MPH driver rearended vehicle with front. Then bounced off, hitting a pole with front end. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy, causing injuries. No indictation or warning of airbags being defective.
The consumer experienced problems with driver's side air bag and safety belt. When involved in an head-on collision, airbag failed to deploy, and safety belt failed to lock up. The manufacturer has been contacted.
While driving 30mph on washboard road when vehicle went off side of road. Hit some trees & pushed front bumper back 13-15 inches. Driver hit head on windshield. Upon impact with trees, the air bags did not deploy.
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-350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Ford F-350?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Ford F-350, 6% of the model year's 413 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford F-350 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-350 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 12 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.