Ford Fusion Airbag Problems

Owners have filed 3,530 complaints about air bags problems with the Ford Fusion — 16% of all Fusion complaints. The worst model years are 2008 (638), 2007 (615) and 2010 (591). Problems typically start around 79,000 miles. 7 related recalls have been issued.

3,530complaints
2008worst year
79ktypical miles
7related recalls
252crashes
6fires

Airbag complaints by model year

’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’2031961563835959133040410143395028544
Airbag complaints per model year, Ford Fusion.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
202042%67,000 miles
201941%50,000 miles
201851%81,000 miles
2017283%35,000 miles
2016503%58,000 miles
2015394%39,000 miles
2014433%74,000 miles
20131016%33,000 miles
201240416%68,000 miles
201133012%93,000 miles
201059112%86,000 miles
200935935%90,000 miles
200863847%83,000 miles
200761558%90,000 miles
200631944%103,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • Frontal
    9
  • Side/window
    3
  • Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
    3
  • Air bag/restraint control module
    2
  • Frontal › Driver side › Cushion
    1
  • Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
    1
  • Air bag/restraint control module › Software
    1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    11012%
  • 25k–50k
    13314%
  • 50k–75k
    18920%
  • 75k–100k
    18219%
  • 100k–150k
    22824%
  • 150k+
    10911%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after stopping to make a left turn; while in the middle of completing the turn, another vehicle approaching from the rear crashed into the driver's side front and rear doors, dragging the vehicle for several feet before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the driver's front and rear doors were completely destroyed however, none of the air bags deployed. The contact stated that she received some medical assistance at the scene but was then transported from the scene by an ambulance to the hospital. The contact sustained injuries to her ribs and bruises to her upper body. The contact was the only person injured in the crash. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the following day the vehicle was taken to the auto body shop by her uncle however, she was unsure if the vehicle was driven or towed. …

2020 Fusion · 14,000 miles · Jan 2022 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact briefly lost control of the vehicle. As a result, he collided with the center guard rail on the drivers side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy, which he held responsible for his resulting injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and deemed a total lost by the contacts insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact was transported to an area hospital by EMT and treated for neck pain, back pain, and leg paralysis in both legs. The contact stated that the leg paralysis lasted for 3 days, after which a walker was required for several months. In addition, the contact mentioned being unconsion on the scene when paramedics arrived. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …

2020 Fusion · 67,000 miles · May 2025 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the wife was driving approximately 70 mph the vehicle crashed into a deer. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but no airbags were deployed. The driver sustained back and neck injuries. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.

2019 Fusion · 65,000 miles · Nov 2021 · crash · 1 injury

Fusion traveling northbound and t-boned sedan traveling westbound in intersection. Fusion has significant front end damage. No airbags deployed in Fusion. All airbags deployed in other vehicle. Driver of Fusion, wearing seatbelt, suffered sternum fracture. Available for inspection. Failure of airbags to deploy likely cause sternum fracture. Fusion just arrived at car repair for scan and inspection. The Fusion was started less than 5 minutes prior to accident and driver received message indicating the front camera was unavailable.

2019 Fusion · Jun 2021 · crash · 1 injury

I was hit by a Toyota highlander on hwy 12 ca while waiting for the light to turn green. The trucks appox. Speed 40 to 50 miles an hour,sprain neck,lower back sever pain reptured breast implant knocked front tooth implant out ..air bags did not come out car is totalled.I was at a dead stop. I was on hwy there was a sheriff right behind the guy who hit me he was on cell phone. My passenger pulled rear out enough to get it to my house so it was not towed. I went to emergence after I got home

2018 Fusion · 48,000 miles · Dec 2020 · crash · 2 injuries

The contact owned a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, he depressed the brake pedal to make a right turn when the vehicle failed to respond. The contact applied pressure to the brake pedal and pumped the brake pedal several times to slow the vehicle with no success. As a result, the vehicle skipped a bridge and then crashed into a building. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained bruising to the chest that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact then received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer nor the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

2017 Fusion · Apr 2023 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had become an ongoing issue. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag control module needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the part was on a national back order. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,855.

2017 Fusion · Air bag/restraint control module · 55,000 miles · Oct 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the brake hydraulic line needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Additionally, the air bag warning light was illuminated intermittently. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

2016 Fusion · 40,000 miles · Aug 2022

Related recalls (7)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-158 · Mar 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 21V-081 · Feb 16, 2021 · 1,067 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-001 · Jan 7, 2019 · 782,384 vehiclesDo not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-775 · Nov 1, 2018 · 215 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-046 · Jan 11, 2018 · 327,796 vehiclesDo not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

Show 2 more recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-024 · Jan 10, 2017 · 654,695 vehiclesDo not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the…

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-384 · May 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 vehiclesDo not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

NHTSA investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.

Frequently asked questions

Which Ford Fusion years have airbag problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (638), 2007 (615), 2010 (591), 2012 (404) and 2009 (359) model years. Airbag complaints make up 47% of all complaints for the 2008.

Is there a recall for Ford Fusion airbag problems?

Yes — 7 recalls, including 21V-158 (inflator module, Mar 10, 2021); 21V-081 (frontal, Feb 16, 2021); 19V-001 (inflator module, Jan 7, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Ford Fusion airbag problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles; 26% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the frontal (9 mentions), followed by the side/window (3).

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.