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 Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
It was late summer, close to early fall 2017. My two sons, ages 17 and 15, had just gotten out of football practice and were getting into the 1999 Mustang to come home. (my 17 year old son, matthew, had been driving for quite awhile, and had no traffic infractions or violations yet either, nor does he now. He has beem a careful driver.) they were driving very slowly, as they had just exited their parking spot, and then proceeded ahead, and while driving in very slow motion went over a small bump or node, or barely anything, in the enumclaw high school parking lot. The airbags both blew out suddenly, slightly injuring my 15 year old son's hand, and blinding and pushing them both backward in their seats. Both of them jumped out of the car immediately, very scared. They had been driving very slowly, so were able to stop suddenly do this and still safely enough to immediately get out. …
My son was involved in an accident with our 1999 Mustang gt. The vehicle has 35,000 miles on it. VIN # [redacted]. My son 't-boned' a vehicle at approximately 30-35 MPH. Our vehicle sustained $8000 in front end damage. Neither the drivers or passengers air bag deployed. My son and his passenger were transported by ambulance to the hospital with neck and back pain. The police and ambulance driver both said the air bags should have deployed based on the severity of the crash.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Mustang. While driving 15 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed and impacted the contact in the face with excessive force, causing unknown injuries. Medical attention was required and a police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. The VIN was not available.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 35 MPH. None of the air bags deployed upon impact. The driver sustained injuries to there neck. The vehicle is currently at the dealership. The cause of the none deployment of the air bag isn't available at this time.
While driving 45 MPH vehicle was involved in a collision, upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained minor injuries. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Dt: the contact stated the air bags did not deploy in a crash. The vehicle swerved to miss debris in the road and hit the guard rail at 55 MPH. The vehicle spun and hit the guard rail four times. The driver's side seat also snapped , not allowing the contact to reach the brake pedal and stop the vehicle. The seat belt came unlatched at the buckle assembly. A police report taken at the scene ,and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact sustained contusions to head, neck, shoulder, hip, back, knee, and ankle. The vehicle has not been inspected.
Consumer was driving to work and it was raining that day. A tire slipped off of the pavement and hit against the curb. Consumer put car into 4th gear and then into 2nd gear to slow down. She hit the gas pedal and car hit a 12foot embankment. Then swerved across the street and went into a barbed wire fence. Took a whole tree landing down. Upon impact, driver's/passenger's air bags failed to deploy.
While driving at 80 MPH making a left turn, vehicle kept going straight down the road. Consumer applied brakes, and the side of vehicle hit a ditch. Vehicle skidded across the road, and then vehicle hit a tree, and went back into the ditch. Driver's and passenger's side air bags didn't deploy.
While at a stop light and applying accelerator pedal to make a left turn, vehicle commenced to accelerate, and steering wheel locked up, causing vehicle to hit a van. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Dealer was notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Front end crash into a light pole. Car is a complete total. None of the air bags opened. I call Ford. Since no one was injured they do not seem to care. Does someone have to be killed to get attention. I paid for an air bag sytem. It did not work. How can I get fords attention.
Airbag complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Ford Mustang, 13% of the model year's 258 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Mustang airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Ford Mustang, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Mustang airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 26 crashes, 0 fires and 21 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.