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 2001 Ford Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 20 MPH with prior braking, another vehicle hit the contact head on, on the driver side. This caused the contact to hit another vehicle on the front passenger side. The airbags did not deploy. The seat belts were worn, but the contact received minor injuries. There was a police report taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the dealership. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. There was no inspection to determine if the airbags should have deployed.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 65 MPH, a trailer hit the vehicle on the rear passenger side. This caused the vehicle to hit a guard rail with the front end. There was braking prior to the impact and the airbags did not deploy. The driver was wearing a seat belt, but minor injuries were sustained. There was a police report taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was not inspected to determine why the airbags did not deploy.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Mustang gt. While driving 45 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid a dog in the road. The vehicle skidded into the grass, rolled over twice, and landed upside down. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained knee injuries and an injured back. He has not yet seen a doctor. A police report was filed. The contact has pictures and video footage available. The current and failure mileages were 40,000.
Tl contact owned a 2001 Ford Mustang. While driving 60 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle. In order to avoid striking other vehicles, the contact made a sharp turn and struck a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a broken leg , pelvis, and head injury. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were 81,000. Updated 06/16/08
My son and a passenger were travelling south in the left lane of a four lane highway when he was forced off the road by a driver in the right lane. He lost control of the car and crossed the mediam and the two north bound lanes of traffic. The car continued up the embankment and hit a tree. The car is a 1991 Ford Mustang. Neither the passenger or the drivers air bags deployed.
While driving 25 MPH consumer turned left on a road under construction and vehicle rolled across a stretch of gravel, it lost control and collided with a beam protruding from a retainer wall. Seat belts were worn, but the front air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained minor back and head injuries. Police did arrive on the scene but the consumer was not cited.
Airbags deployed on 2001 Ford Mustang from a very low speed impact that caused no damage to the car except for the deployment of the airbags. Both front airbags will have to be replaced. The speed at impact was less than 5 m.p.h. And absolutely no damage was done to the body of the car. The airbags should not have deployed at this low of speed.
Had an accident on 19 nov 05 in dallas,tx at 9.50 pm, I was changing lane when the other car in the lane I was changing into lowed down, he was driving a Jaguar we both went head on into the concrete diving wall at about 60-63 MPH my air bags did not deploy; I have $12000.00 in damage to my 2001 Mustang cobra.
While crossing an intersection at 40 MPH a vehicle coming from the opposite direction tried to cross in front of consumer's vehicle. The other vehicle was unable to complete the turn and collided consumer's vehicle. Consumer was wearing seat belts, but the air bags did not deploy.
Aug 13 I was involved in a rollover accident due to tire tread separation. It was the 4th tire of the set that had gone bad. After the 2nd tire went bad, I tried to get the tire dealer to send it in for inspection/defect. He refuse and the accident occurred 3 weeks later.
Airbag complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Ford Mustang, 14% of the model year's 249 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (29 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Mustang airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2001 Ford Mustang, though it has 1 recall 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 2001 Ford Mustang airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 29 crashes, 0 fires and 27 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.