Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ford Mustang owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2013 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another driver failed to yield while entering the roadway, abruptly cutting in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact was unable to stop in time and collided with the rear driver's side passenger door of the other vehicle. The driver's side air bag did deploy but failed to inflate, which the contact related to the injuries he sustained as a result of the accident. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact did not immediately seek medical attention but later transported himself to an area hospital and was treated for a concussion, neck pain, and back pain. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
Was going 25mph on a straight dry road, 2 traction control lights popped up and an alert saying Advancetrac is off, which is a feature you have to be in park with your foot on the brake and hold the traction control button for 8 seconds to turn off, when the light turned on the car downshift and turned sideways causing me to go into a barrier, steering wheel airbag and passenger airbag both only broke out of the trim and did not inflate fully.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V319000 (Air Bags) and 19V001000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer declined to perform the recall repairs. The contact was informed that, because of the installation of an aftermarket steering wheel, the recall repairs could not be performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While accelerating from a stop, the contact proceeded very slowly at approximately 2 MPH; however, the preceding vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact was unable to stop and rear ended the other vehicle's bumper at a low speed. The driver's and front passenger air bags deployed. The contact suffered a burn on the right arm that did not require medical attention. The passenger was uninjured. The contact stated that the air bags should not have deployed at such a low speed. The police arrived, but the contact did not recall if a report was filed. The air bag failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired for the crash damage. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Mustang. While driving 10 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The driver's air bag exploded, causing small metal fragments (shrapnel) and smoke to enter the cabin of the vehicle. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the crash. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 15V319000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 80,000.
Takata recall> I was involved in a car accident on July 4, 2016. A person took a stop sign as I was going 40mph on a straightaway street. Airbags deployed and front driver side was smashed in. Our vehicle went in for repair and it is now ready to go, but it's missing the airbags. Obviously the auto collision center cannot release the vehicle without the airbags. Now they've informed us that there is a recall and there is no eta on the production. We have contacted Ford and May other subsidiaries and no one is able to give us a date, not even an estimate of when our vehicle will be ready. This is such an inconvenience. We have to get around in one car and it is extremely difficult for us. Neither our insurance company, the person at faults insurance company, the body shop or Ford can get us in a rental. This is ridiculous. I am reaching out to you today for help. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Ford Mustang. The contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle while idling at a stop sign. The driver side air bag deployed, but the passenger side air bag did not deploy. Both the driver and the passenger suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital for medical attention. The driver sustained an injured knee and the passenger sustained a lacerated hip and a fractured lumber vertebrae. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 28,484. Updated 10/09/14 updated 11/26/2014 the consumer stated both seat belts snapped on impact leaving the occupants unrestrained during impact. The vehicle was totaled. Updated 05/18/2015
"Takata recall" I have not received the recall letters from Ford and have contacted them and cannot get the letter that apparently went out in July 2015. I am the original owner of the car purchased in January 2013. They have said this is my problem as I must not have it registered correctly with my states dmv. In contacting the dmv, they have said the car is and has been registered correctly. How can I get Ford to send me the letters and make sure the future letters come to me. I have not changed addresses since 1992.
Takata recall I'm trying to sell my vehicle and buyers will not take the vehicle without the recall being completed, Ford stated that they don't have parts to replace this issue. They also stated the vehicle is safe to drive as long as I don't get into an accident. I also called the Ford customer service hotline and they will not make any statement in terms of safety other than that someone from a different company said it was safe to drive.
Turned vehicle to the left out of a driveway, pressed on accelerator pedal to shift from 1st to 2nd, back end fishtailed, shifted into neutral to try to decrease the spin of the tires, pumped the brakes, over corrected and hit a parked vehicle at between 15 to 20 miles per hour. Only one person in my vehicle and the other car was parked no one in vehicle. Drivers airbag didn't deploy from the impact.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
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
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
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge.
Airbag complaints in other Mustang years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2013 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA has 145 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Ford Mustang, 54% of the model year's 271 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford Mustang airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-081 (frontal, Feb 16, 2021); NHTSA recall 19V-001 (inflator module, Jan 7, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-046 (inflator module, Jan 11, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Mustang airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles, and 48% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 1 fire and 7 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.