Ford Mustang Airbag Problems

Airbag complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  163
• Side/window
  19
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  4
• On-off switch assembly
  2
• Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
  2
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  1
• Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
  1

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

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  16529%
• 25k–50k
  11821%
• 50k–75k
  10919%
• 75k–100k
  6912%
• 100k–150k
  8415%
• 150k+
  193%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 25 MPH and entering a roundabout, a vehicle suddenly entered the roundabout and was rear-ended. The brake pedal was depressed however there was not enough distance to avoid the collision. The forward collision warning (FCW) system did not engage. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,100.

In a hit-and-run accident, we were hit head on and the airbags did not deploy yet the car is a total loss. No side or front airbags deployed. Myself and my passenger needed medical care, my passenger specifically had hit the windshield and the airbags again still did not deploy. At impact, was traveling over 25 miles per hour when I was struck.

The contact owned a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, in the center lane a tractor-trailer side swipe and hit the contact front passenger side door which caused the contact vehicle to spin around and hit a median wall, and spin out again with the vehicle coming to a stop in the middle of the intersection. The front tires were ripped from the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained bruises on the lower and upper back, bruises to both knees. The contact also sustained vision impairment to where he started seeing black dots and a bruised left arm. The contact was also suffering from panic attacks. The passenger sustained a bump on the forehead, neck, and lower back bruises, as well the right knee was severely swollen. There was no medical treatment at the scene, but the contact went to the hospital the next day. A police report was filed. …

On July 26, 2021, I had a head on collision ( driver side to driver side ) where I felt like the vehicle didn't want to stop. Even when I applied the brake, the vehicle kept going forward. In that collision, even though I was wearing my seatbelt, my head went straight up and I hit the top of my car. My head felt crunched into my neck and shoulders, and the belt restrained me enough to pull my right shoulder back and down from having my head crunching further into the top of my car. Although I wasn't given a ticket for the accident, the Police found me to be at fault. Later, I went to an Urgent Care where they diagnosed me with having a concussion. I haven't seen any other necessary doctors, because I don't have the money out of pocket. I don't know that my remaining PIP will cover anymore. I am still having issues with my head, neck, back, and hip now. …

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and making a left turn the contact crashed into a vehicle going straight through the intersection. The contact's entire front end crashed into the other vehicle's driver-side front fender by the driver's front wheel. The contact's vehicle spun 180 degrees and the air bags deployed, however, the bags ignited and set the contact's clothes on fire. The vehicle stopped in the roadway. The contact exited and the police arrived on the scene and filed a report. The contact was offered medical attention but instead was taken to the ER by her mother. The contact suffered second-degree burns on her left forearm and elbow, additional burns left side of the abdomen and both shins, also a large cut on her left shin. The contact's only passenger had bruises on his right hip, and no burns or lacerations. …

There is a crack in the metal weld of the vehicle by both top corners of the windshield. This crack has allowed water into the interior of the car and soaked the side airbag in between the driver door and windshield.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that with the transmission in the reverse position and while reversing from a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, reversed, and crashed into a second vehicle. After shifting to the drive position, the vehicle immediately accelerated forward causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into a tree. During the incident, while pressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not stop and after crashing head-on into a tree the airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured ribs which did not require medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The contact indicated that five other parked vehicles were damaged during the incident. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. …

25 mph mild frontal collision caused a fire to start in the door panel as identified by the driver and the fire dept. The fire caused a majority of the cabin to burn and the vehicle to become a total loss in under a minute. Front airbags deployed but not side airbags. Electrical system in left door possibly malfunctioned causing a fire, evident by the fire reigniting every time the fire fighter ceased using the fire extinguisher. Driver was right next to the damaged electrical and was almost hurt by the fire, almost resulting in severe burns or death to the driver had they not escaped the cabin a few seconds before ignition. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure.

Related recalls (11)

NHTSA investigations