2004 Ford Ranger Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  3

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

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  48%
• 25k–50k
  510%
• 50k–75k
  1224%
• 75k–100k
  714%
• 100k–150k
  1224%
• 150k+
  918%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at 10-15 MPH and making a right turn, a vehicle from the opposite lane crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle and the vehicle rolled over about 10 ft in the air, rolled over in a ditch, and landed on its wheel. The air bags did not deploy. The emergency units were unable to assist the contact out of the vehicle as the roof had caved in and was resting on her head. The contact crawled out of the vehicle and was transported to the hospital. The contact sustained a concussion and severe pain in the neck between her shoulder blade which has limited her movements. Additionally, the contact sustained damaged nerves on the left hand and left leg, and chronic lower back pain. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. …

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway in rainy weather at 60 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road. The contact stated that she could not recount what happened moments after she drove off the road; she did recall that she pulled up to a stop sign and her air bags had deployed. The police arrived at the scene and assisted the contact with moving the vehicle out of the road; a police report was not filed. The contact did not seek medical attention but suffered burns to her right arm and chest. The contact also sustained bruising to her face. The vehicle was towed the next day to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle remained in the possession of the mechanic and had yet to be repaired. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. …

My husband was involved in a single-vehicle accident where he left the highway at around45 mph, went downhill for 50+ feet where he crashed into a concrete culvert, front impact. The airbags did not deploy. We bought the Ranger from friends, who believed that the Takata recall was completed before we bought it. There have been no accidents since the recall. The truck remains at the service lot where it was towed. It appears to be a total loss.

The contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that his daughter was involved in a head-on collision; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact's daughter sustained injuries to her knee and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

I dropped the vehicle off in April, Bought it off facebook marketplace in March. Since then, I have dropped the vehicle off at Big Star Ford in Pearland texas, and it has been there until today [redacted]. They FINALLy called me to tell me they cannot get parts for this 2017, or the 2023 recall that must be performed, and that I was "Free to come pick my vehicle up from them" It has been over six months with lack of communication, and me sacrificing time to complete in person visits, this is insane. I cannot believe they are still allowed to service vehicles

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V0810000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V788000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. While driving at an unknown speed and swerving to avoid pedestrians, the contact lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the driver crashed into a rock wall. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The driver sustained unknown injuries that needed medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V322000 (air bags) two months later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered neck and back pain, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified. There were no open recalls associated with the vehicle at the time of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

In June of 2006 I was in an auto accident that totaled my 2004 Ford Ranger. During the course of the accident the drivers side airbag deployed with a great force that it messed up my neck with two discs and my left arm at the elbow which left a scar and I have difficulty using the said left arm, it's almost like a non existence limb as well as my lower back (I'm only 5 foot 2 inches) it messed up four disc pinching off nerves leaving my left leg froze up and I have to use a cane to be able to walk. I can not have surgery to fix the problems

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Ranger years