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 2011 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer wanted to charge the contact to complete the repair because the air bag was deployed. The contact stated that prior to the recall appointment, he had a crash with a deer which deployed the driver's side front air bag. The contact stated that he was driving at approximately 20 MPH during the impact. The contact stated that the deer crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle and only cracked the passenger side front headlight. The contact stated that the dealer was unwilling to complete the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the system needed to be reset. While driving, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 161,484.
The airbags did not deploy during accident. I was injured. No, the problem was not reproduced or confirmed by dealer or independent service center yet. The vehicle was inspected by police. There were no prior warnings.
Took my 2011 Ford Ranger to the local dealer for the mandatory airbag and knee plate replacement pick up the vehicle they gave me paperwork saying the parts have been replaced happened to be working under the dash yesterday and found that parts were not replaced bolts were missing whether or not they removed anything or not I would doubt it and highly doubt that the airbags were replaced being as the main structural replacement wasn't replaced as the repair order says it was obviously there's a fraud involved here because the dealers claiming they repair the car per a safety recall and didn't or did a half-ass job and replace some parts or not all I don't really know is I'm not taking apart the steering column to get to the airbags but I do know that the knee plate which was should have been replaced and the repair order says was was not which makes me believe nothing was replaced I had …
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V158000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. When the Ranger pax airbag bomb was revealed I simply did not carry any pax until the pax airbag was replaced. Now I get the news that the driver airbag is also a bomb. And parts are not yet available. Why did DOT/NHTSA not order Ford to disable the airbag system until the recall could be completed? …
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact had received a call from the dealer and was informed that the parts were available. After dropping off the vehicle, the contact called the dealer to check on the status of the vehicle and the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V001000 (Air Bags) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer and Earnhardt Ford (7300 W Orchid Ln, Chandler, AZ 85226:[phone]) were contacted. 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect on NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V001000 (Air Bags). VIN tool confirms parts not available on NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags).
I was notified in April 2021 that there was a safety issue with the driver side airbag. The notification stated that when parts were available Ford Motor Company would send me a letter to contact the dealer to have the repairs made. I have contacted my dealer at various times and the parts are still not available. I believe that the manufacturer has exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. I have not experienced a failure. Mar 25,2021 Manufacturer Recall Number21S12 NHTSA Recall Number21V158 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACEMENT
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable to confirm when parts would be available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.
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 model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…
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.
Airbag complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 196 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Ford Ranger, 83% of the model year's 235 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › passenger side › inflator module (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Ford Ranger airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-158 (inflator module, Mar 10, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-081 (frontal, Feb 16, 2021); NHTSA recall 19V-001 (inflator module, Jan 7, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Ranger airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 6 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.