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 2004 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On June 23, 2024 this 2004 Ford Taurus was in a front end collision at freeway speeds of 60 mph or higher. The driver airbag did not deploy and the driver died as a result of severe trauma to head and chest.
Airbags seats and seatbelts useless for 6'8" 375lbs adult man. I sit within 6" of the steering wheel airbag the seatbelt goes across my bicep not my shoulder and the seat itself only goes up to the middle of my back, the head rest is between my shoulders. Why is there no exemption for giants and airbags and seatbelts? By having these "safety features" in my vehicle, my life is put in more danger than other people that are normal sized. If I ever get into an accident and the airbags or seatbelt injure me I will be suing you for forcing me to use these dangerous for me things. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL WHEN YOU ARE A GIANT, and your regulations make being in a car more deadly to me.
The brakes are dangerous and the warning lights stay on all the time. The undercarriage is messed up, I've had to replace several front tires due to unbalancing issues and popping noises when driving straight and on even roads that have gotten worse. I had a bad head on wreck and the airbags did not deploy. I'm concerned they will deploy at any moment.
On April 30 2015 I was hit head on by 1999 Dodge dakota I was at a complete stop. The speed limit where 50 MPH on that road. The whole front of my car is smashed in from the force of how hard he hit me and my airbags did not go off. My car spun 180. I was facing the way I was coming from. I got a sprained knee and some bumps and bruises.
Other car was approaching head on I swerved to avoid head on collision going 45 MPH flew into a residential driveway hit their parked van which spun side ways. My driver's side air bag did not deploy only the passenger side worked.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The failure mileage was 15800, and the current mileage was 16038. While driving 10 MPH the vehicle was hit on the driver's side, damaging both driver's side doors. The air bags failed to deploy, and the contact sustained a concussion, neck injuries, and bruises on her left side. At 16,038 miles while sitting at a stop light the contact's vehicle was hit from the rear by a vehicle at 45 MPH the contact was knocked out and suffered another head concussion and facial bruises around eyes because her face hit the steering wheel. The vehicle was currently in the repair shop, and the contact did not know why the air bags did not deploy.
Stopped for vehicle a that was turning - vehicle c came from behind and plowed my 2004 Ford Taurus se into the vehicle a . Vehicle c was a large f250 truck traveling on main highway. My Ford Taurus was impacted from rear and front impact. The car was a total loss in the accident . Sept, 2010. The rear frame surrounding the trunk was bent. The front drivers side was damaged heavily. The air bags in the vehicle did not deploy from front and rear impact. A vehicle that we purchased for this specific safety feature and paid extra for failed!
Dt*: while driving the contact's husband encountered an area of black ice. The vehicle spun around, hitting a telephone pole, and then crashing into an embankment. Upon impact, none of the air bags deployed. The front of the vehicle was damaged. Although the contact's husband was wearing a seat belt his head went completely through the windshield. He sustained face and head injuries. A police report was taken at the scene. The insurance company evaluated the vehicle and it was deemed a total loss.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy after being involved in a crash. A police report was filed and there was one injury sustained. The specifics of how the crash occurred were not available. The vehicle was destroyed and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not available.
Contact states: apparent failure of air bags to deploy. Consumer's wife and son rear ended another vehicle. Upon impact, both front air bags disengaged but did not deploy. They charged but did not actually come out.
Airbag complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Ford Taurus, 6% of the model year's 375 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford Taurus airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Ford Taurus, 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 2004 Ford Taurus airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 15 injuries and 1 death 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.