Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
We are a dealer in sunnyvale, ca and we have a 2006 Lincoln LS sport in our inventory. The vehicle was parked in our lot on a typical sunny day with no one inside or around the vehicle when for no apparent reason the passenger side air bags deployed. We ran the VIN number on carfax and the official website for Lincoln but there were no recalls or service bulletins for the vehicle. We searched online if this was a common problem and were shocked to discover that we were not the only owners to come across this issue. By visiting this website, http://cars-safety.com/Lincoln/LS/air-bags-side-window.htm, we found 26 other cases with this particular problem. We contacted Lincoln's corporate office but they refuse to acknowledge that their is an issue, and outright refused to offer any help with our situation. …
In a severe crash where my 2006 lincln LS airbags did not deploy. The passenger airbag opened after the fact but the driver airbag or side airbags did not deploy. I had severe crush damage to the front of the vehicle as well as the undercarriage.
Car accident with full left side impaction door will not open doors will not open and I was not able to move out of my seat and yet I was stuck behind the steering wheel behind smashed impacted buckled, steering wheel did not deploy the airbags
The 2005 Lincoln LS left the road, hit a ditch, and overturned several times in a field. The vehicle overturned side to side. The airbags did not deploy during the crash. The driver seat and the passenger seat we're both occupied at the time of the crash. We do not believe that the accident was caused by in a faulty mechanisms in the vehicle, however, despite multiple impacts during the accident, the airbags never deployed. The injuries sustained in the crash could have been prevented, or minimized, if the airbags would have deployed as they should have. The insurance company is esurance and the claim number is [redacted] and they can be contacted at [redacted]. [redacted] is the adjuster. Thank you, in advance, for your prompt response and attention to this matter.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 60 MPH, the vehicle struck a tire lying in the road. The damage was in the front end between the center and passenger side below the headlight. The airbags did not deploy when this occurred. There was no inspection to determine why the airbags did not deploy. Two years later, while driving up a gravel driveway, the passenger side seat airbag deployed without incident. The dealership did a diagnostic test and determined the vehicle had been in a collision causing the airbag to deploy. There was no visible damage to the vehicle and there had been no recent collision.
While driving in the evening, on a slightly winding, smooth, gravel road at about 30 to 35 MPH, temperature about 34 degrees f, the airbag in the passenger seat deployed. There was not any form or type of collision. During the time I have had the car, about 2 years, there has not been any form of collision damage, as far as I know there was not any prior history of any type of collision damage. There was an occupant in the seat, his shoulder felt sore and his hearing was affected at the time.
We were traveling at approximately 65 MPH on i20 in fort worth, texas late at night when the driver's side impact air bag of our 2003 Lincoln LS 8 (56,000 miles) deployed for no apparent reason. The deployment was accompanied by a very loud explosion and what appeared to be smoke in the cabin. I have since learned that the apparent smoke was really some kind of fine powder used to lubricate the air bag. Luckily the highway was not crowded and nothing happened. However the event was very scary and potentially very dangerous under different traffic conditions. I have had the LS inspected by the dealership and they could find no damage (from road debris, for instance) that should have caused the problem. Damage to the LS is extensive since the side-impact air bags are embedded in the seat back and tear a hole in the seat when they deploy. …
My fiance was driving down the road approximately 35mph when out of nowhere the airbag in the driver seat deployed on its own with no impact to the vehicle. It rang her eardrum and scared her to death, the car of course filled with dust and she pulled over immediately and called me. She was only about a mile away from home so I instructed her to slowly drive it home and park it. I have been reading about a lot of issues with the airbags in these cars. This is a very dangerous thing to occur, had she been going faster, in the rain, been elderly, ect. She could have gotten killed or killed someone else. I am very unhappy about this and we are both scared to drive the car anymore if something like this can happen. What if it was the steering wheel next time?
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln LS years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (47), 2001 (33), 2002 (24), 2004 (15) and 2005 (10) model years. Airbag complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Lincoln LS airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for any Lincoln LS model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lincoln LS airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the side/window (26 mentions), followed by the frontal (23).
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.