The problem
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. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 21V-158 (21V158000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 21S12 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module |
| Report date | March 10, 2021 |
| Owners notified | April 9, 2021 |
| Vehicles affected | 2,602,668 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
- 2007 Ford Edge
- 2008 Ford Edge
- 2009 Ford Edge
- 2010 Ford Edge
- 2006 Ford Fusion
- 2007 Ford Fusion
- 2008 Ford Fusion
- 2009 Ford Fusion
- 2010 Ford Fusion
- 2011 Ford Fusion
- 2012 Ford Fusion
- 2007 Ford Ranger
- 2008 Ford Ranger
- 2009 Ford Ranger
- 2010 Ford Ranger
- 2011 Ford Ranger
- 2007 Lincoln MKX
- 2008 Lincoln MKX
- 2009 Lincoln MKX
- 2010 Lincoln MKX
- 2006 Lincoln MKZ
- 2007 Lincoln MKZ
- 2008 Lincoln MKZ
- 2009 Lincoln MKZ
- 2010 Lincoln MKZ
- 2011 Lincoln MKZ
- 2012 Lincoln MKZ
- 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2007 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2008 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2009 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2010 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2011 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2012 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2006 Mercury Milan
- 2007 Mercury Milan
- 2008 Mercury Milan
- 2009 Mercury Milan
- 2010 Mercury Milan
- 2011 Mercury Milan
Owner complaints about the air bags
- 2007 Ford Edge airbag problems 330
- 2008 Ford Edge airbag problems 438
- 2009 Ford Edge airbag problems 132
- 2010 Ford Edge airbag problems 287
- 2006 Ford Fusion airbag problems 319
- 2007 Ford Fusion airbag problems 615
- 2008 Ford Fusion airbag problems 638
- 2009 Ford Fusion airbag problems 359
- 2010 Ford Fusion airbag problems 591
- 2011 Ford Fusion airbag problems 330
- 2012 Ford Fusion airbag problems 404
- 2007 Ford Ranger airbag problems 236
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 21V-158 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 2,602,668 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.