The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensor wiring pigtail insulation can become brittle and crack over time due to accumulation of water in the pigtail protective convolute in combination with high underhood temperatures related to the routing of the wiring pigtail near the radiator. This can result in environmental stress cracking of the insulation.
The risk
In some cases, the air bag warning light can illuminate and the air bag supplemental restraint system disabled.
The fix
Dealers will install air bag sensors with revised wiring insulation. In addition, vehicles which have the air bag warning light illuminated will have a new air bag diagnostic monitor installed.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 99V-243 (99V243000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 99S23 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive |
| Report date | September 8, 1999 |
| Owners notified | September 27, 1999 |
| Vehicles affected | 280,481 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the air bags
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 99V-243 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will install air bag sensors with revised wiring insulation. In addition, vehicles which have the air bag warning light illuminated will have a new air bag diagnostic monitor installed.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 280,481 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.