The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that with the transmission in the reverse position and while reversing from a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, reversed, and crashed into a second vehicle. After shifting to the drive position, the vehicle immediately accelerated forward causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into a tree. During the incident, while pressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not stop and after crashing head-on into a tree the airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured ribs which did not require medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The contact indicated that five other parked vehicles were damaged during the incident. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 43,000.
2016 Ford Mustang airbags problems
15 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 18,200. 9 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- typical mileage
- 18,200
- crashes
- 9
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ford Mustang airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Ford Mustang airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
What 2016 Ford Mustang owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
25 mph mild frontal collision caused a fire to start in the door panel as identified by the driver and the fire dept. The fire caused a majority of the cabin to burn and the vehicle to become a total loss in under a minute. Front airbags deployed but not side airbags. Electrical system in left door possibly malfunctioned causing a fire, evident by the fire reigniting every time the fire fighter ceased using the fire extinguisher. Driver was right next to the damaged electrical and was almost hurt by the fire, almost resulting in severe burns or death to the driver had they not escaped the cabin a few seconds before ignition. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure.
Steering wheel airbag did not deploy in a high speed crash. The knee airbag DID deploy. My daughter was in an accident with another vehicle. The other vehicle was traveling about 40 mph. It was a very high impact crash that launched by daughters car about 30 feet. The steering wheel airbag did not deploy. As a result my daughter hit her and and received a severe concussion. She was wearing a seat belt. The vehicle is in the process of being classified as "totaled" by insurance company but they have not inspected the specific airbag issue. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating the airbag was non-functional.
Car motion airbags failed to deploy. Car was toad from the freeway to drivers house. Car landed side of the freeway at a ditch.
I was in a car accident 8/28/2020. The car was pushed off the road by a tractor trailer and hit a guardrail head on. The air bags did not deploy. Noticed a recall for the takata airbag that I never received. How many other cars are out there. The car was a mustang bought in 2016 and was totaled.
When vehicle sits in hot sun while parked not in operation the airbag light will stay on when car is started. It stays on until car is driven for about 10 mins or so and the car is turned off and back on. This only happens on hot sunny days.
I have had two collision in my vehicle and the air bags did not deploy either time. Both were at a rate of speed approximately 50 MPH. One was a rear end collision that was on the drivers side rear. The other was to the driver side wheel and light area. The rear collision I was in motion about 10 MPH and was struck at approx. 50 MPH. The frontal collision I was traveling about 40 MPH and was struck moving at approx. 40-50 MPH. This complaint is in regards to the frontal collision. I have photos but cannot get them to upload but provide them for further investigation.
I purchased this vehicle in december 2015. I received a notice in the mail from ford shortly after purchase telling me about the defective air bags. I should have been advised at purchase of this defect. I have waited patiently for over two years for a notice to take my car in to replace the air bags. I ask at each service at the dealer and receive the same answer: I must wait until ford contacts me. This car is my wife's primary work vehicle. I am guessing that ford will never make good on their promise to replace these defective air bags.
Ford lincoln in el paso, tx tells me parts for my defective air bag is not ready after I got a notice that says they are.
I was in a wreck that totaled my vehicle. All airbags deployed except driver side steering wheel. Causing extensive damage to my nose. Had stitches, broken nose. Already have had one surgery and still have to have one more. I was on a a regular street and swerved a deer and hit an embankment.
Questions about the 2016 Ford Mustang airbags
Does the 2016 Ford Mustang have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the airbags of the 2016 Ford Mustang, 4% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Mustang airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 18,200 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ford Mustang airbags?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Ford Mustang have bad airbags?
The Ford Mustang model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (348 complaints), 2014 (245 complaints) and 2008 (240 complaints).
Other 2016 Ford Mustang problems
Engine 83Electrical 73Driver assistance 57Transmission 29Body 28Locks 27Fuel system 21Brakes 17Steering 12Visibility 11Acceleration 10Seat belts 10Seats 10Wheels 9Suspension 8Lights 3Tires 2
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