My husband was involved in a single-vehicle accident where he left the highway at around45 mph, went downhill for 50+ feet where he crashed into a concrete culvert, front impact. The airbags did not deploy. We bought the Ranger from friends, who believed that the Takata recall was completed before we bought it. There have been no accidents since the recall. The truck remains at the service lot where it was towed. It appears to be a total loss.
2004 Ford Ranger: airbags did not deploy in a crash
15 of the 405 complaints about the 2004 Ford Ranger describe airbags did not deploy in a crash.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- typical mileage
- 120,000
- recalls
- 8
Is there a fix? There are 8 recalls and 4 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Airbags did not deploy in a crash by model year
What owners say
The contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that his daughter was involved in a head-on collision; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact's daughter sustained injuries to her knee and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at 10-15 MPH and making a right turn, a vehicle from the opposite lane crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle and the vehicle rolled over about 10 ft in the air, rolled over in a ditch, and landed on its wheel. The air bags did not deploy. The emergency units were unable to assist the contact out of the vehicle as the roof had caved in and was resting on her head. The contact crawled out of the vehicle and was transported to the hospital. The contact sustained a concussion and severe pain in the neck between her shoulder blade which has limited her movements. Additionally, the contact sustained damaged nerves on the left hand and left leg, and chronic lower back pain. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V081000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer also informed the contact that she did not receive a recall notification because recall notifications were not sent to each vehicle owner of the affected vehicles. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Ford recalled the air bags to get fixed on my truck. I took the truck in to a local ford dealership, they supposedly fixed the recall. My son was involved in roll over crash and the air bags didn't deploy. I have a police report and photos to prove that. I also have the paperwork from the dealership showing the repair. My son sustained minor injuries. I am upset and I want answers. Ford should be held accountable, especially in a safety matter.this occurred in albuquerque, nm.
This vehicle was involved in an intersection roll-over accident on 21 dec 2009. Usaa declared the truck a total loss.I obviously no longer own or drive this truck. I checked the box no longer own this vehicle several years ago and mailed it back but still get my monthly reminders to have my air bags replaced. By the way, the air bags did not deploy
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford ranger. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered neck and back pain, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified. There were no open recalls associated with the vehicle at the time of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2004 ford ranger. While driving 45 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a bulging disc to the neck and nerve damage to the left arm that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 ford ranger. While driving at an unknown speed and swerving to avoid pedestrians, the contact lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the driver crashed into a rock wall. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The driver sustained unknown injuries that needed medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received a recall notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v322000 (air bags) two months later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
Air bags did not deploy during a front-end collision. This vehicle was involved in a front end collision. A vehicle attempted to make a left-hand turn into the path of this vehicle. This vehicle hit the passenger side of the other vehicle, departed the road way and impacted a corner reflector pole. The impact with the pole resulted in the front end being pushed into a v-shape and significant damage. The driver of this vehicle was wearing her seat belt and was 28 weeks pregnant. The air bags did not deploy. Driver was uninjured, but did start having contractions. Driver went to the hospital and was monitored for several hours until contractions subsided and tests were completed to verify placenta had not ruptured.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford ranger. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact was not wearing a seat belt since the vehicle is used to deliver mail. The air bags did not deploy. Due to medication, the contact fell asleep while driving. There were no passengers in the vehicle. The contact was injured. The insurance company was notified. The failure mileage was 139,000.
Dt: the contact owns a 2004 ford ranger and the vehicle was involved in a major accident in the front end. Upon impact, the driver's air bags did not deploy. The speed at the time of accident was around 35-40 MPH. The passenger's air bag was turned off. *ak
While driving at 50 MPH consumer's vehicle collided with another vehicle head on. Upon impact, the airbags failed to deploy, resulting in minor injuries.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011...
- Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan,...
- Ford: 2005-2006 ford gt, 2005-2008 mustang, and 2004-2005 ranger vehicles operated in florida, hawaii,...
- Squeak or rattle from the passenger air bag
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
- Risk
- An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 23V‑125.
Recall number 23V306000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
- Risk
- An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 23V‑306.
Recall number 23V125000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Recall number 21V076000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Recall number 21V081000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V‑036 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed.
Recall number 17V787000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V322 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42.
Recall number 17V788000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S03. Note: This recall supersedes 14V‑343 and only applies to Rangers manufactured in North America.
Recall number 16V036000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S22. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V‑787.
Recall number 15V322000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2004 Ford Ranger no deployment
Is airbags did not deploy in a crash a common problem on the 2004 Ford Ranger?
15 of 405 owner complaints about the 2004 Ford Ranger (4%) mention airbags did not deploy in a crash. The model year with the most reports is 2000.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2004 Ford Ranger?
There are 8 recalls and 4 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2004 Ford Ranger
Airbag light 11Check engine light 10Fuel pump 8Loss of power 7Stalling 6Sudden acceleration 6Tire blowout 6Ball joint 5Engine failure 5Wipers 5
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