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Ford Ranger no deployment problems

230 of the 8,202 owner complaints about the Ford Ranger describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2000 model year.

owner complaints
230
worst model year
2000
typical repair cost reported
$5,000
typical mileage
79,384
Is there a fix? There are 17 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Jul 20, 2026 · Transmission · 3,000 miles · NC · crash

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the 4WD message was displayed and the 4H warning light illuminated before the screen went blank, and the rear wheels locked up, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and drive into a ditch. The vehicle came to a stop after driving into the ditch. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was winched out of the ditch and towed to a Collision Center. The contact stated that the drivetrain and the front end needed to be replaced, and the passenger’s side fender and driver’s side front fender were damaged, and the front driver’s side step was bent. No injuries were reported. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in another crash in March 2026. The contact stated that while driving in the rain and coming to a stop, the screen displayed the message “Slippery”, and the vehicle shifted into 4H independently and the rear wheels locked up, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and the vehicle drove into a ditch. The vehicle came to a stop 20 feet away from the road in the ditch. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not towed. The front bumper and the passenger’s and driver’s side fender wheel openings were damaged. No property damage was reported. The message “Slippery” was displayed, and the 4H warning light was illuminated. A Police report was not filed. No injuries were reported. The failure had occurred several times. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer prior to the crash; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was repaired by the insurance provider. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 3,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2026 · Airbags · 175,000 miles · OK · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2010 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while the son was driving uphill at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of a boat trailer, causing the vehicle to roll over and slide approximately 20 ft. During the crash, the front of the vehicle was severely damaged, but no air bags deployed. Additionally, the contact stated that a 100-pound dog was occupying the front passenger's seat during the crash. The driver sustained a mild concussion and was examined by a nurse, who was a neighbor. A police report was filed at the scene, and the vehicle was towed to the local storage lot and deemed destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V158000 (AIR BAGS), where the air bag warning light was illuminated after the recall remedy, and the dealer informed that it would un-illuminate after 50 miles. The failure mileage was 175,000.

Filed Mar 12, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · TX · crash · 3 injuries

Airbags: passenger rear and front side airbags did not deploy after being struck on the passenger side by another vehicle. Seatbelts: were ineffective Vehicle was sold due to system failures and equipment issues. Safety: Head and body trauma due to non deployment. Inspection: Unknown No system messages before collision

Filed Feb 4, 2026 · Airbags · GA · crash

Hit a tree head-on going 30+mph. Impact point on the vehicle was next to the airbag sensor. Air bags did not deploy

Filed Jan 15, 2026 · Acceleration · 38,000 miles · KS · crash

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while idling at the red traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was accelerating unintendedly. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly at approximately 1 MPH and crashed into the rear of another occupied vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The air bags did not deploy. No police report was filed. The contact and the other driver pulled into a gas station and exchanged the vehicle's insurance information. The contact stated that there was no visible damage on either vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that no failure was found. The contact noticed that the dealer service report stated that the contact had stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough shifting while idling; however, the contact had only described the incident to the dealer and had not mentioned rough shifting while idling. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact requested buy-back assistance. The manufacturer informed the contact that the buy-back request was denied because neither the State where the vehicle was purchased, nor the State where the contact resided, required the buyback of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact was advised to take the vehicle to another dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

Filed Apr 1, 2025 · Airbags · 98,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2006 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while at a stop light, a crash occurred involving two other vehicles. During the crash, one of the other vehicles crashed into the contact’s vehicle, causing severe damages to the front-end of the vehicle; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The Fire Department was called to the scene and removed the front driver’s side door to free the contact from the vehicle. The contact sustained a neck injury and was later taken by her daughter to seek medical attention. A Police report was filed at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V081000 (AIR BAGS). The contact was concerned that after the recall repair was performed, the air bag failed to deploy during the crash. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Mar 13, 2025 · Acceleration · 11,055 miles · OH · crash

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH in the driveway and depressing the brake pedal to make a turn, the vehicle lunged forward and accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal until the vehicle responded as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The contact stated while her husband was in the process of parking the vehicle in the driveway, the contact's husband depressed the accelerator pedal to drive forward, and the failure recurred, causing the vehicle to crash into two other unoccupied vehicles that were parked in the driveway. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. No police report was filed. There was no property damage. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 11,055.

Filed May 29, 2024 · Airbags · 130,000 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by a driver who ran the stop sign. The impact caused the vehicle to flip over multiple times. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered severe head trauma and PTSD from the accident. It was unknown if the other driver sustained any injuries. The contact was taken to the local hospital where medical attention was received for his injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local salvage junkyard. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number 23V306000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Nov 2, 2023 · Airbags · IN · crash

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.

Filed Sep 20, 2023 · Airbags · 17,000 miles · MT · crash

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 40 MPH, he ran a red light at an intersection and T-boned another vehicle. The impact bent the frame into the front tires. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries, and medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the body shop; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.

Related recalls

Air bags: frontalReported October 9, 2025 · 405 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger vehicles. The instrument panel top cover may prevent the passenger air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C54. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on October 14, 2025.

Recall number 25V678000 · Recall details

Air bags: side/window: curtainReported August 22, 2025 · 100,900 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Ranger vehicles. The side curtain air bags may contact the B-Pillar inner reinforcements and tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk
Air bags that deploy improperly during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will install protective shields, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C41.

Recall number 25V541000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported April 28, 2023 · 231,942 vehicles affected
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 moduleReported February 24, 2023 · 98,550 vehicles affected
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: driver side: inflator moduleReported March 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 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 number 21V158000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported February 17, 2021 · 144,340 vehicles affected
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 moduleReported February 16, 2021 · 1,067 vehicles affected
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: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 7, 2019 · 782,384 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants 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 frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.

Recall number 19V001000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 11, 2018 · 327,796 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants 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 frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

Recall number 18V046000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported January 11, 2018 · 33,310 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006 Ford Ranger trucks. Ford is requesting owners NOT TO DRIVE these vehicles until they have been repaired. On January 11, 2018, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the federal safety agency that they are recalling 2,700 model year 2006 Ranger vehicles built with driver-side air bag inflators . As of February 9, 2018, Ford is expanding the recall to a total of 33,310 model year 2006 Ranger vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall for the original population began on January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S02.

Recall number 18V023000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Ranger no deployment

Which Ford Ranger years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2000 (38 complaints), 1999 (36 complaints) and 2001 (27 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix airbags did not deploy in a crash on the Ford Ranger?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $5,000 (median of 10 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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