Problems · by component

1999 Ford F-150 air bags problems

69 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford F-150 cite air bags, 6% of all 1,121 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
69
6% of all complaints
Crashes
54
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
48
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WENT TO STOP AT LIGHT HAD NO BRAKES WITH NO WARNING. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN THE REAR THIS ALSO CAUSED A DELAYED RELEASE OF THE AIR BAGS. THIS APPEARS TO BE PROBLEM GOING BACK YEARS THAT FORD OR THE GOVERNMENT WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2015Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10730602
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED OFF THE SIDE OF A 20 FOOT HIGH BRIDGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2014Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10629442
“ON JULY 28TH AROUND 3:00 AM THERE WAS A STORM EARLIER IN THE NIGHT AND A TREE TOP FELL INTO THE ROAD AND I WENTTO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO FISH TAIL AND LOSE CONTROL SPINNING AROUND TWICE MAKING ME STRIKE A TREE AND SPIN BACK AROUND AND NOSE DIVE DOWN AND EMBANKMENT AND LAND ON ALL FOUR WHEELS MESSED UP THE FRONT BUMPER LEFT FENDER LEFT DOOR CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND COMPLETELY WIPED OUT THE BED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2014Suspension, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10617878
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2013Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10556327
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 MPH ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS AND CRASHED INTO A HERD OF CATTLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE VISIBLE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISES. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, BUT DID NOT ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 167,000. UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF UPDATED 05/06/11”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2011Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10382720
“WHILE SEAT BELTED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A FORD F150 MY SON WAS EJECTED IN A FRONT IMPACT AND ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TRUCK FLOOR DURING THE IMPACT ALLOWING HIM TO COME OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND BE EJECTED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2009Air bags, Seat belts, SeatsCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10286515

Showing 6 of 69 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.