Problems · by component
2002 Ford F-150 air bags problems
42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford F-150 cite air bags, 4% of all 955 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
42
4% of all complaints
Crashes
31
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
37
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 50 MPH, she crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact's wife was taken to the hospital where she was treated for a concussion, multiple hematomas to her right thigh, right abdomen, and head; as well as three fractures on her vertebrae. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The contact was informed by his insurance that the vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.”
“I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN A CAR THAT WAS TRAVELING IN AN EXCESS OF 80+ MILES AND REAR-ENDED MY 2002 FORD F 150. MY TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND MY DRIVERS SEAT BACK FRAME BROKE FROM RIGHT SIDE AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 3 DAYS. I HAD A CONCUSSION, NECK INJURY, KNEES AND RE-INJURED MY BACK. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNED A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER STRUCK A CURB TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE, BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED UPON TOUCHING THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE THEN DROVE OVER ANOTHER CURB AND CRASHED INTO SOME BUSHES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND PLACED IN STORAGE. THE CONTACT'S FATHER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE IS DECEASED DUE TO UNRELATED CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED LATER OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT UPDATED 9/19/18*JB”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRAILER THAT WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BURN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHETHER A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND STARTED EMITTING SPARKS. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER A HEAD-ON CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.