Problems · by component

2004 Ford F-150 air bags problems

85 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford F-150 cite air bags, 4% of all 2,036 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
85
4% of all complaints
Crashes
35
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
44
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the seatbelt pretensioners for all seats failed, and the frontal airbags for the driver seat and front passenger seat were inoperable. The seatbelt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with faulty seatbelt pretensioners. A dealer was contacted and informed that parts were unavailable for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,800.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2026Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11749297
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact was also informed that the repair could not be covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V107000 (Air Bags) because the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2024Air bagsODI 11570485
“Air bag deployed suddenly while i was in the parked vehicle, it is available for inspection, has not been brought up to dealerships attention, no warning or light up on dash board to indicate problem”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2023Air bagsODI 11511671
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD F-150. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FIANCE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, A DEER RAN INTO THE ROAD AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SWERVE AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT WRIST AND STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED CONWAY FORD (LOCATED AT 2393 CHURCH ST, CONWAY, SC 29526, (843) 365-5596) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. *LN*JB * PM CONSUMER STATED OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS HER DAD'S WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11268659
“ON SEPTEMBER 16, 20018 I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLUSION. MY VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED ENOUGH FOR A TOTAL LOSS. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.IN THE ATTACHED POLICE REPORT I AM VEHICLE 2, I WAS HEADING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ON OWENSMOUTH STREET, VEHICLE 1 WAS TRAVELING FROM WEST TO EAST ON VICTORY. I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. ANOTHER VEHICLE (VEHICLE 3)WAS WAITING AT THE RED LIGHT NEXT TO ME. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE 1 TRAVELING EAST ON VICTORY RAN A RED LIGHT AND SLAMMED INTO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. MY AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND I NOW SUFFER FROM EXTREME PAIN IN MY RIGHT RIB, LEFT HIP, MAJOR HEADACHES AND VERY SEVERE NECK PAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11161472
“THIS A.M. AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY, A NEIGHBOR STOPPED ME TO TALK. I STOPPED AND ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW. HE WENT ON AND ON. SUDDENLY, MY TRUCK ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE TOWARD MY GARAGE 70 FEET AWAY. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. I TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY GLASSES WENT FLYING. I WAS NOT HURT. A TREE HAD SOFTEN THE IMPACT. I WAS SEVERELY SHAKEN. MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS ELEVATED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT HELPFUL. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, IS HANDLING THE ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2018Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11132135

Showing 6 of 85 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 F-150 PICK UP TRUCKS AS WELL AS CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 LINCOLN MARK LT VEHICLES. IF THE CLOCKSPRING JUMPER WIRE COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG LOWER HORN PLATE, THE WIRE INSULATION MAY BECOME CHAFED, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT. IF THIS OCCURS THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT SERVICE IS REQUIRED.

Air bagsReported Feb 23, 2011NHTSA 11V107000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

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