240 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Mustang cite air bags, 69% of all 347 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 6 recalls on this component.
“Driving approximately 20 mph, on a smooth road, in a retirement community, the drivers seat airbag explosively inflated without warning. The seatbelts are locked and unusable, the seat bolster is shredded, the driver door panel is disconnected as is the exterior rocker cover. I am afraid to drive the car in fear of the other air bags exploding while driving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed May 11, 2026·Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11737021
“Accident after side swiping cattle guard, flew off the road at 70mph, landing roughly, and bouncing off desert terrain, trying to control crash outcome, realign no brakes, and no way to slow down vehicle, except no acceleration, and turned away from homes and power poles, to eventually slam into a a higher terrain, until complete stop. My repaired airbags didn't deploy, and at that speed, my passenger side wheels were shattered, tires flat, face hit the steering wheel and windshield, my knees hit dashboard, arms bounced off off everything the seat belt couldn't protect me from. Because of airbag failure to deploy, I ended up with 2 fractures, T9 and L1, 6 lose teeth making front teeth unable to use, and 2 cervical discs pushing into spinal column. I have Medicaid for insurance, and they will not do the surgery on my neck, so I have permanent nerve damage to my arms and hands, and the rest of my life to avoid any falls, or sudden injury to these areas so I can exist as a cripple, all because the safety equipment mandated by you, failed or was non existent. I had basic motor insurance coverage and no medical for me. What do you propose I do, with what's left of…”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Apr 8, 2023·Air bags, Wheels, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11516102
“I'VE TRIED NUMEROUS TIME TO MAKE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE FIXED NO CALL BACK AND PUT ON HOLD EVERY TIME I NOTIFIED MY LOVE ONES AND LAWYER TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME OR ANYONE IN MY VEHICLE FOR YEARS THIS HAS GONE ON IT'S SAD TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH NOTHING DONE. A CIVIL SUITE IS MY NEXT OPTION”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Feb 9, 2020·Air bagsODI 11308017
“TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE TRIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RECALL PERFORMED AT AUTONATION FORD, SANFORD, FL. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. I KEEP CHECKING BACK AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. MOST TIMES NO ONE ANSWERS THE SERVICE LINE AT AUTONATION FORD. NOW I'M RECEIVING SEVERAL AIRBAG RECALL NOTICES FROM FORD EACH WEEK. I TRIED THEIR 1-866-(XXXX) HELP LINE BUT CAN NEVER GET THROUGH. I TRIED THE CHAT ON THEIR WWW.FORDOWNER.COM WEBSITE BUT CANNOT GET THROUGH. THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING SITUATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M TOLD I SHOULD NOT HAVE SOMEONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE RECALL IS PERFORMED. I WANT TO KNOW HOW SOON I CAN GET THIS RECALL PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE AND STOP BEING HOUNDED BY ALL OF THESE MAILINGS. THERE IS NO WAY TO SEND FORD AN E-MAIL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. VERY FRUSTRATING! NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE DON'T BOTHER TO GET A SAFETY RECALL PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLES! I USED TO WORK FOR NHTSA IN THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION SO I UNDERSTAND HOW THE SAFETY RECALL PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. THIS IS "BROKEN" AT FORD AND AUTONATION FORD OF SANFORD FLORIDA”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Dec 10, 2018·Air bagsODI 11160608
“TAKATA RECALL. HAVE CALLED FOR 6 MONTHS TO CLASSIC FORD LINCOLN OF COLUMBIA AND BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE PART SERVICED. CALLED WITH THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE TEAM ON THE LINE AND THEY HUNG UP AND WOULD NOT PICK UP WHEN THE AGENT REDIALED THIS MORNING. SHE INSTEAD CALLED DICK SMITH FORD OF COLUMBIA WHO IS ALSO UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AND SAYS IT'S FIRST COME FIRST SERVER AT THE TOP OF EVERY MONTH. THE FACT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT ARE UNABLE TO ACTUALLY GET THE ISSUE ADDRESSED IS RIDICULOUS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Nov 16, 2018·Air bagsODI 11151952
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (GERALD JONES FORD LINCOLN, 3480 WRIGHTSBORO RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30909, (706)-738-8000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Oct 1, 2018·Air bagsODI 11132456
Showing 6 of 240 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2011 Ford Ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers. These parts may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or 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.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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."
Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
FORD IS RECALLING 434,593 MY 2008 MUSTANG VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ONE OF THE NECK INJURY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," FOR AN UNBELTED 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE IT IS IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION.