Problems · by component
2001 Ford Ranger air bags problems
64 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Ranger cite air bags, 11% of all 558 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
64
11% of all complaints
Crashes
48
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
38
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOESN'T LATCH AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY. OCCASIONALLY FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP AND SOMETIMES IT GOES ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE TRIP, YET OTHER TIMES IT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY!”
“"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR-BAGS ON MY 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE 2WD EXTENDED CAB SMALL PICKUP TRUCK. I AM AFRAID THEY'RE AIR DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. COULD YOU PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT I NEED TO DO. [XXX] PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO *PM”
“TO BEGIN WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NEVER GO OFF WHEN EVER I TURNED THEM ON AND OFF. WHICH MADE ME WONDER WEATHER THEY WERE EVER REALLY OFF AND CONSIDERING YOU CAN'T FIT A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT I HAD TO PUT IT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THEN WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE TRUCK WHILE SHE WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. HERE RECENTLY SHE WAS DRIVING AND SOME ONE STOPPED HER TO TELL HER THAT SOMETHING FELL OFF THE TRUCK ABOUT 2 FOOT LONG. SHE CALLED ME AND SAID THE TRUCK WAS STILL RUNNING SO I TOLD HER TO JUST TRY AND MAKE IT HOME AND I WOULD LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT SERIOUS. ONCE I STARTED LOOKING AT IT, A CANISTER HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF WHERE THE CANISTER WAS CONNECTED TO THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS SO ROTTED. SHE GOT THE TRUCK INSPECTED IN OCTOBER. I FEEL THAT THE DUDE THAT INSPECTED IT SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE FRAME ALMOST BROKE IN HALF. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS TRUCK I HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT PUT MONEY INTO IT.”
“CONSTANT PASSENGER AIRBAG ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE. AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON AND DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT ISSUE. CONCERNED DUE TO RECENT ISSUES WITH AIRBAGS ON PREVIOUS FORD RANGERS. *TR”
“AT FAULT DRIVER TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. TOTALED THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 RANGER. I SUFFERED BROKEN KNEECAP AND STERNUM. AIRBAGS DID NOT OPEN. RANGER TOWED .. *TR”
“MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE WAS HIT HEAD ON BY SOMEONE WHO RAN A RED LIGHT. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40 (ISH) MPH. SEEMS STRANGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”
Showing 6 of 64 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.