Problems · by component
2001 Ford Taurus air bags problems
66 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Taurus cite air bags, 6% of all 1,036 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
66
6% of all complaints
Crashes
46
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
42
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE EMITTED FROM BOTH AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND INSPECTION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT CODES WERE CLEARED. THE MODULE WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO LATER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LEGAL ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
“CAR ACCIDENT -- DEER HIT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE -- DAMAGE TO HOOD, LIGHT, SMALL BAR INSIDE HOOD. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY ON ALL ACCIDENTS. CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE ON VEHICLE, BUT IT RAN WELL. HAD ALL OF THE FRONT END LOOKED AT TO BE SURE THAT I COULD STILL OPERATE IT, SO KEPT THE VEHICLE. FEB. 10, 2014 I HAD GOTTEN AN OIL CHANGE AT WALMART. ALSO HAD ADDED COOLANT. I NOTICED ON THE WEDNESDAY (2/12) THAT THE CAR HAD SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT THE SAME WALMART. TOOK IT BACK TO THE AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS TO HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS REPLACED - WATER PUMP, OIL GASKET PAN, NEW OIL AND COOLANT ADDED AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. WAS TOLD BY THE INDEPENDENT THAT WALMART SHOULD HAVE INFORMED ME WHEN I HAD GOTTEN THE OIL CHANGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALSO DEC. 31ST, I HAD TWO TIE RODS INSTALLED (OUTER IF I RECALL CORRECTLY), THEN I HAPPEN TO NOTICE ON MARCH 13TH MY FRONT TIRES SEEMED LOW. WENT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TWO NEW TIRES AND SUGGESTED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT (WHICH THIS COMPANY DID NOT DO). TOOK…”
“I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT UNTO THE STREET, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME SPEEDING DOWN THE ROAD AND DIDN'T BLOW HER HORN OR SLOW DOWN WHEN SHE SAW ME, AND COLLIDED INTO MY VEHICLE. THE IMPACT OF THE OTHER VEHICLE PUSHED MY CAR OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF HE STREET. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I HAD PASSENGER IN CAR WITH ME. THEY HAD THERE SEATBELT ON TOO. NEITHER AIR BAGS OPENED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I HAD TO GO TO MISS WORK BECAUSE MY BACK WAS HURTING SO BAD. THE VERY NEXT DAY I GOT A RIDE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE MY BACK WAS HURTING SO SEVERELY. THE DR. DIAGNOSED ME WITH CHRONIC BACK PAIN WHICH WAS DUE FROM ACCIDENT. I WAS PRESCRIBED 2 TYPES OF MEDICATION TO TAKE, AND DR. SAID I MAY HAVE TO SEE A SPECIALIST IF NO IMPROVEMENT. I HAVE DR REPORT AND ACCIDENT REPORT UPON REQUEST. I AM STILL IN PAIN. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSATINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT FOOT, SHOULDER AND THE FACE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HER VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR CONTUSIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Showing 6 of 66 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.