Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 42, in the owner's own words
BOTH FRONT SEAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. HORN CAME ON, WHITE SUBSTANCE THROUGHOUT THE CAB OF THE TRUCK, HAD TO GET OUT, THUMB WAS HURT BUT NOT BROKEN. I HAD TO CUT INTO THE INFLATABLE AIR BAGS AND DISENGAGE THE HORN AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME.
WHEN DEPLOYED THE AIR BAGS DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FULLY OPEN WHEN I WAS MOVING AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO BLINK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIME IT REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON GOING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL 11V107000(AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE) WHICH INCLUDED 2004-2006 FORD F-150 AND THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AND KILL HIM. THEY ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT HIS EXPENSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 307,000.
TL* THE CONTACT WAS THE PASSENGER IN A 1998 FORD F150 KING CAB THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION,THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SIX PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. *AK
I HAD JUST TURNED OFF INTERSTATE 287 ONTO INTERVALE ROAD (A LOCAL ROAD). I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A VERY SHARP LEFT HAND CURVE. AS I PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE CURVE I HAD NO STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR NOISE. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THERE WAS LOOSE SAND AND GRAVEL AND I ENDED UP SLIDING INTO A UTILITY POLE STRAIGHT AHEAD, WITHOUT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS SECURED BY THE SEAT BELT, BUT MY HEAD STRUCK THE SUN VISOR. POLICE AT THE SCENE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED LOSS OF STEERING. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE SHOP TO WHICH MY TRUCK WAS TOWED REVEALED THAT THE SECTOR SHAFT WAS BROKEN WHERE THE PITMAN ARM IS ATTACHED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL IN A VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IF THE PART WAS POUNDED ALL DAY WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER THAT IT SHOULD NOT FAIL. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD ONLY HEARD OF ONE FAILURE EVER OF THIS PART IN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THIS PART IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DID NOT SUFFER ANY IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED FORD WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY ARE TOTALLY INDIFFERENT TO IT. THEY WANT ME TO PAY UP TO $60,000 TO HIRE AN EXPERT WITNESS TO PROVE THAT THE PART FAILED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2004 AND HAVE NO RESOLUTION OR COMMITMENT FROM FORD TO DO ANYTHING. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN DEATH HAD THIS PART FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WONDER HOW MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE THAT WAS NEVER PROPERLY INVESTIGATED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OVER TO STATE FARM INSURANCE TO REPAIR . THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE A LIST OF REPAIR SHOPS. UPDATED 08/23/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONTACT'S FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER I START TRUCK. *JB
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL AND A SIDE COLLISION OF AN IMPACT OF 55 MPH . UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TESTS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD-ON INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. NEITHER FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AND NO WARNING THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED ALSO THIS HAPPENED THREE SEPARATE TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT IDENTIFIED OR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH , VEHICLE WAS IN FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE BUMPER WAS PUSHED INTO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 20MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED, AND VEHICLE TOTALED.*TT
I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE AS I WAS INJURED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG UPON DEPLOYMENT OF SAID DEVICE. WHE IT WAS DEPLOYED THE COVER PART HIT MY RIGHT FOREARM CAUSING IT TO HAVE A LARGE KNOT ON IT AND INSTANT SWELLING TO THE POINT I HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EXRAYS TO SEE IF IT WAS BROKEN, WHICH IT WASN'T. WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED THE ACTUAL AIRBAG DID NOT COME STRAIGHT OUT TOWARDS ME INSTEAD IT WENT OUT SIDE WAYS NEVER EVEN TOUCHING ME. I CALOLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING I JUST WANTED THEM TO CHECK INTO THE MATTER BUT I JUST GOT THE RUNAROUND. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35-40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE AT 40 MPH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING. VEHICLE FINALLY HIT TREE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 20 MPH AND HAD AN ACCIDENT, HIT AN OIL TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE WIRE FROM AIR BAG SENSOR WAS SEVERED. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. FRONT SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEG AND LACERATIONS ACROSS FOREHEAD. *AK
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35-40 MPH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. >PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, PUSHING IT INTO THE SHOULDER. VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 TO 50 MPH DRIVER HIT AN TREE. DAMAGES WERE ESTIMATED AT $10,000. ALSO, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A SCHOOL BUS WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. MANUFACTUER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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