RoadVitals

2016 Ford Focus Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Jul 30, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 1,176 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
15

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 30, 2025

Restraint Module went bad and after I looked it up online this was a recall for my year make and model.

NHTSA ID
11677237
Incident
Jun 4, 2025
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2023
1 injury reported

The contact’s son owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side door that pushed the vehicle's driver’s side into a fence. The driver's side air bag was deployed however, the passenger side air bag failed to deploy. The contact son sustained scrapes and bruise injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

NHTSA ID
11552610
Incident
Oct 28, 2023
Mileage
124,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer performed an unknown repair; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11476261
Incident
Jul 28, 2022
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 6, 2022
Crash reported2 injuries reported

The contact owned a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, a vehicle stopped abruptly causing a 3-vehicle collision ahead. As a result, the brake pedal was depressed however she crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deployed. The driver of the vehicle that the contact crashed into was taken by ambulance to the hospital, the driver's injuries and whereabouts were unknown. The contact later went to the hospital and was treated for pain and soreness in her back and right shoulder. The contact mentioned that after the impact she suffered a panic attack. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was towed to a collision center where it was pending to be towed to a salvage yard by the insurance company. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

NHTSA ID
11463588
Incident
May 2, 2022
Mileage
113,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 10, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE RIGHT REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT LEFT AND STATED THAT THE WHOLE FRONT SHEARED OFF, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN. THE VEHICLE IMPACTED A STREET SIGN. AND SIX UNIT MAILBOX STATION WHICH CAUSES THE STREET SING TO COME THRU THE REAR WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE BROKEN THE GLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT, ARM NECK, BACK INJURIES AND HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WOULD SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES, THE CONTACT MENTION THAT THE DRIVER DECLINED MEDICAL TREATMENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT MENTION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN FAILURES SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATED AND WAS REPAIRED OF UNKNOWN RECALLS FOR THOSE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GEICO INSURANCE SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,288.

NHTSA ID
11373927
Incident
Oct 22, 2020
Mileage
52,288 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 6, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AND ONLY THE AIR BAG UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED AS TO THERE WAS A POWDER SUBSTANCE AND AN UNUSUAL ODOR FROM THE AIR BAG. THE SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE ON AND ACTIVE BEFORE THE CRASH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ONLY 5 MPH, BUT THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH. ALL THE AIR BAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED EVEN THOSE IN THE BACK SEAT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK STRAIN AND BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE ENTIRE ENGINE DROPPED DOWN AFTER THE CRASH AND DEBRIS WAS THROWN ACROSS THE STREET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,800. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID
11287422
Incident
Dec 3, 2019
Mileage
101,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 24, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE AND VEERED QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT LANE, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN, ROLLED OVER MORE THAN ONCE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY, MUSCLE SPASMS AND FURTHER MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. THE HIGHWAY PATROL TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A YARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE IF THEY MAY INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH AND THE NON-AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID
11222288
Incident
Jun 23, 2019
Mileage
66,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 2019
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON APRIL 22 2019 AND MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIRBAG UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL DEPLOYED. I'M REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT HAVE KILLED ME BUT IT COULD KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA ID
11203268
Incident
Apr 22, 2019
Mileage
49,900 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 13, 2019
Crash reported

I PURCHASE A 2016 FORD FOCUS TODAY AND THERE'S ONE OPEN RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE TAKATA RECALL AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE FIXED BECAUSE IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS FROM THE RESEARCH I DID ON THE RECALL. PLUS I HAVE MY 1ST CAR WRECK A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT. I WANT TO BE SAFE BEHIND THE WHEEL AND I HAVE A LITTLE BOY; WHO WILL BE A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE I DON'T WANT MY CAR TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT AND MY SON GET HURT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11186688
Incident
Mar 13, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 3/18 AT FAULT OF ANOTHER DRIVER TRAVELING EAST, PASSING A STOP SIGN, WHILE I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE HIT IMPACTED THE FRONT OF MY DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE. THE FORCE WAS HARD ENOUGH TO DESTABILIZE MY VEHICLE AND GO INTO 'CRASH MODE' CALLING THE POLICE VIA BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY. EMS WAS CALLED TO CHECK MY SHOULDER, LOWER BACK AND HEAD WHICH IS IN A LOT OF PAIN THIS MORNING. THING IS NO AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. I WAS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID
11080325
Incident
Mar 18, 2018
Mileage
61,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11075626
Incident
Feb 26, 2018
Airbags
Filed Nov 4, 2017
Crash reported2 injuries reported

MY GIRL FRIEND ,AGE 72 WAS DRIVING THE FORD FOCUS AND TURNING INTO HER APT. COMPLEX, SHE WAS HIT AT ABOUT A 35 DEGREE ANGLE AND ALTHOUGH THE LOWER AIR BAG ON THE STEERING COLUMN DEPLAYED THE AIR BAG ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED.THE SEAT BELT SAVED HER FROM SERIOUS INJURY, BUT HER CLAVICLE WAS BRUISED AND SHE HAS SORE MUSCLES ON HER NECK AND THE LEFT SIDE OF HER BODY. THE LOWER AIR BAG THAT DID DEPLOY SAVED HER FROM SERIOUS LOWER BODY INJURY EXCEPT FOR SOME SWELLING AND BRUISING. HER VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. MY CONCERN IS SHOULD THAT UPPER AIR BAG DEPLOYED THE SAME AS THE LOWER AIR BAG DID. IS IT POSSIBLE THE UPPER AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE,AND HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS?

NHTSA ID
11043308
Incident
Oct 31, 2017
Mileage
33,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2017
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNED A 2016 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER STRUCK THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL AIR BAGS EXCEPT THE DRIVER KNEE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER CHEST AND HANDS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT'S AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ENCINITAS FORD 1424 ENCINITAS BLVD, ENCINITAS, CA 92024. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD SPEAK TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10991642
Incident
May 18, 2017
AirbagsDriver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Sep 24, 2016

WHEN THE CAR STARTS, IT DISPLAYS SEVERAL DASHBOARD WARNING MESSAGES AND CHIMES, INDICATING MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND HILL START ASSIST (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A FAULTY RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) AND SAID THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE MODULE IS REPLACED. THAT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO, AND THE DEALERSHIP STILL HASN'T FOUND THE REPLACEMENT PART.

NHTSA ID
10909495
Incident
Jul 22, 2016
Mileage
1,600 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 10, 2016
Crash reported

MY SON WRECKED OUR BRAND NEW FORD, OVER 6,000 DANGERO. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS FRONT END. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NOT A GOOD SAFETY FEATURE IF THEY DON'T WORK.

NHTSA ID
10883807
Incident
Mar 8, 2016
Mileage
6,000 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .