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.
11
Latest Jan 27, 2026
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.
8%
of 145 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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8
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 2003 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2026
From all the research I have done on my vehicle, it has the Takata airbag inflators that uses phase‑stabilized ammonium nitrate without a desiccant which should have been in the Nationwide Ford vehicle recall. I am the original owner of my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 and it has never had the airbags replaced and I have never received a recall notice. I had Ford run an OASIS report on my VIN and they tell me there is no recall for my car. I told them the reports don't show data past 15 years. After all these years I thought I was safe because my car never showed it had the Takata recall, so I didn't think mine had them. Now after watching a YouTube documentary and doing research, I am now afraid to drive my car. What can be done about this?
NHTSA ID
11713803
Incident
Apr 9, 2003
Airbags
Filed Oct 23, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA ID
11035889
Incident
May 20, 2016
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 28, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT, SPUN OUT, AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CLAVICLE AND SUFFERED NUMEROUS CUTS AND ABRASIONS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ
NHTSA ID
10919915
Incident
Oct 23, 2016
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 8, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported
AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET AND WAS HIT WITH SPEED OVER 40MPH. COMPLETELY TOTALED THE FRONT END OF CAR AND BUCKLED THE HOOD SEVERELY. FRONT BUMPER COMPLETELY REMOVED. IMPACT WAS INITIALLY ON DRIVER SIDE, BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10365006
Incident
Nov 8, 2010
Airbags
Filed Feb 10, 2007
I WAS TURNING RIGHT IN A PARKING LOT AT 15+MPH WHEN I HIT A PARKING STALL CURB IN THE SNOW. THE WHEELS STOPPED BY HITTING THE CURB WITH AROUND A 3 INCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE CEMENT BLOCK. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON STOPPING ON THE CURB. NO BODY OR MECHANICAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10182205
Incident
Oct 19, 2006
Mileage
48,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 5, 2006
1 injury reported
DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND MY RIGHT ARM WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS UNEXPECTED MALFUNCTION. *NM
NHTSA ID
10175191
Incident
Dec 4, 2006
Mileage
32,404 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 21, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
DURING A 30 MPH REAR END COLLISION, THE CONSUMESR AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA ID
10083389
Incident
Apr 14, 2004
Mileage
17,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 23, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10051950
Incident
Dec 20, 2003
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 2003
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN ONCOMING VEHICLE TRAVELING TO FAST TO STOP HIT THE CONSUMER. NO INJURIES AND NO ONE WAS CHARGED WITH THE ACCIDENT. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER THE DAMAGES SO HE REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES NOT COVERED. *PH
NHTSA ID
10043970
Incident
Oct 5, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD NO WHERE TO GO ON THE FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ID
10009628
Incident
Feb 22, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jun 24, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HIT AT 35MPH IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10024790
Incident
Jun 11, 2003
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own