RoadVitals

1998 Ford Ranger 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.
32
Latest Jul 8, 2015
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.
6%
of 576 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.
29
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
12

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 1998 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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

The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jul 8, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported

YOURE SUPPOSED TO TELL ME OF ANY PAST INCIDENTS , ACCIDENTS , FAILURES, & RECALLS. REMEMBER? THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE POINT OF THIS WEBSITE. IS IT NOT?

NHTSA ID
10732606
Incident
Jul 4, 2015
AirbagsBody & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jun 25, 2015
Crash reported

I HIT A DEER WHILE COMMING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MPH AND BENT BUMPER, DENTED LEFT QUARTER PANEL,BROKE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LENS AND CRACKED PLASTIC GRILE. AIRBAGS DID NOT APPLY OR ENGAGE. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO GET MY DOOR ALARM CHIP REPLACED @ 50 DOLLARS EACH TIME. ON LAST ATTEMPT MY EXTENDED WARANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY REFUSED TO HONER THE PROBLEM AND PROMISE TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN EXSISTING PROBLEM. THIS WAS PRIOR TO HITTING THE DEER.

NHTSA ID
10730489
Incident
Jun 13, 2001
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 21, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported

ANY ANY??YOU TELL ME REMEMBER?

NHTSA ID
10726460
Incident
Jun 21, 2015
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2007

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. FLASHING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. WENT TO FORD DEALER (SUBURBAN IN SANDY, OR) AND THEY SAID THE 'RESISTANCE' LEVEL HAD INCREASED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. CALLED FORD, THEY GAVE ME A "SENIOR DISCOUNT", ALTHOUGH NOT A SENIOR. SAID THAT AIRBAGS FALL UNDER 5 YEAR/50000 MILE WARRANTY. THE RANGER HAS 56,000. FORD SAID THAT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THE FUNCTION OF AN AIRBAG FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASCERTAIN IF THE AIRBAG STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL AT ONCE OR IF MY SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AS THE AIRBAG SLOWLY STOPPED WORKING. AIRBAGS ARE A MANDATORY SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD BE COVERED FROM DEFECT FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH FORD'S ATTITUDE ABOUT MY SAFETY. I HAVE THE AIRBAG MODULE AND CAN PROVIDE IT TO NHTSA TO STUDY AND DETERMINE IF THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICS OF AN AIRBAG, I WOULD ASK FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEND IT TO YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID
10178271
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
55,842 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2003
Crash reported

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RESULTED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THROUGH THE GARAGE. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019915
Incident
May 4, 2003
Mileage
17,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 1, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014855
Incident
Feb 25, 2003
Mileage
166 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 2, 2003
Crash reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-25MPH REAR END COLISION. I HAD RAN INTO THE BACK OF AN OLD GMC PICKUP CAUSING $4000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THE SHOP HAD FOUND OUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS BAD. THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR BUT WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT THE SENSOR ON THAT MAKE AND MODEL HAS BEEN CHANGED AND THE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR(S) ARE IN NOW LOCATED IN A DIFFERENT SPOT OTHER THEN ON THE RADIATOR MOUNTS. BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE BY FORD THE BODYSHOP HAD TO ORDER THE NEW PART AS WELL AS THE PROPER LOCATION OF HTIS NEW SENSOR.

NHTSA ID
10000483
Incident
Dec 12, 2002
Mileage
86,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 2, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

XLT, PASSENGER AIR BAG SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, LIGHT WAS ON SHOWING IT WAS OFF. CONSUMER HIT A DEER AT 55 MPH, PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. 9 MONTH OLD CHILD WAS IN SAFETY SEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAFETY SEAT BROKE IN HALF AT IMPACT, CHILD'S INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AS WELL. TS

NHTSA ID
8023504
Incident
Nov 28, 2002
Airbags
Filed Aug 19, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF WATER THAT WAS IN A PUDDLE, AND VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, AND FLIPPED FIVE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016671
Incident
Jul 31, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jul 25, 2002

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. - NO ACCIDENTS/BUMPS/HITS . TRUCK ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM ON THIS. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A COMPANY DEFECT. I HAVE READ THE COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE AIRBAGS, DON'T YOU THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM. ONE DAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM..............*JB

NHTSA ID
764717
Incident
Jul 8, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jul 16, 2002
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL AND A ROLL OVER COLLISIONS OF 30-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013966
Incident
Jul 6, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2002
Crash reported

VEHICLE HIT BRIDGE GUARDRAIL AT 60 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5000.00. CONSUMER HAD A SECOND ACCIDENT, REARENDED A VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, AND $1300.00 DAMAGE, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012759
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Airbags
Filed Feb 1, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY ON ICY ROADS AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIM. FORCING HIM INTO A MERIDIAN BARACADE ENBANKMENT. CAUSING HIM TO ROLL THREE TIMES, THERE WERE SOME MINOR INJURIES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
879637
Incident
Jan 31, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ON A STEEP INCLINE AT 20 MPH PASSENGER'S AIR BAG FELL INTO THE LAP OF PASSENGER; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REINSTALLED AIR BAG. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
874030
Incident
Sep 9, 2000
AirbagsSteering
Filed Oct 23, 2000
Crash reported

CRASH INVOLVED MY VEHICLE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH HAD TURNED INTO MY PATH TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHTED INTERSECTION. POLICE DETERMINED THAT OTHER DRIVER WAS AT FAULT. OTHER VEHICLE (A VW JETTA) WAS STRUCK IN THE SIDE, YET BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO BREAK FRONT AXLE, YET NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO THEIR 1-800 CUSTOMER HOTLINE, WHO THEN REFERRED ME BACK TO DEALER TO PURSUE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS. THEREFORE, I'M NOW CONTACTING YOU.

NHTSA ID
734936
Incident
Oct 19, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
863313
Incident
Mar 13, 2000
Airbags
Filed May 8, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN A VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION RAN A RED LIGHT,AND REARENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL THREE HOURS LATER WHILE PARKED AT HOME. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
861587
Incident
Apr 24, 2000
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 12, 2000
Crash reported

DUE TO A CHAIN REACTION ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SHOULDER SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP. *AK

NHTSA ID
860184
Incident
Apr 11, 2000
Airbags
Filed Apr 10, 2000
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported1 death reported

CONSUMER'S SON WAS KILLED WHEN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS GOING 45 MPH AND HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. ALSO, FIRE BROKE OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
859953
Incident
Feb 22, 2000
Airbags
Filed Feb 29, 2000
Crash reported

WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER, WHILE TRAVELING 15-20 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, DAMAGES TOTALLED $3,500.00. TRUCK WAS BEING REPARIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
857649
Incident
Feb 23, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 26, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TRUCK LOST CONTROL ON SNOW COVERED ROAD, APPROX. SPEED:40-55 MPH.WRECKED, WENT OFF ROAD INTO DEEP DITCH, HIT HILL, TRUCK WENT UP IN AIR, ALMOST FLIPPING, CAME BACK DOWN FLATTENED TIRES ON DRIVERS SIDE, FLIPPED BACK OUT IN ROAD, SPUN AROUND AND BACK IN SAME DITCH ON PASSENGERS SIDE HEADED UP THE ROAD. AIRBAGS ON NIETHER SIDE DEPLOYED. INJURIES TO: HEAD, NECK SHOULDER, HIP, UPPER& LOWER BACK. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR, SENT TRUCK TO DEALER TO CHEK DATA ON MODULE. STATMENT WAS SIGNED TO GIVE COPY OF REPORT TO ME & NOT TO EARASE ANY DATA. SSO FAR ALL I RECIEVED WAS A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. *AK

NHTSA ID
717893
Incident
Dec 24, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVER MISSED A TURN AND HIT LIGHT POLE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
855394
Incident
Jan 8, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 18, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 36 MPH ,REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
855022
Incident
Jan 17, 2000
Airbags
Filed Sep 29, 1999

TRUCK CAME WITH FACTORY INSTALLED ON AND OFF SWITCH FOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG WHICH WAS TURNED OFF WHEN IT DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
849083
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Airbags
Filed Sep 3, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN AFTER A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 23-27 MPH IMPACT WITH TRUCK, RESULTING IN $3600 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALONE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HIT WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ID
846768

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .